Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-10-13

dreamed that the man hole was still opel;
and what seemed curious, rather than
laughable, if you take it in connection
with other things. iancied that my legs
had Leen so stretched With the long walk
had taken the evening before that they
now reached the whole length Of the
boiler and extended through the OPEN
ing.
At first in my dreamy reflections it was
a comfortable thought that 10 one could
now shut up the mall-hOle without
awakening Inc. But soon it seemed as
if my feet, which were on the 0ntside,
were becoming drcnched i'm the storm.
which had originally driven me 10 seek
this shelter. 1 felt the chilling rain upon
my extrcmties. They grew colder and
colder, aud their numbness gradually ex
tended upwards to other parts OF my
body. ii seemed, however, that it was
only the under side oi my person that
was thus strangely visited. | laid upon
my back, aud ii must haye been IA species
OF Dighlma e, tba: afflicted me, Tor
knew at last that / was dreaming. yet
felt it impossible to rouse myself. A viO-
lent fit Of coughing restored at last my
powers OF vOlitiOn. The water which
had been slowly rising around me. rush
cd in my mouth awOke-t0 hear the
rapid strokes OF the pump, which was
driving 1t into the boiler.
My whole cOnditiOn-nO, not all of it
hot yet-my pr sent. condition flashed
acl Oss me with new horror. But / did
not again swOon. The choking sensation
which made Inc faint when first discOv-
cred how was entombcd, gave way to Il
livelicr thought less OverpOwering emo
ton. shrieked even as [ started from
my slumbcr.l The discovery OF the closed
aperture, with the instant oblivion that
followed. seemed only part OF my dream
and threw my arms about and. looked
eagerly tor the opening by which l had
entered The horrld place-yes, looked for
1t, and felt for it, though it was the terri
bic conviction that it was closed, now a
second time brought home to me, which
prompted my irenzicd cry; Every sense
seemed TO have ten-iOlu acuteless, Yet not
one TO act i'm unison with another, I
shrieked again and again-implOfingly
desperately, s;lvagtly, fired the hollow
chamber with my cries till its iron walls
seemed to Jingle around me. The dull
strokes Ut the accurscd pump seemed on
ly 10 mock at, Willie they dcadeiled my
screams.
AT last gave myself up. 1t is the
struggle against our late that freiizies tile
mind, We cease to fear when we cease
10 hope. l gave myself up, and then /
grew calm!
was resigned to die-resigned even tu
my mode OF death. 1t was not. thought
so very new after all. as 10 awaken unto
ward horror in a man. Thousands had
been sunk To the bottom OF the ocean
shu; in the holds OF vessels, bealing
themselves against'the battcned matches
dragged down from the upper world
shricking. not for lie but for death, only
beneath the eye and amid the breath of
hcayen. Thousands have endured such
appalling kind OF suffOcation. | would
Tile only as many Il better man bad died
before. 4 could meet such a death. said
50, L thought SO, felt so-ftlt so, mean
Tor "a minute or more; ten minutes it may
have been, or but an instant OF time; /
know not, nor does it MATES if could
compute ii. There lUIs time, then.
when L WAS resigned to my fate. But.
good God. was | resigned to it i'm the
shape in which il ilrXt came TO appal me?
Strange. iclt the wafer growing not
about my limbs, though it MAS only yet
inid-leg ,ieep. felt it. ami the same mo-
mcnt heard lie roar OF the furnace That
MAS to turn IL into steam before il could
get deep enough TO drown me.
You slIuduer. 1t WAS ilidcOuS-but did
| siIrick, and shrivel. and crilmbl,. down
upon tue iron noor, and lOSe.my senses
III that hoirid agony OF fe n? NJ. uiouril
my brain swain, and the lite-blool hui
cululed about ms heart seemed about to
sI.gt:atc there forever, still kn.w | was
TO llOarSe, 10 helpless, from my pr, viouS
efforts 10 cry out more. But | struck,
fecbly ali first, and then strongly, frantic
ally. with my cicnc;icd fist, against the
sides Of the boiler. There were lie pplc
moving near vino must hear my bow.
Could not L lis'ar the grazing OF rl,aillS.
the shuffilng Of feet, The very rustic OF Il
rOpe-hear them al within Il few inches
OF me? Il did but the gurgling water
that was growing hotter about my ex-
trenches, made more noise wi hin the
steaming cauldrOn than. did my frcnzicd
blows against It's stiles.
Latterly had hardly changed nv DO
sitiOn but now the growing heat of The
water made me pllsl to and fro: lifting
myself wholly out of it WAS impO sible.
but could not lemain Quiet. L stumbled
upon something, it Was Il Inallel! chance
him. With what wild JOY did seize il
with what eager confidence did [ now
deal my first flows with it against the
walls OF my prison! But scarcely had
irtermitted them for Il moment. when /
heard the clang OF the iron door us the
fireman flung it wide 10 feed the flames
thai were to torture me! My Knocking
was unheard, though l. could hear him
toss the sticks into the furnace beneath
me, and drive to the door when, his in.
fernal oven Was fully crammed,
Had yet hope? had but it rose
III my mind side by side with the fear
that might now become the agent OF
preparing myself most frightful death
Yes when | thought of that furnace
with its fresh red flames curling beneath
the iron upon which stood, more
frightful death even than that OF being
boiled alive! Had discovered that NAL.
let but short time sooner, would, by
its aid, resort to the only experiment now
! left me.
1t was this: L remembered having &
m;rlinspike in my pocket, and in less
time than have taken in limiting at the
| consequences OF having thus used it,
had made an impression on the sides oil
the boiler, and soon succeeded in driving
/ it through. The water gushed through
the aperture-wOull they see it? No,
the jet could only play against wooden
PARTITION, which must hide the stream
from view, 1t must trickle down upon the
decks, before the leakage could be discov.
cred. Should drive another hole to
| make the leakaoe preaterp Why the