Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-07-03

Esh. .EE W-G4 GzELI0s G#1C52V eds oE1fg& 81
it went bounding from side to side, Ions
after it was lost to the eye. go -,
ba The depth was so immense that
heard it fully a minute, aud then the
4 sound seemed rather to die out from dis
] eance than to cease from the block having
4 reached its destination It was a terrible
D depth, and as [ drew back with shud
der a gust oI hot, sulphurous air pufec
4 upward, followed Immediately by. a steam
like vapor, and a heavy, hollow boom, as
i IT piece Of ordnance, had been dischara.
ed Ia the bowels Of the mountain. z.s :,
By this time [ had regained nv com
mon sense, and became impressed with
!, ! the danger that hung over me, T turn
ed to fly, when all at once there came q
rumbling crash, and the ground, heaving
and shaking and rolling under me, began
to crumble off into the dread abyss.
| | was thrown down, aud on my hands
and knees, praying to God fot mercy. was
scrambllng. over it, and upward, to save
myself from most horrible fate, when
two blocks rolling together, caught my
feet and legs between them, and without
actually crushing, held them as in wise.
Then came another crash and crumble,
the lava slid away from behind me, and I
was left upon the verge of the awful gulf,
now widened to some Is or 20 feet, down
into]which I looAed with horror strained
eyes. only see darkness and death be.
low, and breathe the almost sufocating
yapors that rushed up from that seeming
ly bottomless pit. II. sL-.5-.-.l- =
Oh, the horrors, of that awful rsaliza-
tlons " hat pen or tongue can portray
them! There, over the mouth of black
and heated abyss, [ was held suspended,
helpless and conscious prisoner, to- be
hurried downward BY the next great throe
of trembling nature ,..@ rg.-z - -. sf.f
. Fl Help! help! help,-for the love of
God, helpm I, shrieked, in the very
agony of my despair. -
4 Looked up and around to catch 81 ght
of nay guide, out he, with commend
able prudence [ could but admit, in my
dire extremity, had sought his own safe.
ty in flight a59 - 'is9'7s 81 rs atsog2T
"A ! had nothing. to rely on but the
mercy OF Heaven, and I prayed to God
as | had never prayed before for for
glyeness of my sins, that they might not
follow me to judgement lo
1t might'be a second it might be min
ute, it might be an hour, that I should
have to undergoa living death; but, be
the time long or short, [ felt that there
was no escape from doom which even
now makes me grow pale and shudder
Wnen I think Of it. - sea
Above me, clear blue sky--beneath
me, black and horrible abyss-around
me, slckening vapors that made my brain
grow dizzy. Rumbling and kissing
sounds warned me that another convulsion
might take place any moment, and an.
other would be the last of me. Home
and friends should never see again, and
my tomb would be the voca mic Hecla!
| strove with the madness Of despera-
ton to disengage my imprisoned limbs,
but L might have as we'll attempted to
move the mountain itself There was
fixed and fastened for the terrible death
l was awaiting. Oh, God of Heaven!
what fate
All at once heard a shout, and look
ing around, [ beheld with feelings that
cannot be described my faithful guide
fastening down the sides of the crater to
my relief. He had fed in terror at the /
first ominous demonstration, but had no.
bly, returned to save me, if possible, by
risking his life for mine, --~n
Il warned you, master" said he, as he
came up, his eyes starting, and his coun-
tenance expressive of commseration and
terror.
"You did! you didp' cried I, "but for
give and save me, for | am pershingw
81 will save you if [ can, or perish with
you. oaarr -. ...s.r. ..,..-.-
The noble fellow instantly set to work
with his ironpoiuted stick to break the
lava around my limbs, but had scarcely
made any progress when again the earth
trembled, and the rocks parted, one of
them rolling, down the chasm with dull
booming sound. s.rf..-- t...f.-.tr-
~ sprang forward-I seized a hand of
the guide-we both struggled desperate
]ly, and the next moment we had both fall
en-, locked in each others arms, upon the
solid earth above. [ was free, but still
upon the verge of the pit, aud any mo-
ment might see us both hurled to des-
structlon.. sa-.r.z...a
Quick! quick--there's not a moment
to be IostP' cried the guide. a''Up! up!
and run for your life!''
/ [ staggered to my feet with wild cry
of hope and fear, and half carried by my
faithful companion, hurried up the slop-
ing sides of the crater.
IL AS we reached the ridge above, the
ground shook with a heavy explosion and
looking back [ saw, with horror which
no pen can describe, the dark, smoking
pit where we had SO lately stood With