Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-11
THRILLING ADVENTURE.
Twenty.fOur Hours on the Brink of "A
PreciDice,

Twenty-fOur Hours ON the Brink Of "a
Preeipice.
On Saturday Major John B. Steward.
who lives on his farm near the north base
OF Stone mountain, Georgia, thought he
| heard the voice Of man in distress Onlthe
steep side of the mountain. Upon looking
up be saw the head of man, and saw him
waving bis hands for succOr. The man
called to the major for drink of water, and
said that he had but little money, but be
would give it all to be taken from the place
he was. The major asked him if he was
not hoaxing him? The man replied that
he was in earnest. Cautioning the man to
keep quiet, the gentleman proceeded to
town at once and obtained assistance.
The news spread like wild fire over town
and every heart ran out in anguish for the
condition OF the unfortunate one. Those
who went to the rescue made "quick time''
to get there. Men were stationed at the
base on the north side to signal The party
on top at what point to descend.
Securing the rope to cedar tree firmly
imbedded between two massive rocks, two
gentlemen made the perilous descent to Sc
cure the man. About three hundred feet
from the top of the mountain they came
to him. He was lyingin gulch, or water
course, furroWed out ofthe rock by rains.
One foot was jammed into a crevice, and
the other bent under his body. He was
hugging the rock closely, while one hand
was grasped in the strap on the collar of his
coat. A small tablet Of rock, two or three
feet long and foot or so wide, was all that
was between him and fall of some twelve
hundred feet to the ground. Had be moved
two or three feet, either to the right or left,
he would have been precipitated to the bot
tom, twelve hundred feet, and only a hor-
rible mass would have been found to tell
the tale.
He had lain there from Friday evening
late until Saturday evening. His anxieties
and sutferings were intense. His feet were
swollen, lacerated and blistered by the hot
rocks; the sun poured upon him its fiercest
rays, causing the most excruciating thirst
and produced almost entire blindness.
Death seemed to stare him in the face on
all sides. Return without friendly aid he
could not. He was afaid to move either to
the right or to the left, or get up, for that
terrible fall was beneath him. Without
succor he must die a lingering, torturing
death Of thirst and starvation.
In adjusting the rope several rocks were
IN the way, and fearing that the rope might
dislodge them and bring them down on the
unfortunate man, they were removed and
thrown OFT in such a direction as not to
strike on the spot occupied by The man.
With crashing noise they rolled to the
brow OF the precipice on line with him,
and then plunged down that terrible dis
lance, burying themselves in the earth at
the base.
Reaching the place, the rope was tied
around the man and he was conducted 10
place OF safety. Upon reaching the sum
NIT, the rescued man was so thirsty that
he would have emptied bucket of water
at one or two draughts had he been suf-
Tered to do so. He was carried to a neigh
boring store and cared for.
On Friday evening, the man alluded to,
reputed to be Mr.. McCarty, of Villa Rica,
Carroll county, went to the top of Stone
Mountain, taking with him a bottle of
whisky. He drank rather freely, and, per-
haps was light headed. He started down
in search of the "DeViPs crossroads" and
finding the descent becoming abrupt, he
pulled off his boots. He had not gone far
when he recollects falling and scrambling.
Ills boots were found with an empty bottle
at the foot OF cedar tree some 100 feet
above where be was found. Hence it is
supposed that he fell and scrambled togeth
er some forty or fifty feet. lie recollects
having his boots there. The accident &C.
CURED about nightfall.
1t is doubtless one of the most miracu-
lous escapes from death on record.