The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-09
A PERILoUs POSITION.

OF eight feet. Three Of us were living in
a cabin about half mile out Of town,
near the head of Sour-Krout Ravine. We
We're in the habit OF spending our even
iBgs in town, or at the cabins OF our
brother-mlners, generally remaining
from home till ten, eleven, or even as
late as twelve O'Clock.
/ happened to be in town the very
evening that the first great fall OF snow
began. l saw that the snow was coming
down very fast, and knew before start
ing home that the trail would be hidden;
but this gave me no uneasiness, as l
knew the course well, and could keep
within few rods Of the trail the whole
distance, il not in it.
When | finally started homeward. it
was about 10 O'Clock; and there were six
or eight inches OF snow on the ground,
and fakes coming down as big al sau-
GERS. Knowing my course, l rushed
along, paying but little attention to the
trail, and was within two hundred
yards of the cabin when there was
sudden crash of breaking twigs and
brush under my feet, and l felt myself
sinking into an open space. Instinct
lively l stretched out both arms TO their
fullest extent, and clutched the snow
with both hands. Instantly, in fact be-
lore l had fully settled into this posi-
tion, l knew where | was, and fully
comprehended the danger OF my situa-
lion.
knew that 1 was hanging over the old
Brookshire shafL-a shalt dug some
years before 10 undermine the hill, ana
at least hundred feet i'll depthl
L 1t was DuL two or three rods below the
trail, and was covered by few pine
and spruce bOughs that were thrown
across its mouth when it was aban-
d0ned. l knew that there were huge
bowlders and sharp, Jagged rocks pro-
jtctlng everywhere along. tue sides OF
Tie shalt, and that in the bottom was al
least twenty feet OF water; for, in pass
ing, l had once or twice pusned the
brush covering aside, and dropped inlo
1t pebbles ana pieces OF lighted paper.
l felt my body and legs dangling in
space, and, without thinking of the con-
sequences, made an effort to reach OUT
wlGu one OF my feet TO see If could
touch the wall Of the shalt. l had *
tended my leg some distance without
touching the wall, when, TO my horror,
the dry and rotten covering of the shalt
began cracking under my arm on the
side upon which my weight was thrown
in the attempt had made TO learn some
thing OF my situation. Carefully swung
back, TIL l hung perpendlcularly oyeI
the fearful chasm, The brush still crack
ling as l did 50. AS each little twig
snapped, l telt tnat there was that much
less between myself and deaIh; eacn
little rotten stick that held was worth
millions TO me, and Tor d stout beam
under my leet would nave given tens
of millions.
The snow beat down necessarily upon
my mead in immense damp Fl lkes, ana
could feel it gradually pin. about my
neck. Occasionally there were wild
blasts OF wind that rOared among the
tail pines, and swept the light snow INTO
my eyes. One OF Cuese Ulas ,s took away
my light ielL maj, and left my mead ex-
posed to the beaLIng storm. As l. telt
my hat gong l made an involuntary
movement to raise my arm " catch IL,
but Instantly the cracking twigs |
warned me to deslst. Tdis moVemen,,
The ightest in the world, Ist me nal
a dozen LWlgs, aud, as ~ seemed TO me,
greatly weakened my support. The
snow melting on my head and lace
trickied INTO my eyes, and almost blind
ed me. My hands aud arms seemed
becoming Deuumbed; and l began TO
tear l would loee my hold upon the
brush covering OF the shaft. Whenever
this notion took possession OF my MIND,
would extend my arms, and even my
ingers, till the joints OF my shoulders
seemed starting from their sockets.
BY stralning my eyes could see the
dim outlines Of our cabin ON Il little rise
OF ground above me. l could see no
light, however, and concluded that my
partners had either gone to bed, or had
not yet returned from neighbours cabin
quarter OF a mile turtAer down the ra-
vlne, whittier L knew tney had gone to
spend the evening. Once or Twice l
shouted, but the effort caused crack
ling OF tue twIgs supporting me, and
desisted, determining 70 wall TIA could
hear the voices OF, my cabin companions
returning, or see light in the lutte win
dow vi iour small paues. This, iortuH-
ately, Was on the slue OF the house next
to me: so, too, was the door by whlcn
they must enter the cabin. l thought OF
all this, ana it gave me some hope.
Several times, as the roaring wind
luiled for a moment, thought heard
the sound OF voices and laughter, and
my heart beat quick with nope and joy;
bat the sounds were not repeated, anu
doubtless were but the creaking Of some
storm-sWaye bous n, or the chatterings
OF some distant coyote.
now began seriously to fear being
completely covered III bl6 IdSL-IaIllDR
and drifting snow. 1t seemed coming
down at the rate of an inch minute,
and already covered my shoulders, and
was piling close up about my mouth. l
dare not make the slightest move 10 rid
myself of the urlIt which Was ABOUT to
bury me. SHOULD the snow get over my
eyes, could not see the light III the
cabin, and could only Call out by guess.
AS SO slight an eXertion as calling out
IN loud tone SET my rotten platform to
cracking, did not wish to cail Tor alu
till l was certain tuat il was near.
AS the snow began rising about my
mouth, l discovered l could keep il
away With my breath. L saw that / stiil
had IA chance OF keeping my eyes free,
and kept constantly at work blowing
away the accumulating fakes. This
gave me something TO do, and Was a re-
lief to my mind, and so jealousy did l
keep guard thai l would hardly allow
two fakes TO lay before my lips.
Thoughts OF home, my friends, OF the
little had ever done IN the world, and
of the jagged rocks lining the side OF
The SHAFT, with the great pool in it's bot
tom, passed and repassed in my mind.
In tnIs circle my mind seemed swiftly
revolving, dwelling but Tor a. moment
upon one thing. would strain my eyes
to see the light in the window till Iney
ware ready LO start from their sockets