The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-07

ible as its predecessor. A happy thought
flashed upon me after couple of hours
wore away. If 1 could drill hole in
the rock, l might blast it enough to get
out To think was to act. Drawing
my knife from its sheath, began to
examine the stone for a soft spot. 1t
was hard as flint.
Finding no choice l began to drill
carefully. Half an hours labor re-
suited in small hole, about an inch in
depth. The knife was small one, like
a poniard in shape, and was wearing
rapidly away. My hope here was Of
short duration. An unlucky turn
snapped the slender blade at its hilt,
and it fell, lodging into crevice as
completely beyond my reach as was the
sweet liberty l was struggling so hard
to obtain. The only hope left me was
that my companions should find me be-
fore the last spark of life was extin-
guished. How can they find me when
am eight or ten miles from the track
they would naturally take to look for
me?
The first day wore away in vain at
tempts; the second night passed with
but little distress. The second day
brought me face to face with the grim,
horrible pain of inanition. Each hour
increased my misery to a greater de-
gree; thirst began to add its own hor-
rors to those of starvation. That dav
and the following night wore their slow
length away; the third morning dawned
and crept slowly through its long. slow
hours. Seventy-two hours without foSd
and water. My stalwart frame was
weakening under the terrible absti-
nence. Hope was waning as my body
weakened. Great heavens! would they
come too late!
1t was horrible for me, in the vigor
of manhood, to tamely starve there!
What more could do? Did Providence
will that l should die thus? They must
certainly be looking for me. l took off
my leather jacket, spread it flat upon
the floor, and poured the contents of
my powder flask upon it. Carefully
dividing it, / found that there were
eighty small charges. These 1 deter
mined to fire at regular intervals, hop
ing that l might attract their attention
by the reports. By shooting every half
hour during the day and once an hour
during the night, l would be able to
keep up these signals for two days
longer, before my stock was exhausted.
If they tarry beyond that time, God
have mercy on me! l placed my rifle
close to crevice and fired. The sound
of the charge reverberated through the
mountain tops. If they are within
three or four miles of me they will GER
tainly hear that. During the fourth
day [ fired regularly, listening with
feverish anxiety for some sound to
mark their coming. My condition was
now becoming appalling; my form was
emaciating, and an intense thirst made
my mouth and throat feel like a fiery
furnace. The day passed, the night
drew on; but still they came not. Sleep
was stranger to my aching eyes, and
to my wakeful musings was at boun-
teously laden tables, drinking great
draughts from limpid springs. l was
bordering on insanity! The fifth day
came. With great difficulty | raised
the rifle, now heavy in my weakness, to
give the last few signals. Great blotches
began to cover my limbs-would COM
plete insanity follow?
Of what followed l remember only
with slight shade of reason. On the
sixth morning my last signal was fired,
and in the last frenzy of despair l COM
menced to scream to the full extent OF
my weakened condition. Several times
sunk prone down with exhaustion, but
| would rally for a mighty eXertion.
How long l remained in this semi
comatose state was difficult for me tC
determine; but l was aroused by sew.
eral reports of rifles, and the fierce
bowling of a dying bear. Hope sue.
ceeded despair, and with strength
amazing to myself, l put my cracked
and bleeding lips to the crevice and
screamed until my exhausted frame
seemed unmindful of the little life il
contained. My last effort was not with.
out avail, for my friends had heard my
cries and FASTENED to my aid; but
strange to say, they had not heard any
of the many shots had fired, and would
not have found me had not the wounded
and bleeding bear, which they had fol
lowed several miles by its bloody trail,
led them directly to my prison. They
removed the rock, and for many months
carefully nurscd me, but to this day
the indelible results of that terrible ex-
perience have not been eradicated.