Middletown transcript., 1868-11-07


days we had formed quite cave in the
side of the hill.
We worked at this tunnel for four days
without finding the bag. On the fourth
day, Jack proposed that he and my other
partner, Bill Jennings, should carry the
dirt we had excavated down to the river
and wash it, leaving me to dig the tunnel.
In that way, they thought we might at
least 'make grubb" while searching for
the hidden money. l thought the idea
foolish but as they had entered so eagerly
into my views regarding the buried bag of
dust, made no objection to the plan, and
dug away with redoubled energy. In fact,
| had thought so much about the object of
our search. that had become utterly re-
gardless of almost everything else. | had
dreamt of it when sleeping, unused on it
when waking, and it had obtained COM
plete control of my mind. Day after day
we worked-I digging, my companions
washing; yet strange to say did not be-
come discouraged. They said nothing a.
bout the bag of gold dust, and l asked
them nothing about the result of their
washing the excavated SOIL
We ndu wofkeu dDout tnTee weeks, anu
had formed tunnel extending about fif-
teen feet into the hill, when, one after
noon, completely tired out, sat down to
rest in the cave. had only intended to
sit little while, but five minutes had not
elapsed before l was fast asleep. / was
awakened by crash, found my feet and
legs completely covered by mass of dirt
and stones. The front part of the tunnel
had fallen in, and was in manner bur-
led alive. About ten feet of the tunnel
remained firm, and from my observation
was convinced thatI had no reason to
apprehend any danger in that quarter
My partners had carried dirt enough to
the river to keep them busy there for the
day; so had nothing to hope from their
assistance. The question that first pre-
sented itself to My mind was, how long
can life be sustained in this confined state?
| had read, dozen times, statistics in re-
lation to the amount of air consumed hourly
by human beings lungs, but, like al
most everybody else, had merely wonder
ed at the time, and then forgot the figures.
How much would have given then to
| uuNt DCCu uDlC W rCCull tnCm 1HC uCAb
thought was, how can extricate myself?
This question is difficult of solution. If
[ went to work with shovel and pick to
clear away the dirt that had fallen, it was
extremely likely that all which | should be
able to remove would be Immediately re-
placed by that which would fall from
above. This was pleasant! / racked my
brain to devise some means of Hberating
myself, but without ofopt.
Leaning against the wall in utter de-
spondency, was about to throw myself
on the ground and await my fate, when |
observed that quite a current of water on a
small scale, was making it's way down the
side of the cave. At first was alarmed,
as | thought it might loosen the earth
above, and bring another mass down on
my head. The next moment the thought
struck me that it might be turned to my
advantage. Why could | not so direct it
that it would wash away sufficient earth in
it's progress to the outlet of the cave to
make an opening large enough to allow me
to crawl out through it2 Even If only
succeeded in making an air hole, it would
enable me to exist till my partners could
come to my rescue. Carefully examining
the course of the water. / succeeded in
finding the spot where it entered the cave,
and to my great joy asoertained that /
could easily direct it by cutting channel
out of the side of my prison to the mass Of
earth that blocked up the entrance to the
tunnel. The air at this time was quite
hot and sitting, and | became aware that
whatever was done must be done quickly,
or should perish for want of oxygen.
After had cut channel for the water to
; flow toward the entrance, | enlarged the
opening by which the stream entered the
cave, and was rejoiced to see that the
, stream entered the cave, and was delighted
t to observe that it flowed with redoubled
force. Taking my shovel. pushed II
through the moistened earth, as far as ]
: was able. and awaited the further actor
of the water. In few minutes I was able
T. to push it further, till at last 1t was out o
reach. Then placing my pick handle
against 1t, pushed both as far as I could
: With what eagerness did I watch to SCI
the first opening made by the water; bu
; I was soon gratifed by observing that i
$ flowed in a steady stream in the direction
) in which I had pushed the pick and shov
ell
n In few minutes I discovered fain
| glimmering in the DISTANCE, which nigh
d be an opening or the effect of an excite,
D imagination, / scarcely knew which. Blu
d the doubt soon resolved itself into certain
II ty and an opening some FIVE inches in di
y ameter speedily disclosed itself. Large
and larger the opening grew lump afte
r lump of earth was washed away by th
I stream, till the channel became larg
t. enough for me to place my head in an
: halloa Justify for assistance. just as
>, was drawing my head back. / caught sigh
of a buckskin bag. Hastily seizing It,
It found it was the one we were in search Of
le and which, but for the accident, woul
ID never have found Wishing to surpris
NV cnmnanians I concealed L. and nc