The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-30
4 Boys Terrible Experience in a Well.

A gentleman of this place, who has lust
returned from an excursion in the north
ern part of this county, relates the fCl-
lowing thrilling incident, which occurred
near what is known as the German Flats
on Monday last Among the scattered
families living there is oRe named Snyder.
Near their farm are some fields that were
once under cultivation, but which have
been neglected by the owner and have
grown up with underbrush. The build
ings are also falling into decay, and in
what was once the door-yard of the
dwelling is an old well. The cattle hay
ing free access to these fields, boards were
lain across the well some years ago, and,
the brush having grown up about it, its
existence was almost forgotten.
Frank Snyder, an eight-year-ol son of
the farmer mentioned, was sent on Mon
day toward evening to look up COW that
had wandered off in the woods. He fire.
quently went on such errands, and his
parents did not manifest any uneasiness
at his being absent longer than usual I'M
til it grew dark, and he not yet returned.
Thinking that he might have stopped at
a neighbours, about three-quarters of
mile distant, his father went after him.
He was not there. Meantime a heavy
thunder shower had come up, and it had
grown extremely dark. Mr.. Snyder hur-
ried back home. The boy had not come,
and, it being evident that he was lost in
the woods, the alarm was given through
out the settlement. Great excitement
prevailed, and men with lanterns started
out in various directions to look for the
missing boy. The rain poured in tor
rents. About ten o'clock one of the
searching party in passing through the
lot containing the old well, heard a faint
voice calling: Papa Papa" The farmer
went in the direction of the SQUAD, and
as the light of his lantern fell on the
clump of bushes surrounding the well
he discovered the lost boy lying on the
ground. The man raised him to his feet
He was dripping wet and unable to stand.
One of the boards over the well was
broken, and it required no explanation
on the part of the boy to tell where he
had been. The man who had discovered
him carried him home, and the news was
soon carried to the anxious seekers in the
woods.
The boy was so nearly exhausted that he
could with difficulty speak, and it was
some time before he was sufficiently re-
stored to give the following account of
his adventure:
He had been unable to find the COW, and
he started back home at six o'clock. When
he went out a pheasant had flown out of
the clump of bushes by the well, and
upon reaching the lot, in coming back,
he went over to see if the bird had a nest
there. He stepped in on the boards GOV.
ering the well, and one of them broke
and he fell to the bottom. His descten
was so sudden that the boy did not at
first comprehend where he was. The
ice-cold water, in which he stood waist
deep on regaining his feet, recalled him
to his senses. Except the streak of light
that came down from the opening above,
all was as dark as night.
He was at first nearly overcome with
terror at his situation, and called loudly
for help. But after a time he realized
the folly of expecting to receive any re.
Spouse to his calls, and set about as
calmly as possible for some way TO es-