The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-11-19

surface of the water, struck out, Is II by
instinct, for the side, and then, ciinglng to
the roughened wall with one hand, and
with the other thrust into sort of hole,
1 remained for few seconds painting and
half mad. ND to my neck in the cold water,
while the darkness was terrible.
tits impossible to describe the horrible
thoughts that came hurrying through my
mind as if to unnerve me-thoughts of
foul choking gases, of fearful things swim
ming about In the black water, or of hor-
rid monsters lurking in its terrible depths
ready to drag me under and drown me ;
but, worse still, as began to recover my
self little, were the calmer thoughts OF
the length of time could hold ON there
without being numbed, and then slipping
off and drowning. / shouted, and the
sound went echoing up the shaft With hor-
rible unearthly tone that made me tremDle.
/ cried again and again till was hoaFse,
but / knew all the while that it was useless
for there was not cottage for at least mile,
and then terror seemed to get tneoeter OF
me, as felt that there, in the midst OF tnat
fearful darkness, must drown, and then
sink to the bottom of this old, old, worn
ont 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 almost
like sob seemed to come from my heart,
and then came weak, despairing tears; but
reused up and shouted again and again,
throwing my head back to try and see the
mouth of the pit, but, though imagination
peopled the darkness with horrors, there
was nothing around but the intense black
ness while, to add 10 my despair and ter
Tor, could feel that my hands were slow
ly 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,
giving vent to the most unearthly yells,
praying aloud, and crying for mercy; and
then, hoarse and worn out, felt that
must sink back, and I did, shrieking
and struggling savagely for life, till
the cold water gurgled over my
mouth and choked back my cry. Then,
for few minutes, / was beating the water
frantically, as dog beats it when it cannot
swim; but my nerve seemed to come once
more, and even then, in the midst of that
horror and despair, could not help think
ing of myself as being like a rat in a well.
as swan round by the side trying to
find place to hold on by.
/ swan slowly along, striking my right
hand against the side at every stroke, but,
after few strokes, it did not touch any
thing; and then, striking out more boldly,
1 swan on, turning to the right with a ray
of hope in my heart, for knew that
was on the level of one of the old veins,
and, though swimming further into the
bowls of the earth, yet had not the hor-
rible depth of the shaft under me, while
/ knew that, before long, I should find
bottom for my feet.
All at once my hand touched the side
then l raised one up and could touch the
roof; and then, after few more strokes, ]
let my feet down slowly, and found the
bottom, but the water was to my lip; still,
by swimming and wading, soon stood
where it was only to my middle; and now,
pausing to rest for awhile, leaned up
against the side, and, in the reaction
that came on again, cried weakly, and like
the despairing wretch was.
By degrees, the heavy painting of my
heart grew less painful, while, heated with
the exertion, l did not feel the cold; but
soon an icy chill crept over me as stood
there listening to the low echoing "drip
drip, drip" of the water far away to my
right Racking thoughts, too, oppressed
me, and despairing, / felt that there was
no chance Of my being discovered, since
to keep alive, must penetrate further into
the mine, though, even from where was
then, it was doubtful whether my voice
could be heard.
knew very well where / was, and that
very little traffic lay by the old pits mouth
while the next day being Christmas, made
the chances less. But would not my wife
give the alarm, and would not there be 9
search? Surely, l thought, there must be
hope yet; and then, in disconnected
half-wiid way, tried to offer up prayer
for succor. Not standing with my
hand resting upon the wall-but kneeling
with the water rising to my neck; and
rose again stronger and better able tc
| think.
And now l began to look within, and tt
think of the dangers l had to encounter
AS to there being things swimming about
or anything terrible to attack me, my com
mon sense told me that there was Lao caust
for fear in that direction; but the mex
thought was a terrible one, and my
breath came thicker and shorter as
seemed to feel the effect of it already
"Was there any foul gas?" But foun(
that could still breathe freely, and by de
grees this fear went off; while summon
ing up my courage, l waded on splash
splash" in the echoing darkness, furthel
and further into the mine, always with tn,
water growing shallower and shallower a
/ receded from the shaft; and at last
stood upon the dry bottom, but with tn,
water streaming off me-
The place did not feel cold, while as
sat down could not but wish that my
clothes were dry, for they chung to me til
/ stripped part of them off and wrung on
the water, when felt on putting them OF
again comparatively warm. But what ,
position Trembling there in the mids
of that thick darkness, with a wild imagi
nation peopling it with every imaginary
horror, lay despairing, till, with tn,
thought strong upon me that Twas burie,
alive, began to run recklessly about, nov
dashing myself violently against the sides
now tripping over the fragments that ha,
fallen from the roof, til at last the splash
ing water beneath my feet warned me t.
go back, when, with my head feeling al
most on fire, crawleG back to lie painting
amongst the coal and slate.
All at once l recollected the tobacco
and put wet piece in my mouth, an
after time it seemed to calm me, and thel
could sit and think, though at times
would have given worlds to have run ava,
from my thoughts. How time went
could not tell; but it seemed after a Will
that must have slept, for / leapt up all a
once with the fancy strong upon me tina
l heard Polly calling; but though
strained my ears to listen, there was moth
ing but the "drip, drip" of the water
while feared to call out, for the SCUM
went echoing along, so that it seemed t
be repeated again and again, till felt m
flesh to creep with dread
Many hours must have passed, for
heavy, dull, sleepy feeling oppressed m
as lay there numbed bodily and in mind
but at length l started up thorough
awake, feeling certain that 1 had heard
cry which seemed to have whispered lik
in my ear. / sat trembling, when agai
there came the shout family heard as
came along the top of the water, and the
gave loud despairing shrek for hel
three times, and then tainted.
When / came to again, it seemed lik
waking from dream and felt that col
fused that 1 could hardly believe that
was not in my own room at home; but 6
l sat up, the thought of where was cam