Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-04-28


lieved myself forever lost. tried to
climb uo the sides of the boiler. Vain
efforts, they were as smooth as glass.
My prison was at least fourteen feet in
diameter, and almost as high. l began
to estimate my chances of getting out,
when the whole of the wall fell, and the
greater part of the wreck was scattered
and over the opening above me.
Despair now seized upon me as I
gazed up into the roaring furnace above
me Burning cinders rained down up
on me- l stood close against the sides
of the boiler to avoid the frebrands
Expecting death every instant, in
stinctively shut my eyes and cast down
my head. I was recalled from this
state of anguish by the glare of bursting
flames which, now having free vent,
shot up as from volcano, lighting up
my copper house till it shone like gold
itself. l bethought me once more how
to escape. I made kind of rope out
of my clothes, and fixing brick at one
end, 1 threw it out of the opening to
enable me to mount by it. Vain hope!
the edge of the opening was on level
with the mason work surrounding it.
cried aloud in the hope of being heard !;
no answer came. raped with brick
against the resounding walls of my pris-
on, but the noise, which at any other
time would have walked half the neigh
borhood, was drowned in the greater
noise without. 1 endeavored to resign
myself with patience till the extinguish-
ment of the fire. Then the idea struck
me that, perhaps, I might be heard by
calling through the spout by which the
boiler was emptied-a pipe large enough
to admit mans arm. The hole was
at the bottom of the boiler I stopped
down to put my mouth to the orifce.
My hands were covered with wet gloves
so that it was not until I had put my
lips to the metal that I discovered a
frightful truth-the copper was so hot
that I could not touch it. Jumped up
hastily and made incredible efforts to
climb-to leap out. I might as well
have tried to scale the heavens. | cried
4 bawled out for help till I was
hoarse. The Kissing of the flames alone
answered my CALCULATIONS.
l seated myself upon the heap of rub
bish. l put my hand to my forehead;
it was covered with a cold sweat /
took from my pocket little thermome-
ter 1 had to regulate the bath of my pa
tient. 1t stood at forty degrees. l
placed the ball in contact with the cop
per sides of the boiler; the mercury
rose with such rapidity that I feared
the tube would burst. Then 1 remain
ed some time in a state of stupor. My
courage abandoned me, as the terrible
thought crossed me of the torments for
which was reserved when the copper
attained red heat, which l had reason
to fear would be the case. At length I
tried to convince myself that it was
heated from the fire above, which would
soon diminish, and, as I hoped, the
boiler would then cool. But, alas !! the
continued rise of the mercury dissipated
that feeble hope. I then tried to cal
culate at what temperature the metal
must arrive before the air would become
heated to one hundred and twenty de-
grees, which thought 1 might support
without death. But my head be anne
So confused that 1 could not follow up
my inquiries. These efforts, however,
served to preserve my presence of mind
l could even take notes In my pocket
[ found my memorandum-book and
piece of cord. l wro.e the following on
leaf from my book, attached it to
brick, and threw it out of the boiler:
ri am DR.. Harris. Whoever finds
this paper let him come to the boiler in
the new building, where am burning
to death. Bring ladder with you
Half-past twelve. Quick Hasten"
This, and two others l had thrown
out in the same manner.
"My will is in the left hand drawer
of my bookcase. I wish George Mich
OILS to have my papers. Those which
relate to the affairs of s. I wish
destroyed. My wet clothes produce
around me cloud of steam. Thermom-
eter at52 degrees"
1926 minutes before one. The air is
suffocating. I am wet with perspiration.
l will write as long as 1 can
(t7E hoforo ono Tbar,pouoo
ter IS degrees.
"10 minutes before one Thermom-
eter &c degrees. My clothes are now
as dry as tinder.
"5 minutes past one. Thermometer
II degrees. 1 have taken off my two
coats which 1 hold above my head. The
outer gives to the inner air an agita-
ton which makes the heat insupport-
able.
SO minutes past one. Thermometer
81 degrees. l have taken off every
thing except my boots. 1 am not able
to stand contact with anything what
ever. The air exhale from my lungs
appears cooler than that I inhale.
"My watch has stopped from the ex-
pansion of the metal. Thermometer SO
degrees. The flames above me are
nearly all expended. Light begins to
fail me- The edges of the boiler are
becoming red hot. Were it not for the
rubbish, the clothes would burn under
my feet. I have taken of my boots.
The iron Of the heels would scorch the
cloth of my coat.
"110 degrees. I am going to be
roasted alive. My hands are blistered.