The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-07-28

The news spread like wild6re over town,
and every heart rau 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 the top at what point to descend.
Securing the rope to a cedar tree, firmly
imbedded between two massive rocks,
Col: j. T. Willingham and F. p. Julian
made the perilous descent to rescue the
man. About three hundred feet from the
top Of the mountain they came to him.
lie was lying in a gulch, or watercourse
furrowed out of the rock by rains. One
foot was jammed in o 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 q foot or 80 wide
was all that was between him and q fall Of
some twelve hundred feet to the ground.
Had he moved two or three feet, either to
cipitated twelve hundred feet to the bot
tom, and only a horrible mass would have
been found to tell the tale. ...-
Reaching the place, the rope was tied
around the man, and, assisted by Col. j.
7. Willingham, he was conducted to a
place Of safety, aud Mr.. Wiilingham re-
turned then and assisted Mr.. Julian to get
back. Upon reaching the summit the res:
cued man was 80 thirsty that he would
have emptied bucket of water at one OF
two draughts had he been suffered to do
so. lie was carried to Colonel Willing
hams store and cared for. Much praise is
due to Major Steward, Colonel Willingham
and E. p. Julian for their praiseworthy
and humane efforts.
reputed to be Mr.. McCarty, Of Villa RIGA,
Carroll county, went on the top of Stone
mountain, taking with him bottle of
whisky. He drank rather freely aud, per-
haps, was light-headed. He started down
in search of the "Devil's Cross Roads,"
and, finding the descent becoming abrupt,
ne pulled off his boots. He had not gone
far when he recollects falling and tcramb-
ling. His boots were found by Master
George Jones, with an empty bottle at the
foot of cedar tree, some one hundred
feet above where McCarty was found.
Hence it is supposed that he fell and
scrambled, together, some forty or fifty
feet. lie recollects leaving his boots there.
The accident occurred after nightfall.
1t is doubtless one Of the most miracu-,
lous escapes from death on record, when ID
ia cor sdered that death seemed inevitable
from falling down the eteep or from starya-
tiou, or that he should fall that distance
and escape without serious injury. That
this providential escape will have its in-
huence on him we cannot donbt. he ex-
pressed a desire, as soon as he got safely to
tue top, to join q temperance society. This
sermon on the mount u ham il more effect
i've than a hundred temperance lectures.
Sunday he left for home.
He had lain there from Friday evening
late until Saturday evening about five
o'clock, period of nearly twenty four
hours. H,s anxieties and sufferings were
intense, no doubt. His feet were swollen,
lacerated and blistered by the hot rocks ;
the sun poured upon hin, its fereest rays,
causing the m ost excruciatiDg 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 either to the right
or to the left, Or get up. Cor that terrible
! fall was beneath him. Without suceor he
must die a lingering, torturiug death Of
thirst and starvation. 8.
In adjusting the rope several rocks were
in the way, aud, fearing that the. ropE
| might dislOdge them and bring them dowI
on the unfortunate man, they were" re
moved and thrown off in such o directioI
as not to strike on the spot occupied b.
the man. With crashing noise the.
rolled to the brow Of the precipiece on
line with him, and then plunged downtha
terrible distance, burying themselves. il
| the earth at the base.