Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-09-30
Lost In a C0rn-fieId.

THE Joliet lll.) Sun Of recent date
tells the following story The name OF
the individual whose adventure in corn
field Is so graphically described is sug-
gesiive, and indicates that the writer and
hero of the story are quite intimately re-
lated:
We have received report this morning
from one Of the townships in the eastern
part Of the county, adjoining the State of
Indiana, and among other items of inter
est is the following, which illustrates in q
striking manner not only the unequaled
fertility OF the soil of Illinois, but partic-
ularly the extreme growth which crops of
all kinds have attained this season:
A Frenchman by the name Of Cantel
A. Goodlie, living in the French settle
mcnt, having occasion on Saturday last
to visit his brother-in law, living some
five miles distant on the prairie, left home
about five O'Clock in the afternoon, and to
save considerable distance attempted to
shorten his walk by taking cutoff
through the intervening corn-fields.
To those unaccustomed to seeing Hi
nois corn-felds.it may be well TO say here
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 comparatively
Young there are but few fences, or even
hedges, TO make the dividing line.
TO the eye il Is sea of corn, and to
Mr. Goodlie nearly proved wilderness as
dangerous as the trackless North Woods.
Shortly df,er he left home a severe
storm, such as we have had numbers OF
during the summer, arose and came driv-
ing down upon him, and he was drenched
to the skin. The walking became fatigu-
ing at every step; the earth, moistened by
the rain, adhered to his boots in great
quantities until il 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 nearly to his knees in
the porous black earth. Night approached
and darkness settled down upon the fields.
| He was miles from any habitation wet,
tired, and nearly exhausted; unable to
get any landmark, however slight, by
which he might be guided 10 home or
friends. The tall corn waved over him
and It's depths were impenetrable 10 his
eyes, and he realized tliat he must pass
the night IN solitude as profound as If he
were alone in The midst of an African
jungle. g.
As he could no longer tell the direction
10 go, and could scarcely drag one foot in
advance OF the other, he gave up the
hopeless attempt, and with clasp. knife
his constant companion cut down enough
of the waving stalks &c make him bed
and covering, and, shivering with cold
and exposure, he sank into heavy sleep.
Night passed, and the glowing sun rose
above the horizon and took its slow but
tireless 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, although unaware that more
than one night had gone by during his
rest. he stumbled about in uncertainty tor
few minutes, until, ascending small
hillock, he cast his eyes about and there
beheld his own home within a few min
utes' walk. In the darkness he had be.
come confused, and instead Of going for
ward had constantly crossed his own
track. finally lying down within stones
throw of his own Preside
We can easily imagine with what eager
haste he crossed the dividing space, for In
his lonely condition the sight of familiar
face seemed an oasis in the desert of life.
And great was his surprise at his wife and
children greeting him as 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
any result as they had not thought 10
search the adjacent corn-feld. All hope
was departing from them when he re.
turned