Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-06-28

last, my powers Of volition. The water
which had slowly risen around me, had
rushed into my mouth 1 awoke to hear
the rapid strokes of the pump which was
driving it into the boiler! My whole
condition-no, not all of it-not yet-my
present condition flashed with new horror
upon me. But I did not again swoon.-
The choking sensation which had made
me faint when I first discovered how I
was entombed, gave way to livelier,
though less overpowering emotion. I
shrieked, even as 1 started from my
slumber. The previous discovery of the
closed aperture, with the instant obliv-
ion that followed, seemed only a part of
my dream, and threw my arms about
and looked eagerly for the opening by
which I had entered the horrid place
/ yes, looked for it, and felt for it, though
it was the terrible conviction that it was
closed-a second time brought home to me
that prompted my frenzied cry. Every
sense seemed to have tenfold acutensss,
yet not one to act in unison with another.
I shrieked again and again-imploring-
/ iy, desperately, savagely. I filed the
hollaw chamber with my cries till its iron
walls seemed 70 tingle around me. The
dull strokes Of the Soeursed pump seemed
only to mock at while they deadsned my
7 screams.
At last I gave myself up. Il is the
struggle against our fate which fronzies
the mind We cease to fear when we
cease to hope. I gave myself up, and
then grew calm!
Il was resigned to dio-rosirned even
to my mode Of death. It was not, J
thought, 50 very new, alter all, as to
awaken unwonted horror in a man.
Thousands have been sunk to the bot
tom of the ocean shut up IN the holds of
vessels-beating themselves against the
battened hatches-draggel down from
the upper world shriekina not for life,
but for death only beneath the eye and
amid the breath Of heaven. Thousands
have endured that appalling kind of suf-
location. would die only as many
better man had died before me. I could
meeGSuch death. said sol thought
sol felt so-felt SO, 1 mean, for min
ute or more--ten minutes it may have
been-or but an instant oftime. know
not, nor does it matter, if could compute
it. There agas a time, then, when 1 was
resigned to my fate. But, good God
was l resigned to it in the shape in which
it came next to appall? Stranger, felt
that water growing hot about my limbs,
though it was bat mid les deep. I felt
it, and in the same moment heard the
roar of the furnace that was to turn it in
to steam before It could get near enough
to drewn ne.
" You shudder-it was hideous. But
did l shrink and shrivel, and crumble
down upon that iron floor. and lose my
senses in that hOrrid agony of fear? No!
though my brain swan aRd the life
blood that curdled at my heart seemed
about to stagnate there forever, still
kReC! 1 was too hoarse-too hopeless
from my previous efforts to cry;out more.
But struck-feably at first, and then
strongiy-with ny clenched fist against
the sides Of the boiler. There were peo-
pie moving near who pusthear ny blows
Could 1 not hear the grating of chains,
the shutting of feet, the very rustic of a
rOpe-hear them all, within few inches
Of me? 1 did-but the gurgling water
that was growing hotterand hotter around
my extremities, made more noise within
the stseming caldron than did my fren-
zied blows against its sides.
LatterIy had not changed my posi-
ton, but now the growing heat of the
water made me plash to and fro; lifting
myself wholly out of it was impossible; ;
but I could notremain quiet. IstumbIed
upon something-it was n1alIet-a
chance tool the smith had left there by
accident. With what wild joy did I.
seize it-with what renewed confidence
did I now deal my first blows with it
against the walls of my prison But
scarce had intermitted them for mo-
ment when I heard the clang of the iron
door as the fireman flung it wide to feed
the flames that were to torture me. Nv
knocking was unheard, though I could
hear him toss the sticks into the furnace
beneath ME, and drive to the door when
his internal oven was fully crammed.
"Had yet hope? I had, but it
rose in my mind side by side with the
fear that might become the agent of
preparing myself more frightful death. ,
Yes! when I thought of thatfurnace with
its fresh-fed flames curling beneath the
iron on which I stood, more frightful
death even than that of being boiled
alive! Had I discovered that mallet but
short time sOonor-but no matter, I |
would by its aid resort to the only ezpe-
dient now left.