Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-08-04

accent has 10 be 20 gradual that fear !
shall never accomplish It. Still 1t gives
me exercise and occupation, which re-
lieves somewhat this awful lonesome
ness
"SIxrH DAY.-Have Just managed to
| worry down slice of cheese tor break.
fast. Am still hungry, and feel rather
weak. / fear my hard work and privs'
tons are beginning TO tell upon me.
"Faur, D. Mad to give up work IN
the tunnel for to-day, as my strength haa
given out. Have only made about four
feet more in length and one in ascent.
Am getting discouraged. Am still hungry,
although / feel full Of this detestable
| cheese. Can feel that am fast losing
| flesh a. well ~ strength.
"SFvRNTH DAY.-To-day. at the risk
Of suffocating myself with smoke, made
| q little pile Of chips cut from the walls
and table, lighted them with my flint and
steel. and toasted some cheese. The IRE
| did not burn very well, and soon had to
| extinpuish it; but contrived to toast o
slice 1t was smoky, and not very palata-
| bic, but still was SORT OF variety, and l
could eat it. It is all have eaten to-day,
and am weak, tired, and hungry, TO say
nothing of heartburn and headache. Had
| ONLY strength to work about an hour in
the tunnel. If thought that was near
the surface, would try to struggle up.
ward and reach it or perish.
"NIaTn DAY--Yesterday made furi-
Gus sttempt to dig my way upward, cast
ing the snow behind me; but oil In vain ;
after an hours etrggle fell back, faint
ing, into the snow beneath, and the result
is that have still more to Go in clearing
and trampling down the Ge5pts. thought
at one time Of lying there until death over
took me; but the love of life at length
prevailed, and crawlcd back here. Am
resolved not to give up until absolutely
| overcome. The cheese has become loath.
some to me; was nauseated this morning
when ] attempted to eat 1t. Have eaten
nothing to-day, and but small piece yes
| terday. With the darkness, the solitude,
bad air, and poor nourishment, am fast
wearing away. Could not sleep last night
except by snatches, and was continually
waking with horrid dreams. 1t WAS near
morning when, during short nap,
seemed to myself to wake and 90 to my
tunnel to work. Then heard voices
above me, and / shouted and strug.
| gled. l was answered, and heard
them digging down to meet me.
struggled harder and harder, and at
length was seized and dragged up
| into the open air. just as / was giving
vent to my feelings by loud huzzar
again woke to darkness and solitude in
this worse than prison. The revulsion
was SO great that burst into tears and
wept like child, and it was long time
before could command myself l wish
there was some living thing with me, If il
were only q fly or spider; but, alas! / am
not 30 fortunate. l pray aloud, repeat
texts from the Bible, and endeavor TO
maintain a calm and Christian spirit.
eleventh DAY.-Srffered horribly
from hunger yesterday, but could not
touch the cheese. To-day, in my agony,
made desperate attempt, and worried
down considerable quantity. It does
not satisfy my hunger; IT is not digested,
but lies in my stomach like a stone. My
headache is 30 severe that / can only
write little at time. Am too weak to
work any more.
THIRTEKNTH DAY.-Remember but
little of Yesterday. Think / must have
been delicious. Ny head feels very light,
and write with difficulty. Do not sleep,
but frequently faint away.
| FOURTEENTH DAY.-I cannot live
much longer Too weak to write" Here
the writing became almost illegible and
fragmentary.) Last will-test- Pet
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Am-very
dizzy"
Here the writing stopped. The listen.
ers drew long breath, and for a few mo-
ments not q word was spoken as we sal
wondering over tho strange fate of him
whose earthly remains were lying in the
next room. Tom, who had been taking
notes during the reading, was the first 70
break the silence.
"This account" said he, "would be Of
great interest to Psychologist. have
come To the conclusion that q healthy
man, under good hygienic surroundings
might maintain his existence for twenty
days or more upon cheese alone, since
this man, in close confinement, and In want
OF light and fresh air, has by his record
lived nearly fourteen days. How in the
world he could have lived so long under
the circumstances is q wonder"
"Ah," said my host, meditatively, while
filing his pipe, but he was Scotch
| mani
/ On the following day the funeral tool
place, and we deposited the remains II
the public tomb until notice could bt
given to the attorney whose name wal
mentioned in the diary. After we had
each taken q copy Of the manuscript, VIZ
placcdit among tine archives Of the vii
lage, where 1t still Is preserved as Gu
riosity, and where any inquisitive traveller
may obtain access to 1t to this day
| Assvl<fon, Lo,,a.nnI