Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-07-23

mOOrS 10 j1e pOlnJ Wncfc Jne eartn SUD
sided under me?' And then once more
hope awoke strong and irrepressible with
in me.
Being greatly exhausted ] could no
longer resist sleep, and when | awoke and
struck fusee found it was again six
O'Clock; six a. m, / supposed, of the day
after my accident. Shortly after the
watch stopped, and | was for the future
obliged to guess at the lapse of time, as
the watch-k key had been left on my dress
ing-table at home.
Energy returned after my slumber, and
together with burning thirst, drove me to
leave the mouth of the pit and search for.
water. left my gun and pocket book be-
hind me, having first scrawled few words
on IA page of it, in case rescuers should de-
scend in my absence. walked on boldly
from the mouth, where, high above, the
circular patch of sky was once more ap-
pearing with dawn and affording me ray
of hope. When fairly in the darkness |
stopped TO listen, and the silence was
awful. Again pressed on through what
seemed light sand, but which | well knew
was dry coal-dust, which invariably car
pets pit and extends up to the ankles of
anyone walking in it. At length / heard
the pleasant sound of water trickling
down, and Immediately was on the edge
of rill, at which had delicious and
refreshing draught. 1 lay for some time
by the rill, and left it invigorated and
once more, strange to say, hopeful.
How to find my way back was now my
difficulty. Hunger admits of no parley.
ing, and was now resolved to appeasc my
appetite on what had before seemed so re-
voting, the flesh of poor Rover Stagger-
ing back TO the spot where he lay, there
was hurried rush past me of an army of
small animals. The truth flashed upon
me. Poor Rovers body was being gnawed
to pieces and devoured by rats.
Strength of mind again almost forsook
me- These frightful creatures, | thought,
were waiting in the gloom to pick my
bones as we'll. Though this were dis
used working, the presence of rats, / felt
assured, pointed out thatthere were worked
portions of the mine at no great distance.
If they did not muster up courage enough
to overwhelm me by numbers | might yet
be saved Now | took my gun as a pro-
lection, and resolving to give up what
had previously regarded as treasure of
inestimable value, 1.-The rill of running
water prepared to strike boldly into an
opposite working and take my chance.
might support life for a couple of days, if
the worst came to the worst / tightened
my waistband-a plan to appease the crav-
ings of hunger which l had learned also
from the Indians-and dipping finger of
my kid-glove in the flask, by dint of chew
ing it made a sorry meal, but yet one that
greatly relieved my pangs, and opened
the salivary glands, to my wonderful re-
treshment My new track led to floor of
very uneven nature, and over which the
roof could be felt | concluded that this
was rather forsaken working than Il
thoroughfare, so to speak, of the mine, and
turned to one side where the roof again
rose. This | supposed to be the passage
leading to the abandoned working from
the main adit of the mine. On the more
level and dusty floor, here kicked some
thing which sounded metallic, and picked
up what | made out by feeling to be an old
safety-lamp, The paddock was still on its
side, and the ring at the top was not eaten
away or rendered less easy in its play by
rust. Clearly the pit had not been many
years abandoned. And then Il brilliant
thought struck me. With hands trem
bling from excitement l opened my pock
etknife and forced off this little paddock
with some little trouble. Then l drew out
my fusee-boX, scarcely sdaring to allow to
myself that there might be sufficient oil
left in the lamp to admit of my obtaining
light, if il were but for short time
There was but one fusee left. All my
hopes, almost my existence, seemed cen
tered on it, AT length | plucked up cour
age to try to strike it. 1t fixed for mo
ment and then went irrecOverably out
dashing all my expectations to the ground
and leaving me once more in utter dark
ness, both Outwardly and in my heart
Worse still, as turned the lamp felt the
precious drops of oil pouring over my
fingers. would then have willingly giver
all possessed for another match.
After this disappointment l once more
began to despair; and yet, determining no
to give in without another great struggle
went on, blindly hoping to light upor
some clew which might perchance lead mt
to working still actively prosecuted, fol
l knew That much of the district underly
ing the hills over which | had wandered
was honeycombed by the operations of th'
colliers. At all events, this was my only
chance, and it seemed we'll tOkeep uphop'
to the last All at once / fell over a hare
projection, and on STOPPING down found i
was an iron chair yet in stu. Though thu
/ rails anu bNNn lGlhONIAl,
was a discovery (though l would not buil(
too much on i0 which kindled hope, anC
! | felt in front of it till l kicked another
and then another. These successive chair
| showed that / was on the track, at al
events, along which | could hasten with
out constant fear of running against tn
walls of the pit, and which, so long as
was careful to keep touching these chairs
! sr1.t Iaan n fpnnnantn1 mart nf fin
pit. The most intense listening disclose'
no sound 1t was quite possible,
thought if | pursued this track tina
it might bring me to level entranc
into the pit. / must have rambled OF
for an hour, pursuing my monotonou
task of kicking these iron chairs, whicl
regularly succeeded each other at inter
walls of four yards, till, to my great joy,
reached rail fixed on the chairs; and
few yards further, finding the rail con
tinuous, began to feel certain that / wa
on the right mode of escape. Taking tn
last draught of water which remained,
made mental vow not to lie down, for
felt | should never rise again If
did. Fortunately, the end was at hand.
Was dreaming, or out of the body i
Hades? Did dull knocking strike upo
my ears, or was il the labored thud of M
hearts slow beatingtha heardy shoe
off fancies for moment, and realized, 1
| stood there leaning against the wall, thu
repeated blows, smothered by distanc
were being struck before me. The knocl
/ ing continued, two or three blows bein
given, and then a. vmomentary halt.
recognized the sound of colliers' picks, an
manfully strove 10 penetrate 10 them, bl
my knees would no longer support me;
staggered on and fell PROSTATE. Still
seemed so awful death to die with
reach of succor that shouted as loud /
! could, and was entranced when u
} knocking ceased, as though the collie