Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-06-17

fortunes. which we're lost BY unhappy
investments and speculstions In inc
= outside world Just previous to the
incident we are about 10 reciie ne iound
himself " fiat broke" for the tenth time.
He determined 10 try his luck again be-
meath the ground. supplying himself
with provisions, matches and candies,
he went down a shaft 70 put in TWO OF
three DAYS at cave prospecting. Inc
shaft was eighty feet deep, with an cast
aud.west cave 1T the bottom; from this
q north and south opening led into an
other east-and-west chamber. After foi-
lowing this few hundred feet the miner
discovered a cross opening which had
never been explored. 1t might take HIM
three DAYS TO work his way through, the
nperture being tightly packed with
CLAW: but. thinking his stock of pro-
visions. candles and matches sufficient
Ia last him through, he went to work
with his spade and commenced 10 make
his way in The work was very slow
and difficult. At some points the open
ing was not large enough to admit ms
body, and here he pecked and hacked
away the projecting ledge OF limestone
with his spade till the hole was large
enough TO squeeze through, craving
back and carrying the fragments OF stone,
as he did the clay, TO the main cave.
Thus he had worked, as he estimated,
about three days, when vigorous pueo
of his spade sent the implement through
the last foot Of clay that obstructed ms
passage into the chamber he was seek
ing: his long and tedious labor was re
warded, for he Immediately emerged and
stood erect in a large chamber that
dazzled his eyes with its splendors. For
several hundred feet the roof of the cave
was hung with pendant masses OF lead
ore. and from the clay on the roof pro-
iected huge cubes of the same formation,
suggesting the exposed back OF agigantic
lead vein, which it indeed proved to
be. Hanging in places from the roof
was the most beautiful satin spar,
whose glistening made the chamber re-
semble iewel-shop. 1t was fairy pal
ace in reality. 1t was fortune!
Our adventurer walked up and down
and contemplated the magnificence OF his
discovery. He tried to estimate his
wealth, and his Imagination conJured in
yestments for it. In the near future he
could see himself a millionaire, and
wondered if he would become a bloated
aristocrat, like some of them. lie sat
down, and in his contemplation leaned
back against the wall of the cave, obhyl-
GUS of all things save the consideration
of his vast wealth.
Success, after long and anxious labor,
begets sometimes languor that is very
insidious and often dangerous. Great
victories are not infrequently by it
s,,tn ofr 1nfnatu IL GhnlI III
never be Welded to- Our miner forgot
his surroundings, and, yielding to the
fatal influence of success, fell asleep,
having forgotten his last candle was
burning low, that his stock Of matches
was exhausted, and that he had devoured
all his provisions. How long he slept he
did not know. When he awoke he
found himself in darkness. Remember
ing where he was, he felt the necessity
Of immediate action, his first business
being to find his outlet; for, after his
wanderings in examination of his dis
covery, he completely lost his reckoning,
and now realized the fact that he could
not remember the direction of the hole
by which he entered. His situation was
an alarming one. Alone, far beneath the
surface of the earth, beyond the aid of
friends, none of whom knew of his ex-
petition, he felt the utter worthlessness
of his discovery if he did not at once
make his way out. He began his search,
neryed now by the strong love OF life.
Long he CROPPED up and down his prison,
at times in despair of ever seeing again
the light of day. He estimated that he
spent forty.eight hours in this weari-
some search; when at 1ast--just as he
realized the probability that he was
entNnbed alive, that he must die of
starvation, and that ages might elapse
before his bones were discovered, for
he was even then struggling with the
grim monster of starvation-his hand
entered the aperture he sought. He was
savedl With what different feelings did
that little discovery invest him! A mo-
ment before he would have given his in
terest in the whole world for crust OF
bread; now he was the possessor OF In
estimable wealth. He did not, however,
stop to moralize on his situation, but
made his best way through the labyrinth
and by the shaft to the upper air, his
first act being the eating OF "good,
square meal"
The fearful experience of our adven-
turer was not thrown away. He realized
a large fortune from his discovery, in
vested it safely and lived comfortably
the balance of his days
He explored no more caves.-7he