Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-07-31
From the Charleston News. July ISL
A perjlous Fall at Stone Mountain.

p0rloou9 F0l 0t Ston0 mountain.
On Saturday, Major John B. Steward, who
lives on his farm near the north base of Stone
Mountain. Atlanta. Ca, thought he heard
aide G Of the mountain. Upon looking up he
saw the head of a man, and saw him waving
his hands for succOr The man called to the
Major for drink Of water, and said that he
had but little money, but he would give it all
to be taken from the place he was. The
The man replied that,he was in earnest. Cau-
tioning the man to keep quiet, the gentleman
proceeded at once to town and obtained as
sistance. 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
Qet there. Mem were stationed at the base
Of the nOrtl 8 ide to signal the party on top at
what time t. descend. Securing the rope to a
cedar tree firmly imbedded between the mas
sive rock, two gentlemen made the perilous
descent to secure the man. About 800 feet
from the top Of the mountain they came to
him. He was lying in gu!ch or water course
furrOwed out Of the rock by rains. One foot
was ianmed into crevice and the other bent
under the body. He WAS hugging the rock
closely, while ono hand was grapsed In the
strap ON the collar Of his coat A small tab
let Of rock, two u three feet long and foot
or 80 wide, was all that was between him and
a fan OF some 1900 feet to the ground. Had
he moved two or three feet, to the right or
left. he would nave been precipitated to the
bottom, 1900 feet, and only horrible mass
would have been found to tell the tale. He
had lain there from Friday evening late until
Saturday evening. His anxieties and suffer
lacerated, and blistered by the hot rocks; the
sun poured upon him its fercest rays causing
the most excruciatihg thirst, and producing
almost entire blindness. Death seemed tC
stare him in the face on all sides. Return
without friendly aid he could not He was
afraid 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. III
adjusting the rope several rocks were in tn,
way, and fearing that the rope might dslodg,
theih and'bring them down on the unfOrunat,
man, they were removed and thrown of il
such direction as not to strike on the spO
occupied by the man. With crashing nOis
they rolled to the brow of the precpice on
line with him, and then plunged down tina
terrible distance, burying themselves in tn
earth at the base. Reaching the place tn
rope was tied around the man and he was con
Quoted to place of safety. Upon reachin!
the summit the rescued man was SO thirst
that he would have emptied bucket Of waite
at ono Or two drauGhts had he been suffere
to do So. He was carried to a neighborini
store aud cared for On Friday evening TIL
mar alluded TO, reputetl to be Mr.. McCurt!
& VIVA Rise. Carroll County went to III
tepf Htone Mountain, taking with him
h02tls Of whiskey. He drank rather freel.
an1 Derhaps was light-hea,led. lie START
down IN search Of the "Devil's crossroads
anA 1ndiug the descent becoming abrupt Ii
pulled of his boots. He had not gone +,
VIXEN he rAcOll,cts falling apd scralnblin
- boots ware found, with an empty bOttl
t the fOQk Of cedar tree, some 100 f.
ahove wbere he was found. Hence it Is SUI
posed ttlt he fell and scrambled togeth,
tptty Enfly feet. He recOllects Nlaving h
boots &A0e The accident occurred abo
nlghtSail. tits dOdbtIsss one Of the mo.
Mhobuloos escapes from death ON record