The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-05-29
Cave Life In YickSburg.

, who was confined within the "wall o.
fire" which surrounded 'Vicksburg
during the memorable days of Apri
and June, has written an entertaining
volume on tho scenes and incident.
which there transpired Like most
of her companions, che was compell
ed to seek shelter from the doluge oi
iron hail in the cave so often alluded
to. .+atlcf: .'..'
Caves were tho foshion+-the lrogo
over besiegcd Vicksburg. Negroes
who understood their business hired
emselves out to dig them at from
thirty to fifty dollars, according to
the size. Many persons considering
different localities unsafe, would sell
then to others who had been less for
tunate or less provident, and SO great
was the demand for cave workmen
that new branch Of industry sprang
up and became popular-particular-
ly as the personal safety of the work.
men was secured, and money withal.
Her faithful servant, George, who
always remained with her, was very
near being killed at one time by a
Yankee she'll. She says: "Ouo
night could scarcelv sleep, the ex.
pIo>ions were so loud and frequent.
Before wo had setired, George had
been lying without the door. | had
risen about twelve and sGood looking
out ut tho different courses of light
marking tho passage Of the shells,
when | noticed that George Was not
in his usual place iu the entrance.
On looking ut | saw that he was
sleeping svuudly some little distance
off, aud many fragments OF shells fall
ing near him. arou. ed him, telling
| him to cone to the eutrauce for sufe-
ty. He had scarcely starred when a
huge piece Of shell came whizziug
| along, which, fortunately, George
| dod gcd in time and it fell in the
very spot where he had so lately
sic, t."
On mother occasion y she'll penc-
tra,ed the cave to the great horI or Of
! the occupants: "1t was about four
O'Clock one Wednesday evening (that
shelling throughout the day had gone
on about III usually l was reading in
safety, I imagined, when the un nlsta.
bic whizziDg of Parrott shells told US
that the battery we had so much fear.
cd had opened from the intrench-
ments. | ran to the entrance to call
the servants, and Immediately after
| they entered a shell struck the earth
few feet from the entrance, burying
Itself without exploding. ran to
the little dressingsroom, and could
bear them striking around US on ull
sides. [ orouched closel y against the
| wall, for. I di not know at what
moment one nj mt strike within the
cave. A man came in very much
| frightened, and asked to remain till
the danger was over The servant
stood in the little niche ly the bed,
and the man took refuge in the small
cell where ! was stationed. lie had
| been there but short time, standing
in front Of mo and near the wall, when
a Parrott she'll came whirling in at
the entrance and fell in the centre of
the cave before us al, lying there smok.
ing. Our eyes were fastened upon it
while we expected every moment tho
terrific explosion would ensuo. I
pressed my child closer to my heart
and drew nearer to the wall. Our
fate seemed almost certain. The
poor man who had sought refuge
within was most exposed Of all.
With a sudden impulse I seized a
large double blanket that lay near
and gave it to him for the purpose of
shielding him from the fragments,
and thus we remained for a
moment, with our eyes fixed in ter.
ror on on the missile Of death, when
George, the servant, rushed forward,
seized the shell, aud threw it into the
street, running swiftly in the oppo-
site direction. Fortunately the fuse
had become nearly extinguisbed, and
the sholl fell harmless s--remuining
near the mouth Of the cave rs trophy
of the fearlesshess of the servant and
our remarkable escape"
Tho recollection of Sen ator Ferry
by union of Liberal Republicans
and Democrats in tho Connecticut
Legislature is an accomplished fact.
Toe lesson to the advocntes Of pro.
scription Is asevere ono und will have
its due eff"ot throughout tho country.
Senator Ferry goes back to the Con.
grtss which he has doue 80 much TO
dignity, aud General H.wley is left to
dvplure tho lack Of influence which
ordered from Washington his election
and his own weak faith ia the vitality
Of the Reform movement. The crush.
ing of party liues and the rush Of
popular currents which flow together,
may be compared to the breaking up
of the ice and tho frcshets Of the Con
necticut River in Spring.-New York
Tribune.
| " Dolly Warden Sermon.
| a fa iopa bla c1nroy,no, raoonI1 :,