Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-01-29
IN A QUICKSAND.
A Terrible Situation in Which n Man was
PIaced--A Narrow Escape.

IIHCed--A NuITO" bbChpes
The fate that grasps and holds you,
and makes you look it in the face as it
slowly murders you, is one which to
look forward to must break the strongest
human fortitude. Accident has thrown
many man in the power of such slow
destruction, and those who have escaped
have had story to tell. Forest and
Stream says that Mr.. Frank Wade, of
indianapolis, while on fishing excur-
sion at Maxincuckee pond, went up the
margin of small muddy stream, and
saw some beautiful water lilies, that he
very much wished to gather. Leaping
across, he struck on a miry level and
found hims If sinking.
The ho rible truth burst on him that
he was in quicksand. The sensation
was dreadful. The mud grasped him
like a wise. His legs were helpless,
and his feet seemed to be treading on
nothing. And still he sank. Now he
was above his waist and rapidly losing
strength. p.
Up to this time he had indulged the
hope of extricating himself, but now he
began to call for help. Again and again
he called with all his strength. His
cries were heard by two companions,
Messrs. Elliott and Gall, about quar-
ter of mile distant on the lake, and by
some instinct they at once took in the
situation.
In moment they were making toward
him as fast as oars would carry them,
but moments are years to man in
Franks situation. By this time he was
up to his armpits. The mud and sand
seemed to press him from all directions.
Respiration was difficult, and his breath
ing was growing shorter. Each breath
was drawn with distinct effort.
He grasped at little bunch o grass,
and held to it like a drowning man to a
life preserver. With the other hand he
managed to get hold of small piece of
an old barrel stave, which lay within
reach, and worked that under his arm.
Both these stays soon failed him, and he
continued to descend.
The other boys were fast approaching,
but now his arms were extended above
his head, and his rescue seemed doubt
full. He thought of home, of mother,
sisters and friends. He wondered what
he had done to deserve such an ignomi-
NOUS death. He wondered if his body
would ever be recovered if he sank out
of sight His senses reeled, and his
head seemed to be bursting.
The approaching rescuers struck a
bar. In an instant they jumped out and
were dragging the skif over it. 1t was
hard work, but soon done. The life Of
Frank Wade was at stake. In deeper
water again theyrowed towards him like
athletes.
The boat strikes the land. They leap
out and run to Frank, bringing an oar
with them. When they got to him the
mud was within an inch Of his mouth.
His head was thrown back, and the back
part of it imbedded in mud. He was
pale and helpless.
With all possible haste an oar was ex-
tended to him. He was too weak to grasp
it firmly, but managed to get it under his
arms, and thus sustained himself. Then
hope revived. After few moments Of
rest he worked the oar into such position
that he could seize it with both hands,
and then the work of extrication began.
Little by little he managed to loosen
his body, though he could not move it.
Then the boys would work him back and
forth with the oar. Without describing
this process in detail, suffice to say that
after about half an hour of hard work he
was finally dragged out.