River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-05
A PERILOUS POSITION.

We were talking of positions of danger
of perilous situations, from which
escape seems hopeless; when the thoughts
Of years are concentrated into moments
and violent death seems looking us full
in the face.
"Entombment in the depths of the earth
a fate which too frequently befalls min
ers, appears to me the most to be dreaded
of all the forms OF death, " said one of the
party. ''The Imagination seems power
less TO picture the feelings of men III that
awful position, cut off from all human
aid, and conscious that no exertion on the
part of the fellowmen can bring even
the taintest hope of release
"We have, of course, no record of the
mental condition that such situation
produces replied another of our number,
''for the earth preserves such secrets too
faithfully; but it once fell to my lot to
endure a few seconds of concentrated
agony, the memory of which will last me
to the grave"
Pressed to recount his experience, our
friend continued: Eighteen years ago
was attached to the store ship Fredonia,
which yessel--a d.smasted, but roomy.
comfortable old hulk-was moored in
the harbor of Valparaiso, for the purpose
of revictualing such United States men
of-war as called there for provisions or to
refit.
II was young in those days, indeed,
little more than a boy. The duty on
board was exceedingly light. For this
reason, was able to pass a portion of
my time ashore, either at the Club or in
the houses Of friends whose acquaintance
! had made.
"With one young man, the son of q
merchant originally hailing FROM Boston,
but then in business at Valparaiso, where
he had taken to himself Cnilian wife, /
was particularly intimate, and in such
expeditions as made into the country
was usually accompanied by young
Don Xavier, the name by which my
| friend was known Throughout the small
European circle in that city.
| "OAe morning we started on foot, with
our guns on our shoulders, hoping to get
some wild ducks and snipe at marsh a
few miles out of Valparaiso, called Las
Sdlatds.
"At this spot, we were informed, game
abounded. So, with the prospect of a
full bag before us, we sailed forth in
high spirits, and soon reach the line of
railway along which our nearest route
lay.
II must explain that the CHILEAN Gov
eminent was endeavOring to connect Val
paraiso with Santiago, the capital; but
owing to the nature of the ground, the
C ntractors made slow progress. At the
time speak of, the cars only ran as far
as Quillota, a village about half way be-
tween the two cities, whilst throughout
the whole distance the line was single.
"On leaving the terminus at Valparaiso,
the railway followed the bend f the bay,
sandy stretch of ground, in which walk
ing was highly fatiguing; but by keep
ing between the metals, we found firm
footing, and were able to move along at
smart pace.
''The FIST train for Santiago had not
left the Depot when we started so by
throwing 4 glance every now and then
over our shoulders, we felt pretty secure
from any risk of being run down.
by the time the sun had grown pow
erful we had arrived at the base of a
range of hills, On the further side of
which lay Lss Salinas. A long tunnel
enabled the railway to overcome this
obstacle, but for pedestrians to reach the
marsh they were compelled to climb tne
rugged rise, before dropping down on the
shooting ground.
eve glanced up at the hills confront
ing us. They looked rough and steep
We peered into the dark tunnel before us.
1t seemed somber, cool and refreshing.
''XaVieI took out his watch, and then
fixed his eyes inquiringly on me. Evil
IDENTIFY the same idea had struck us both.
1.-THE cars won't be here for this half
hour, he said there were a string of them
.oading up with wood, to be lain down
sandy place near Pana Blanca, where
the line has sunk little. Suppose we
try the tunnel, Ned2 We Shall get
straight through before they arrive
"'Aqreed,' / cried, recklessly, by no
means fancying the hot scramble over the
hills. But hurry on, we have no rlme 10
lose 1t would be awkward to be caught
in this dark hole
Throwing one final glance behind us,
and seeing nothing to cause alarm, We
hurried forward at run. and were soon
lost in the obscurly of the tunnel.
We had made about oae-third of our
way, when distant sound was borne
upon our ears, the import of which we
both knew but too well--it was the hoarse
scream of the steam whistle of an gdvanc-
ing engine.
"'Va5qa mi Dios I" exclaimed Xavier,
1T is the train Run, Ned 7 and he was
starting off at speed, when louder
scream, accompanied by dull rumbling,
which increased in volume with fearful
velocity, broke upon our ears.
"'Stopl' cried. stop ON your lifep
and Selling my companion by the arm, I
drew him forcibly against the brick side
of our prison.
Il mentioned before that the line was
single, and the tunnel, in consequence,
exceedingly narrow; but the space be-
tween the rails and the wall never struck
me as being so scanty until that moment.
sit seemed as if the fiery monster must
fill the entire hollow, and like some re-
sistless demon was tearing down TO our
destruction.
Stand bolt upright and glue your back
against the WALL | shouted in Xavier's
ear, for the din of the advancing train
drowned ordinary tones, and I enforced
my advice by act, as well as pEecept; but,
to my horror, felt my companions body
limp and dropping; the terror Of the
moment had utterly berelt him of all
presence Of mind.
"'Lie down l reared, lie close to the
wall. 1t is your only chance, and wheth-
er my words reached his ears or not am
unable to say, bu' be fell to tie ground,
and by the time bal pushed his limbs
INTO position OF comparative safety, and
retained them there with my own feet,
the train was within fifty yards of US.
Then, gentlemeli, in the brief instant
that elapsed before the engine came
abreast of us, l suffered the concentrated
agony mentioned before, for my mind,
performing its functions with lightning
speed. flashed into nay brain the horrible
thought that some of the cars were load
ed with brushwood, the ends of which
would assuredly protrude beyond the
sides of the vehicles. To follow my COM
panion's example and lie down WAS now
impossible. Net only was time deficient,
but / was compelled to restrain Xavier,
who, Ia his terror, would either have
arisen or extended limb within reach Of
| the murderous wheels
ITO crnsh myself as fiat as a piece of
paper was the only alternative left me,
and this, gentlemen, / put into immedi-
1 arc exec41tipn deyDr1flv THANKING provf-