The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-09-23
An Illinois Farmer Lost in His Own
Corn-Field.

We have received report this morn
ing from one of the townships in the
eastern part of this county, adjoining
the State of Indiana, and among other
items of interest is the following, which
illustrates in a striking manner not only
the unequalled fertility of the soil of Hi
nois, but particularly the extreme growth
which crops of all kiuds have attained
this season: A Frenchman by the name
of Cantell A. Goodie, living in French
settlement, having occasion on Saturday
last to visit his brother-in-law, living
some five miles distant on the prairie,
left home about o'clock in the after
noon, and to save considerable distance,
attempted to shorten his walk by taking
a cutoff through the intervening corn
fields. To those unaccustomed to seeing
Illinois corn-fclds, it may be we'll here
to state that in that section of the country
corn is almost the only crop raised over
the whole extent of the country for miles
and miles, and the country being COM
parativcly young, there are but few fen
ccs or even hedges to mark the dividing
line. To the eye it is sea of corn, and
to Mr.. Goodlie nearly proved to be a will
derness as dangerous rs the trackless
north woods. Shortly after he left home
severe storm, such as we have had in
numbers during the summer, arose and
came driving upon him, and he was
drenched to the skin. The walking be-
came fatiguing at every step; the earth
moistcned by the rain, adhered to his
boots in great quantities, until it became
impossible for him to drag them after
him. He took them off and pushed on
the best he could, but minute by minute
the soil became softer until he sank near
ly to his knees in the porous black earth.
Night approached and darkness settled
down upon the fields. He was miles
from any habitation was tired and near
ly exhausted, unable to get any land
mark, however slight, by which he might
be guided to home or friends. The tall
corn waved over him and its depths were
impcnctrablc to his eyes, and he realized
that he must pass the night in solitude
as if lie were in the midst of an African
Jungle. As he no longer could tell the
direction in which to go, and could
scarcely drag one foot in advance Of the
other, he gave up the hopeless attempt,
and with Il claSp-knife-his constant
companion-cut down enough OF the
waving stocks to make him a bed and
covering, and shivcring with cold and
exposure, he sank into heavy sleep.
Night passed and the glowing sun rose
above the horizon and took its slow but
tirclcss course across the trackless sky,
and still he slept profoundly insensible
to the passage of time. The second
night sped by, and just as the gray light
OF early dawn was lighting up the world
he awoke. Confused by the light after
his long sleep, althoug h unaware that
more than one night had gone by during
his rest, he stumbled about in uncertain
tv for few minutes, until, ascending a
small hillock, he cast his eyes about and
there bchcld his own home within few
minutes walk. In the darkness he had
become so confused, and instead of going
forward had constantly crossed his own
track, finally lying down within stones
throw of his own tircside. We can easily,
imagine with what eager haste he crossed
the dividing space, for in his lonely con;
dition the sight of a familiar face seemed
an oasis in the desert of life. And great
was his surprise at his wife and children
erecting him as one returned from the
grave, for his protracted stay had made
them fear that the lightning had struck
him in his lonely path, and search had
been at once instituted, but without re-
suit, as they had not thought to search
the adjacent corn field. All hope was
departing from them when he returned.
Joliet (W) Sun.