The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-08-08
Thrilling Adventure.

Thrilling Adventure.
On last Saturday, between and 8 o'clock,
Mai. John B. Steward, who lives on his farm
near the north base of Stone Mountain,
thought he heard the voice of a man in dis
tress on the steep side of the mountain. Upon
looking up he saw the head of man, and saw
him waving his hands for succor. The man
called to Maj. Steward 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 Maj, Steward asked him if he was not
hoaxing him. The man replied that he was in
earnest. Maj. Steward was gallant wearer OF
the gray, and has heart always open to the
cry Of the distressed. Cautioning the man to
keep quiet, he proceeded at once to town 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 sedar tree firmly i'm
bedded between two massive rocks, Col. j. l.
Willingham and F. P. Julian made the peril
ous descent to rescue the man. About three
hundred feet from the top of the mountain
they came to him. He was lying in gulch, or
water course, furrowed out of the rock by rains.
One foot was jammed in crevice, and the 9TH
er bent under his body. He was hugging the
the strap on the collar of his coat. A small
table of rock, two or three feet long and foot
or so wide, was all that was between him and
a fall of some twelve hundred feet to the
ground. Had he moved two or three feet, eth
er to the right or to the left, he would have
been precipitated to the bottom, twelve hun
dred feet, and only horrible mass would have
been found to tell the tale.
He had lain there from Friday evening late
until Saturday evening about o'clock, peri
cd of nearly twenty-four hours His anxieties
and sufferings were intense no doubt. His feet
were swollen, lacersted and blistered by the
hot rocks; the sun poured upon him its fer
cest rays, causing the most excruciating thirst
and producing almost eptire 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, for that terrible fall was beneath
him. Without succor he must diea lingering,
torturing death of thirst and starvation.
In adjusting the rope several rocks were in
the way, and fearing that the rope might dis
Lodge them and bring them down on the unfor-
tunate man, they were removed and thrown OF
in such 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 distance, burying themselves in the
earth at the base.
Reaching the place, the rope was tied around
the man, and, assisted by Col. T. d. Willing
ham, he was conducted to place of safety, and
Mr.. Willingham returned then and assisted
Mr.. Julian to get back. Upon reaching the
summit the rescued man was 80 thirsty that he
would have empted bucket of water at one
or two draughts had he been suffered to do so.
He was carried to COL Willingham's store and
cared for. Much praise is due to Maj. Steward,
COL Willingham and F. P. Julian for their
praiseworthy and humane efforts.
On Friday evening the man alluded to, repu-
ted to be Mr.. McCarty, of Villa Rica, Carroll
County, went on the top of Stone Mountain,
taking with him bottle of whiskey He
drank rather freely, and, perhaps, was light
headed He started down in search of the
DEVILS cross roads, and finding the decent be-
coming abrupt, he pulled off his boots. He
had not gone far when he recollects falling,
and scrambling. His boots were found by
Master George Jones, with an empty bottle, at
the foot of cedar tree, some 100 feet above
where McCarty was found. Hence it is sup
posed that he fell and scrambled together, some
40 or so feet. He recollects leaving his boots
there. The accident occurred about night
fall. ~
It is doubtless one of the most miraculous
escapes from death on record, when it is con-
sidered that death seemed inevitable from fall
ing down the steep, or from starvation, or that
he should fall that distance and escape without
serious injury. That this providential escape
will have its influence on him we can not
doubt. He expressed desire, as soon as he
got safely to the top, to join temperance soci-
ety. This sermon on the mount to him Is a
more effective one than a hundred temperance
lectures. Sunday he left for home.-Atlanta
(Gu) Constitution.