The Placer herald., 1871-12-16


In his search for the COW he had wandered
out of his way, and resolved to return home
by nearer route than he had come, though
it was, by even him, seldom travelled, and
but little known. AS he hurried along,
stimulated with the thought of his aged pa
| rents, to whom he knew moments would
seem as hours until his return, in his head
long haste he slipped into a shaft which,
years ago, had been dug by miners as they
prospected for the precious metals.
In the moment of his excitement he intui-
lively grasped the grass which grew around
the border of the shaft. He felt it would
not bear his weight but few moments, for
at once it began to tear up by the roots.
| With bis knees he felt that there was the
root of tree growing across one side Of the
shaft but few feet below. His only chance
was in the hope of catching this root when
his present hold should give way; he deter
mined, while his presence of mind lasted, to
try it. Think of that awful moment If
he should fail, he must fall, down, down, be
knew not how far. Quicker than | have
told it it was all over. He let go his hold
on the grass-he had dropped and had caught
the root. To this he held as only man will
had on to life. Hour succeeded hour, and
| though in his distress he often cried out as
loud as he could, the only answer he receiv-
ed was the echoes from the surrounding hills,
which seemed to mock him in bis misery.
He thought he must soon be precipitated to
the bottom of that dark pit, and there, with
lacerated flesh and mangled bones, must die,
deprived of the comfort of friends and kin
dred to console him in his last hour. Oh,
how slow did the time pass away! How
earnestly did he pray God to send deliver
ance Though his faith was weak, for he
felt that he was hoping against reason. AT
length he discovered with delight, if one can
experience delight in such situation, faint
rays of breaking dawn geam across the top
of his torturipg prison. What cheer for the
agonizing heart has the rays of an unelouded
sun. lie began to feel that he was safe, and
for his dcliyerance thus far he thanked God
fervently. The light grew stronger and
stronger, until finally, when he thought the
sun was about rising to again reflect the
wonders of Gods works, he cast his eyes
downward, that he might for the first time
realize how far he must fall lie felt that
he could hold on no longer and must fall, let
the consequences be what they would. I'M
agine his feelings of mingled joy, thankfulness
and surprise when, upon looking down, he
discovered that he had been hanging all
night with his feet not more than one yard
and quarter from the bottom of the pit.
He Immediately let go his hold, and in an
instant his body was resting on its natural
support. lie found in the bottom, at one
side Of the pit, water to quench his thirst,
but to satisfy his hunger nothing could be
had. What passed through his mind about
his parents apd about bis own still uncertain
condition, must be imagined. In his ex-
hausted condition, he found his most deter
mined efforts to extricate himself were in
vain
The first day was spent in these vain at
tempts TO free himself. When darkness
again overshadowed the earth he gave up in
despair, and betook himself to thinking.
Exhausted as he was, he soon fell asleep,
and dreamed he was home again with his
dear old parents, who had mouned him as
dead. When he awoke from his slumber
he was startled on finding a large snake
coiled up at his feet In fit of cDnsterna-
ton he jumped upon it with both feet, and
by successive stamps of the feet succeeded
at length in killing it. AS soon as it was
dead he attempted to throw it out of the
shaft, but on account of his weakness, he
did not throw it high enough, and as it fell
it caught upon the root to WHICH he had
hung,
The second day he began to suffer some
from hunger; the night he spent in dreams
and restless slumber. The third day his
hunger became intense, and on the fourth he
was raving. In his half distracted condition
he resolved to eat the snake, and Immediately
he began his attempts to REACH it. With
each unsuccessful attempt, the desire BECAME
more intense, He finally succeeded, by
throwing one of his boots at it which dis
lodged it and caused it to fall. In his starv
ing condition he was no longer sensible to
that natural aversion which man in his nor
NAL condition has to the order of creeping
animals, but seized it with an eagerness
amounting almost to insanity, and as fast as
he could strip away the hide, he ate, gnaw-
ing the flesh frem the bones with a yoracity
seldom witnessed. AS long as flesh remained
he continued to gpaw; and when it was all
gone, his hunger was only partially ap-
peased.
The fifth day he spent fasting. By this
time bis arms were badly swollen from the
effects of over exertion, caused by hanging so
long the first night. "Oh," he said to him
self, eff there were only more inhabitants in
this part. that some of them might chance to
come upon me and relieve me from this cold
and narrow tomb"
The sixth and seventh days he spent most
ly in prayer, for he began to feel that his last
hour was rapidly approaching, and he must
endeayor to make his peace with his Maker.
On the eighth day his reason began to de-
sert him, At times he raved'and groaned
with the fury of mad man. Towards eve
ming, as he sat in the bottom of the pit in an