Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-06-20

Conscious that reason frequently loses he
power at such times, forced myself back
ward few feet, but still remained fear
fully near the opening, needless Of the fran
tic entreaties ofmy guide. Givingno heed
therefore, to his earnest solicitations,
now determined, if possible, to souno
the depths of the cavern before me, anc
then proceed to the other. For this pur
pose pulled off a small peice of lava, an6
stepping to the very edge Of the chasm
dropped it down and listened to the hollow
reverberations as 1t went bounding from
side to side, long after it was lost TO the
eye. The depth was so Immense that |
heard it fully minute, and then the sound
seemed to die out from distance, then to
cease from the block having reached its
destination. Ii was terrible depth, and
as | drew back with q shudder gust OF
hot sulphurous air pulled upward, followed
Immediately by steam like vapor, and q
heavy, hollow boom, as If a piece OF ordi-
nance had been discharged in the bowels
ofthe mountain.
By this time had regained my common
sense, and became impressed with the dan
ger that hung over me. | turned to fly,
when all at once there came a rumbling
crash, and the ground heaving and shaking
and rolling under me, begant to crumble off
into the dread abyss. was thrown down,
and on my hands and knees, praying to
God for mercy, was scrambling over 1t,
and upward, to save myself from most
horrible fate, when two blocks rolling to-
gether caught my feet and legs between
them, and without actually crushing, held
them as in vice. Then came another
crash and crumble, the lava slid away from
behind me, and was left upon the very
verge of the awful gulf, now widened to
some 10 or 30 feet, down into which |
looked with horror strained eyes, only to
see darkness and death below, and breathe
the almost suffocating vapors that rushed
up from that seemingly bottOmless pit.
Oh, the horrors OF that awful realization!
What pen or tongue can portray them?
There, over the mouth of a black and heated
abyss, | was held suspended, helpless
and conscious prisoner to be hurled down
ward by the next great throe of rumbling
nature.
Help, help. help!--for The love of
God, help" l sheieked in the very agony
of my despair. / looked up and around
t. C; til sight ofmy guide, buthe, with COM
mendable prudence l could but admit, in
my dire extremity, had sought his own
safety in flight. had nothing to rely upon
but the mercy of heaven, and / prayed TO
God as had never prayed to Him before
for forgiveness of my sins, that they
might not follow me to judgement. II
might be second, il might be minute, il
might be an hour that | should have TO
undergo a living DEATH but be the time
long or short, | felt that there was no es-
cape from doom which even now makes
I -
of it. Above me was a clear blue sky
beneath me a black and horrible abyss
around me sickening vapors that made my
brain grow dizzy. Rambling and kissing
sounds warned me that another CONFUSION
might take place at any moment, and an
other would be the last ofme. Home and
friends should never see again, and my
tomb would be the volcanic Hecla,
strove with the madness of desperation
to disengagc my imprisoned limbs, but
might have as well attempted to move the
mountain itself. There | was fixed and
fastened for the terrible death | was
awaiting. Oh, God of Heaven, what O
fate,
All at once heard shout, and, looking
around l beheld with feelings that cannot
be described, my faithful guide, fastening
down the sides OF the fatal crater TO my re-
lief He had fled in terror at the first
ominous demonstration, but had only re-
turned to save me, if possible, by risking
his life for mine.
Il warned you MASTER" said he as he
came up, his eyes starting and his counte-
nance expressive of cOmmisseration and
terror.
"You did, You did," cried /, ''but for
give and save me, for / am pershing."
Il will save you if can. or perish with
YOU"
The noble fellow instantly set to work
with his iron pointed stick 10 break the lava
around my limbs, but scarcely had made
any progress when the earth again trembled,
and the rocks parted, one of them rolling
down with a dull, booming sound.
Isprang forward seized hand of the
guide-we both struggled desperately, and
the next moment we had both fallen, lock-
ed in each others arms, upon the solid
earth above. / was free, but still upon
the verge of the pit, and any moment might
see us both hurled 10 destruction.
"Quick, quick,--thcre is not moment
to lose.' cried the guide. up, up. and run
for your life"
| staggered to NY feet with wild cry of
hope and fear and half carried by my faith
full companion, hurried up the slOping sides
Of the crater AS we reached the ridge
above, the ground shook with heavy ex-
plo.ion and looking back, saw with hor-
ror which no pen can depict, the dark,
smoking pit where we lad so lately stood.
Without waiting to see more turned and
fled over the rough ground as fast as my
bruised limbs would permit. We reached
our horses in safety and hurrying down
the mountain. gave the alarm to the villa
gers, who joined us in our flight across the
country till safe distance was gained.
a few days later, when the mighty and
long extinct Hecla was convulsing the is
land, and pouring forth its tremendous vol
ume of melted lava, | was far out upon
the Atlantic, on my way home, where |
devoutly thanked God again and again
that had lived to tell mr. wonderful es-
cape from death In its burning crater.