The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1872-08-08
Thrilling Adventure.

On last Saturday, between two and
three o. clock, Major John Is Stow
ard, who lives on his farm near the
north base of Stone mountain, thou I
he heard the voice OF man in dis
tress on the steep side Of the noun
tain. Upon locking up he saw the
head Of 4 man, and saw him waving
his hands for succor. The man called
to Major Steward .or drink of water,
and said that he had but little mon
cy, hut no would give it all TO be Ia
ken from tho place he was. Major
Steward asked him if he was not
hoaxiug him The mau replied that
he was in earnest. Major Steward
was gal liant wearer Of the gray, and
has heart always open 10 tho cry of
the distressed. Cautiouing the man
to keep quiet, he proceeded at once to
town and obtained assistance.
The news spread like wIld fire over
town, and every heart rau out in an.
guish for the condition Of the uufortu.
nate one. Those who went TO the
rescue made "quick timc' TO get
there. Men were stationed at the
base on tho north side to signal the
party on top at what point to descend
Securing the rope to a cedar tree
firmly Embedded between two massive
rocks, Colonel j I. WiIIingham and
+. i. Julian madc the perilous de
scent to rescue the man. About three
hundred feet from tho top Of ;hc
mountain they came to him. llo
was lying in a gulch, or water course.
furrowed out of the rock by rains.
One foot was jammed in crevicc,
and the other bent under tho body.
He was hugging the rocks closely,
while one hand was grasped in the
strap on the collar OF his coat. A
small tablet of rock, two or threo feet
loog, aud foot or so wide, was all
that was between him and fall Of
some twelve hundred feet to tho
ground. Had hc moved two or
feet, either to tho right or lett, he
would have been precipltated to the
bottom, twelve hundred feet, and only
horrible mass would have been
found to tell the tale.
lie had lain thcre from Friday
evening late until Saturday evening
about 8 o'clock, period of nearly
twenty-fonr hours. His anxieties
and suIferings were intense no doubt.
His feet were swollen, lacerated, and
bistered by the aot rocks tho sun
poured upon him its fiercest rays, eau
sing tho most excruciating thirst and
producing almost entire blindness.
Death seemed to stare him in the
face on all sides. Return without
friendly mid he could not. He was
afraid to move to the right or to the
left, or got up, for that terrible fall
was beneath him. Without succor
be must die lingering, torturing
death Of thirst and starvation.
In adjusting the rope several rocks
were in the way, and fearing that the
rope might dislodgo them and bring
them down on the unfortunate man,
they were removed aud thrown off in
such a direction as not to strike o.
the spot occupied by the man. With
q crashing noise they rolled to the
brow of the precipice, on line With
him, and then plugged down that YER
rible disiaoce. burying themselves 10
the earth at tho base. 3
Reaching tho place, tho rope was
tied around the man, and assisted by
Colonel Il. ID. Wilinghsm no was
conducted to place Of safety, and
Mr.. Williogham returned then and
assisted MIR. Julian TO get back Up
on reaching the summit tho rescued
uau was so thirsty tha, he would have
cmptied q buokst Of wator At one or
two droughts had he been suffered 70
do 80. lie was carried TO Coloeel
Willinghsm's store and cared for.
Much praiss 10 due TO Major stewart,
Nolonal Witiinakam and Mr. III p