Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-15

1 W l-EobIE t1Obfo YIN He bBlNh of
A PREoIPICE-AE RFFEOTIVE TEMPER
ANCE SERMON.
The Atlanta (Ga.) ConstUutisn of
July OH contains the following thrilling
account of an adventure on Stone
Mountain
On last Sunday, between two and
three o'clock, Major John B. Stewart,
who lives on his farm near the north
base of Stone Mountain, thought he
heard the voice of man in distress on
the steep side of the mountain On
looking up he saw the head of a man,
and saw him waving his hands for succOr.
The man called to Major Stewart for a
drink of water, and said that he had but
little money but that he would give it
all to be taken from his present position.
Stewart asked him if he was hOaxing
him? The man replied that he was in
earnest. Cautioning the man to keep
quiet, Mr.. Stewart proceeded at once to
the town for assistance.
The news spread like wildfire over the
town, and every heart rang out in an
guish for the condition of the unfortu-
nate one. Those who went to the res
cue 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
a cedar tree firmly imbedded between
two massive rocks. Col J. T. Willing
ham and F. p. Julian made the perilOus
descent to rescue the man. About 800
feet from the top of the mountain they
came to him. He was lying in a gulch
or water course, furrOwed out Of the
rock by rains One foot was damned in
a crevice, and the other bent under his
body. He was hugging the rock close
ly 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 a foot or so wide was all that was
between him and fall of some twelve
hundred feet, and had he moved but two
or three feet either to the right or left
he would have been precipitated to the
bottom and only q horrible mass would
have been found to tell the tale
He had lain there from Friday even
ing until Saturday at about 5 o'clock. a
period of nearly twenty-four hours His
anxiety and sufferings were intense no
doubt. His feet were swollen, lacerated
and blstered by the hot rocks The
buH JDulNh uIBOlI nm 4AS tGlttHb lays.
causing the most exorutiating thirst and
producing almost entire blindness. Death
seemed to stare him in the face on all
sides. Return without friendly aid he
could not. He was afraid to move or
get up. as that terrible fall was beneath
him. Without succOr he must die lin
gering tOrturing death of thirst and star
walton. In adjusting the rope several
rocks were in the way, and fearing that
the rope might dislOdge them and bring
them down upon the unfortunate man,
they were removed and thrown off in
such a direction as not to strike on the
spot occupied by the man. With a
crashing noise they rolled to the brow
of the precipice ON a line with him, and
then plunged down that terrible distance
burYing themselves in the earth at the
base
Reaching the place, the rope was tied
around the man and he was conducted
to a place of safety, and Mr.. Willing
ham returned and assisted Mr. Julian to
yet back. Upon reaching the summit
the rescued man was so thirsty that he
would have emptied bucket of water
at one or two draughts had he been suf- |
fered to do 50, He was carried to Col /
Willingham'S store and cared for Much .
praise is due to Major Stewart. Colonel .
Willingham and +. p. Julian for their /
humane efforts.
On Friday evening the man alluded 10 4
rcputcd to be a McCarty of Villa Rica, .
Carroll County, went to the top of Stone 4
Mountain, taking with him a bottle of /.
whisky. He drank rather frecley and (
perhaps was light headed. He started /
down i'm search of the Devils Cross +
Roads. and finding the descent becom- .
ing abrupt, he pulled off his boots He .
had not gone far when he recOllccts fall /
ing and scrambling. His boots were /
found with an empty bottle at the foot /
Of a cedar tree some one hundred feet /
above where McCarty was found. Hence .
il IS supposed that he fell and scrambled /
some forty or fifty feet. He recOllects f,
leaving his boots there The accident (
occurred about nightfall. 1t iSdOubtless
one of the most miraculous escapes from
death on record, when il Is considered /
hat death seemed inevitable from fall
ing down the steep, or from starvation
)r that he should fall that distance and 1
Escape without serious injury. That
his proyidential escape will have its
on him we. cannot doubt. He
expressed a desire, as soon as he got safe
y to the top, TO join a temperance soci-
.ty. The sermon on the mount Ia him
: a more effective one than hundred
lectures. He left for home
IN Sunday,