Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-05-24

tie way over the treacherous surface,
| found when I stopped, that | was
swiftly sliding back again to the old
place. 1t seemed as if struggled in
this way for hours; yet l accomplish
ed nothing. Tired and breathless,
looked around, and felt sure that in
less than FIVE minutes I should be in
the spout and dead man. Ny efforts
were In vain. There was a certain
circle beyond which I could not CO.
Once the thought came to my mind
that to save myself from the horrors
OF the death before me, l had better
open a vein and bleed to death; but
| could not find my knife, and had
found it, might not have been able
to use it. Well! | saw everything
plainly. There was no hope for me.
| must die, and must look and wait
for my death. When hope deserted
me, kind of resignation to my fate
succeeded, and | closed my eyes weari-
ly, never thinking to open them again.
Gradually my body slid downward.
The noise of the grain rushing through
the valve or gate became louder and
louder; the sitting dust was thicker
and heavier. A thousand unseen, ir-
resistible forces were drawing me to
destruction. Suddenly my body fell
several feet. | felt the tremendous
suction of the whirlpool. The grain
crept up my legs; it reached and
pressed heavily upon my breast, as if
to squeeze the life out of me; it as
cended higher, and clasped my
throat. Then | closed my eyes and
waited death. | no longer feared its
terrors.
AT this moment felt that there was
a strange silence; even in my half
conscious condition realized change
in my surroundings. The dust began
to settle. | realized what had hap
pened.
ne waive was closed
AT the very gate of death opened
to receive me there was an obstacle,
and tainted away with JOY. When
| became conscious again, l heard q
voice crying out.
lis anybody down therer said
this voice. That question was twice
repeated before | could answer, and
so family that it was but a husky
whisper.
'1t's all humbug, a false alarm,
said another voice. We are fooling
away time by travelling up and down
these twenty stories. We can't stop
work for such nonsense,
ats not a humbug,' said the one
who had first spoken. you saw, as
|, the shovel, hat and skirts come thro'
the spout. There's a man to follow
this way or that. Hillo, therer
1T seemed to me as if | had the
nightmare, so hard did try to speak
out, but didn't make a noise. Yet
when | heard them going away, leav
ing me to my horrible death, the noise
in me got the better of my throat, and
yelled SO that | myself was frighten
ed. The men came back.
81 knew he was there;' are you
hurt man? Of course he is, or he
wouldn't be there. Where is the lad
der? That looks strange-it's hang
ing over the beam. Give me the rope
and lanternr
Il saw the light, blessed star of
relief, come slowly down against tn,
wall of the bin. A little later, | wa
raised as tenderly as possible to tn,
top of the bin, and thence carried t,
earth. A surgeon was soon obtained
, He looked at my arm, that was max
ing me cry with pain.
"Mortifcation Amputation wa
the judgment, and the arm was Gu
off. That is how lost my arm. Tor
Brinton | have never seen SINCE
I Whether he waited to see the resul
g ofhis hellish attempt, and discovere
: that had been almost nliraculousl
: saved, or whether he left at once, fee
: ing sure that | never should be hear
1 of alive in this world, | know not
e God knows. Vengeance is mine.
. will repay, saith the Lord