Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-05-02
A Boy Hero.

In the city of Hartford, Conn, lives
the hero OF the true story | am about to
| relate, but no longer ''little," as the peril.
GUS adventure which made him famous
in his native town happened several years
ago. Our hero was then an active boy of
fourteen-the son of mechanic. In the
severe winter of 1885, the father worked
In factory about mile from his home,
and every day the boy carried his dinner
| across piece of meadow land. One keen,
frosty day, he found the snow on this
meadow nearly two feet deep, and no
trace of the foot path remaining. Yet he
ran on as fast as possible, plunging
through drifts, keeping himself warm by
vigorous exercise and brave cheerful
thoughts. When in the midst of the
meadow, fully half mile from the house,
he suddenly felt himself going down!
He had fallen into we'll. He sank
down, down into the dark, icy water, but
rose Immediately to the surface. There
he grasped hold of plank which had
fallen into the well as he went down. One
end OF this rested on the bottom of tho
well-the other rose about four feet above
the surface of the water. The poor lad
shouted for help until he was almost
speechless, but all in vain, as it was i'm
possible to make himself heard from such
a depth, and at such distance from any
house. So at last he concluded that if he
was saved at all he must save himself, and
begin at once, as he was getting extremely
cold in the water. So he went to work.
First he drew himself up the plank, and
braced himself against the top Of it and
the wall of the well, which was of brick
and quite smooth. Then he pulled off his
coat, and, taking out his pocket-knife, he
cut off his boots that he might work to
greater advantage Then, with his feet
against one side of the we'll, and his
shoulders against the other, he worked
his way up by the most fearful exertion,
about half the distance to the top. Here
he was obliged to pause to take breath,
and gather up his energies for the work
yet before him. Far harder was it than
all he had gone through, for the side being
from that point covered with ice, he must
cut with his knife grasping places for his
fingers, slowly and carefully all the way
up. 1t was almost hopeless attempt,
but that was all he could do. And here
the little hero lifted up his heart to God
and prayed fervently for help, fearing that
he could never get out alone. Doubtless
the Lord heard his voice calling from the
deep, and pitied him. He wrought no
miracle to save him, but breathed into his
heart yet larger measure of calmness
and courage, strengthening him to work
out his own deliverance.
After this, the little hero cut his way
up inch by inch. His wet stockings froze
to the ice and kept his feet from slipping
but his shirt was quite worn out ere he
reached the top. He did reach it at last
f crawled out into the snow, and lay down
for moment to rest-panting out his
breath in little white clouds on the clear
frosty air. He had been two hours and 9
half in the well. His clothes soon froze
to his body, but he no longer suffered
with cold, as full ofjoy and thankfulness
he ran to the factory, where his father was
, waiting and wondering.
The poor man had to go without his
, dinner that day, but you may be sure he
cared little about that, while listening
with tears in his eyes to the thrilling
story his son had to relate to him. He
must have been proud of the boy that day
as he wrapped him in his own warm over
coat and took him home to his mother
And how that mother must have wept
and smiled over the lad, and kissed him
and thanked God for him Grace Green.
J ,cOOd