National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-01-18


ed to get the better Of me, and
felt that there amidst that fearful
darkness, | must drown, and then
sink to the bottom of this old worn
out coal pit; while no one, not even
my poor wife, would know Of my
fate.
With the thoughts of my wife
came thoughts of the pleasant scene
| had so lately gazed upon, when
something like a sob came from my
breast, and then came weak, despair
ing tears; but | rose up and shout
ed again and again, throwing my
head back to try to see the mouth
of the pit, but, though imagination
peopled the darkness wit, horrors,
there was nothing around but the in
/ tense blackncss while to add to my
despair and terror, | could feel that
my hands were slowly slipping from
their hold.
Could any man have heard me
down there, two hundred feet below
the mouth, it must have been very
fearful, for during the next minute
| was shrieking for aid and giving
vent to the most unearthly yeIls,
praying aloud and crying aloud for
mercy; and then, hoarse and worn
ont, felt that | must sink back. as
! did, sllrieking and struggling saw
agely for life, until the cold water
/ gurgled over my month and chOked
back my cry. Then, for a few min
utes, was beating the water fran
ticIy, as a dog beats it that cannot
swim: but my nerve seemed to
! come once more. and even then, in
the midst OF that horror and despair
| could not help thinking of myself
as a rat in a well. as | swan round
by the side trying to find a place to
hold on by.
swan slowly along, striking my
hand against the side at every stroke
but after few strokes it did not
( touch anything, and then striking
out more boldly | swan on, turning
to the right with Il ray Of hope i'll
my heart. for | knew that was on
the level of one of the old veins. and
though swimming farther into the
bowels of the earth. vet ! had not
the terrible depth of the shaft under
me, while | knew that before long |
should find bottom for MY feet.
I All at once my hand touched the
side: then raised one upand cou 4
touch the roof: and thcn after a
few more strokes. let my feet down
slowly and found the bottom, but
the water was to my lip; still, by
swimming and wadng ] stood where
it was only to my middle: and now-
pausing 20 rest . while, leaned Il!
against the side. and. in the reaction
: that came on again. cried weakly.
and like the doSpairing wretch that
was.
. BY degrees the heavy painting Of
my heart grew less painful, while
! heated with the cXcytion. did no
feel the cold, but soon an icy chil'
crcpt over me as | stood there listen
, ing to the low echoing drip, drip
of the water away to my right
hacking thoughts, too, oppressed
me, and [ felt that there was nc
chance of my being discovered
| since. to keep alive. | must pcne
Q trate farther into the mine. though
= even from where l was then il wa
!. doubtful whether my voice could b'
e heard.
n knew very we'll where ! was
and that very little trafic lay by tn,
| old pits mouth; while the next da.
e being Christmas made the chance
less. But would not my wife civ
e the alarm and wogld not there be
d search Surely, | thought ther
l. must he hope yet; and then in a dis
If connected. half wild way, 1 tried 4
q offer up prayer for succOr No
II standing-not with my hand reStln
,e on the wall-but kneeling with tn
e. water rising to my neck; and lros
re again stronger and better able t
Of think.
G. And now l began to look within
'd and to think of the dangers / had
ii encounter. AS to there being thing
Sw imming about or anything teri
in ble to attack me, my common sens
1t told me there was no cause tor fea
e. in that direction; but the nel
Nv thought was a terrible one, and N
I'd breath came thicker and shorter ;
rs seemed to feel the effect OF it 6
re ready--'was there any foul gas
,r But found that ! could breatl
he freely still, and by degree this te
,e. went off; while, summonlng up II
ar courage, Iwaded on in the darkne
to farther and farther into the mine, ;
elk ways with the water growing sh;
10. lowei as 1 receded from the shat
ed and at last stood on the dry b'
he tom, but with the water running
re. me.
nd The place did not feel cold, VIII
i'd as | sat down | could not but wi
nr. that my clothes were dry, for TIN
clung to me till I Stripe d part
he them off and wrung out the wat
~. when | felton, putting them on agf
IN. comparatively warm. But wha
NO position Trembling there III {
ne midst of that thick darkness, will
or. wild imaginary horror, ! lay despa
Die ing, till, with the thought strong
nd on me that ] was buried alive, |
be- gan to run recklcssly about, n,
ere dashing myself violently against
of sides, now tripping over the fri