The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-08-10
THRILLING ADVENTURE,
Twenty-four HOu.s on the Brink of ;
PreCipiCc.

Twenty-four Houss on the Brink of a
Precipice.
From the Atlanta, (Ga.) Constitution july 9.
On last Saturday, between two and
three O'Clock, Major John B. Steward,
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. Upon
looking up, he saw the head Of man,
aud saw him waving his hands for sue
cor. THE man called to Major Steward
for drink of water, and saic that he
had but little money, but 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 a
gallant wearer of the gray, and has a
heart always open to the cry OF the dis
tressed. Cautioning the man to keep
quiet, he proceeded at once TO town
and obtained assistance
The news spread like wildfire over
town, and every heart ran out in an
Grush for the condition of the 1nfortu
nate one. Those who went to the res
cue made ''quick TINE " 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 20 cedar tree
firmly imbeddcd between two massive
rocks, Col j. L. Willingham and f. p.
Julian made the pcrilous descent to
rescue the man. About three hundred
feet from the top of the mountain they
came to him. He was lying in a guIcb,
or course, furrowed out of the rock by
| rains. One foot damned in a crevice.
and the other bent under his body. He
was huggIng the rock closely, while
one hand was graepod IN the strap on
the collar of bis coat. A small table of
rock, two or three feet long and a foot
or SO wide, was all that was between
him and fall of some ] 200 feet to
the ground. Had he moved two or
three feet, either to the right or left,
he would have percipitated to the bot
tom, 100 feet, and only a horrible
mass would have been found to tell the
tale.
He had lain there from Friday even
ing late until Saturday evening about
3 o clock, a period of nearly twenty-four
hours. His anXIeties and sulferlngs
were intense, no doubt His feet were
swollen, lacerated and blistered by the
hot rocks; the sun poured upon him
its tiercest rays, causing the most ex-
circulating thirstrand producing almost
entire blindness Death seemed TO
stare him in the face on all sides. Re
turn 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 fail was beneath him. Without
succor he must die lingering, tortur-
ing death Of thirst and starvation.
In adjusting the rope several rocks
were in the way, and fearing that the
rope might disIodge them and bring
them down on the unfortunate man.
they were removed and thrown off in
such a direction as not to strike OH the
spot occupied by the man. With crush
ing noise they rolled to the brow of the
preclpice on a line with him, and then
plunged down that terrible distance.
burying themselves III the earth at the
base.
Reaching the place, the rope was
tied around the man, and, assisted by
Col i. ID. Willingham, he was con
Quoted to a place of safety, aad Mr..
Wllllngham returned then and assist
ed Mr.. Julian to get back Upon reach
ing the summit the rescued man was
81 thirsty that he would have emptied
II bucket of water at one or two
draughts had he been suffered TO do
so. He was carried to Col. Willing
hams store and cared for. Much praise
IS due to Major Steward, Col. Wiling
ham and +. p. Julian for their praise
worthy and humane efforts.
On Friday evening the man alluded
to, reputed to be Mr. McCarty, of
Villa Rica, Carol county, went to the
top of Stone Mountain, taking with
him bottle of whisky He drank rath-
CT freely, and, perhaps, was light
headed. He started down in search of
"The Devils Cross Roads, and, find
ing the descent becoming abrupt, he
pulled off his boots. He had not gone
far, when ne Tecollects falling and
scrambling. 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 1t is supposed that
he fell and scrambled together some
forty OF fifty feet. He recullects leav=
ing his boots there. The accident oc-
cured about nightfalI
1t is doubtless one of the most mirac-
uious escapes from death on record.
when ii is considered that death seem
ed inevitable from falling down the
steep OF from starvation, or that he
should fall that distance and escape
without serious injury. What this provi-
Dental escape 1ili have it's influence
on him we cannot doubt. He express
sed a desire as soon as he got safely
to the top, to join temperance
socity. This sermon on the mount to
him is a more effective one than a
hundred temperance lectures. Sunday
he left for home.