The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-10-08
CAUGHT IN 4 QUIC1YSAND.
Forest and Stream.1


An incident which recently be(ell one
of our esteemed contributors, Mr.. Frank
X. Wade, Of indianapolis, involved some
experiences of such remarkable char
actcr that it is deemed worth narrating.
Mr.. Wade is the general passenger and
ticket agent Of the Indianapolis, Peru &
Chicago railway. lie is about thirty
years old, unmarried, good looking, gen.
la|, and popular. A short time ago, in
company with few friends, he went up
to Lake Maxincuckce, a small but beau.
ti(ul body Of water in Marshall county,
Ind, on a fishing excursion. He had no.
tced such magnificent water-lilics in full
bloom along the southern shore Of the
lake, and enc day concluded to gather
few. Perhaps he intended to present
them to some fair lady, and perhaps not
(This is not narrative Of onjectures but
Of facts.) Taking row.boat he had pro-
cccdcd a short distance up the lake shore
when he came to little rivulet not moro
than four feet wide. There had been a
heavy rain the day before, and the infla-
ted rivulct had left quite deposit of
sand and light debris along its sides, par.
TALLY concealins the character CT the
ground, and making smooth and appar-
entity solid surface. On the opposite side
Of the rivulct little above where he
stood there bloomcd a h.ge water lily-a
perfect marvel Of beauty. Franks soul
went out toward it with true inwardncss:
Selecting what appeared to be landing
stream he cleared it in leap. The mo-
mcnt he struck the earth he felt it giving
way beneath him, and in moment he
was up to his thighs in soft mud. His
first impulse, Of course, was to get out,
but he found he could not move his legs.
Worse than this, he found that every
movement he made sunk him deeper.
The situation began to look serious. BY
this time he was half immersed and rap
IDLY losing control Of himself. The more
he struggled the faster he sank. Then
the horrible truth burst on him that he
was in quicksand. The sensation was
dreadful. The mud srasped him like a
vice. His legs were helpless, and his
feet seemed to be trcading on nothing.
And still he sank. Nov he was above
his waist and rapidly losing strength.
Up to this time he had INDUCED in the
hope of cxtricating himself, but now he
began to call for help. Again and again
he called with ali his strength. His cries
were heard by two companions, Mcssrs.
Elliott and Gall, about a quarter Of a
mile distant on the lake, and by some in.
stinct they at once took in the situation.
In a moment they were making toward
him as fast as oars would carry them,
but moments arc years to man in Frank s
situation. By this time he was up to his
! armpits. The mud and sand seemed to
press him from all directions. Respira-
ton was difficult, and his breathing was
growing shorter. Each breath was drawn
with distinct effort. He grasped at a
little bunch Of grass and held to it like a
drowning man to lilc.preserver. With
the other hand he managed to get hold of
! small piece Of an old barrel stavc,
which lay within reach, and worked that
under his arm. Both these stays soon
failed him, and he continued to descend.
The other boys were fast approaching,
but now his arms were extended above
his head, and his rescue seemed doubtful.
He thought of home, of mother, sisters,
and friends. He wondered what he la
done to deserve such an ignominous
death. lie wondered if his body would
| ever be recovered if he sank out of
sight. His senses rceled, and his head
seemed to be bursting. The
approaching rescuers struck bar. In
an instant they jumped out and were
drag ging the skif over it. It was hard
work, but soon done. The life of Frank
Wade was at stake. In deeper water
again, they rowed like athletes. The
boat strikes the land. They leap out
and run to Frank, bringing an oar with
them. When they got to him the mud
was whitman inch Of his mouth. His
head was thrown back, and the back part
Of it embedded in mud. He was pale and
helpless. With all possible haste an oar
was extended to him.. He was too weak
70 grasp 1t firmly, bnt managed to get it
under his arms, and thus sustained him
self Then hope revived. After few
minutes of rest he worked the oar into
such position that he could seize it with
both hands, and then the work of extri.
cation began. Little by little he. man.
aged to loosen his body, though he could
not move it. Then the boys would work
him back and forth with the oar. With.
out describing this process in detail,
suffice to say that after about half an
hour of hard work he was finally dragged
out, leaving his rubber boots behind. The
most exhausted and most bcslimcd man
ever seen. Pale, weak, and sore, he sub.
mitted himself to his friends, who hastily
stripped Of his clothes and put on dry
Zones Two 81, three stiff drinks Of oood