The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-10
FRENSBURG, PA. THURSDAY. MAY 10, 1866.

was fastened on the other si6e-probably
secured by heavy iron bolts. o, for the
use of an axe for one-half hour Iwould
willingly have given for it all was worth
in the world. / struck against the door
with my fist, and threw my body heavily
against 1t; but only to discover its mas
siye solidity, and to know that, without
some implement to work with, all my eff
forts to escape would be worse than vain
that might as well sit down ard wait
my appointed time.
! But perhaps some tool might be found
in the vault, left there by mistake some
hatchet, hammer, pick, spade, crowbar-
something! | searched everywhere, as
| we'll as I could by the dim, ghastly light,
but found only two things that | could
possibly use-a large spike-nail and a
pebble-stoue weighing over pound. o.,
miser ever clutched his gold and diamonds
with such intense and heartfelt JOY as [
did these possible keys to the living
| world.
There was portion of the door so de-
cayed, that, with the use of the nail and
the stone, l believed l could work hole
through large enough perhaps to admit
my arm and as this place was near where
the bolt, if single one, would naturally
be, | had great hope L might be able to
reach and slide it back. With this idea
[ commenced at once, with all the energy
of man in my situation and for hours
labored unremlttngly--ha
prying, and getting off splinter by splinter,
till at last / found I could pass my arm
through the aperture. 0, what wild emo
tions OF hope and fear thrilled me then
[ trembled from head to foot my respira-
ton became gasping and difficult, large
beads of perspiration seemed TO start from
every pore, and, sinking down on my
knees, [ prayed God 20 have mercy on me,
and restore me to the world of life. Then
[ arose slowly, thrust my arm through the
aperture, and felt around for the bolt
Nv hand touched it. With trembling
eagerness [ worked it back and then the
| heavy door came slowly open, harshly
grating on its rusty hinges. 0, Heaven
| What moment was that! Perhaps L was
about to be delivered from the awful sep
uichre The very thought was an over
powering joy, which my nervous system,
so long wrought up to the most intense
excitement, could not bear; and tainted
| and fell at the foot of the stairs which led
upwards from the charnel-vault.
When consciousness and strength again
returned to me, | went slowly and tremb-
| fngly up the damp, dim, and narrow
stairs, till came to the flag that shut IN
| the whole. On my power to raise this
| depended everything! Life was above it
death below it I put my shoulder
against it, and pressed upwards with all
my might Gracious HeavenI It did
not move I was doomed | uttered a
Wild piercing shrek, and fell back in des-
pair, the most wretched being in exist
ence. AS [ sat there, on one OF the cold,
Shiny steps, in an agony of mind that
must soon have deprived my burning,
! throhbing brain of reason, | fancied [
heard steps above me. What! Human
/ life so near. and be doomed to death In
sepulchre No, no. Never never
| sprang TO my feet with the fierce deter
lnination and strength of a mad nan, and
again putting my shoulder to the stone,
sent it upward with a force that turned it
| over with crash. Fresh air and light
burst in upon me- I saw [ was beneath
a roof of church, and, leaping upward
from the pit, | yelled forth my JOY.
1t was an early hour In the morning,
| and the sexton had come into the church
to put certain things to rights. Seeing
me spring upward from the tomb with
such an appalling yell, he instantly fed,
with shrek Of terror. He soon returned,
however, with half.a-d dozen excited spec
tators, and found me on my knees, giving
thanks to God for my wonderful deliver
ance
[ scarcely need add that my friends
family were astonished beyond measure to
see me back among them, living man.
The next Jay I had the pleasure of takin g
my friend himself by the hand, aud Civ
ing him an account of my death, burial,
and resurrection. As had been arranged,
he went home with my body, but not with
my corpse. Since then [ have never
travelled alone, tor fear of again being
buried alive. The doctors, after wise
consultation, pronounced mine rather
singular case OF catalepsy.
RG7- An auctioneer was selling libra
ry at auction. He was not very well read