The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-06-15
Buried in a Sewer.

If there is one genuine and noble at
tribute still inhabiting poor, fallen hui
man nature, it is the godlike instinct of
assisting ones fellow-men in moments
of hidden distress and unlooked-for
physical danger. Upon occasions when
human life hangs in the balance, moth
ing is more touching and creditable
than the manner in which personal COM
fort and safety is at once forgotten, and
friends and foes join with equal ardor
in such vital emergencies. This truth
was illustrated with peculiar force yes
terday afternoon, as many of our read
ers are already aware. A couple of
children, playing at the corner of Pine
and kearny streets, heard proceeding
from the sewer opening faint and evil
IDENTIFY much exhausted voice calling
for help. Some one, apparently child,
had evidently fallen down the trap and
was in imminent danger of suffocation.
The news was soon communicated to
the passers-by, and in few moments
tools were brought and the pavement
was being rapidly torn up. In short
time a dense and excited crowd had
congregated, and the sand and stones
flew in perfect shower. No one held
back. Kid-gloved dandies took their
places beside sturdy draymen. As fast
as one man came up exhausted another
promptly stepped into his place. Gen.
McComb's well-known form could be
seen in the midst of the workers, while
Auditor Maynard desperately tore up
the compact soil with his bare fingers.
At intervals the faint voice from the
sewer could be heard gasping: Help!
Hurry upH' and the like. Col. Barnes
came by, shouting some encouraging
words down the hideous opening, and,
flinging aside his coat, seized a iust-re-
linquished pick. By his side, with
clenched teeth and dripping brow, his
enemy of the day before, Frank Pixley,
worked a heavy crowbar At this
juncture the scene was rendered more
intense by the appearance of a poor
woman from neighboring alley. She
had Just missed her little boy, and,
with the unerring intuition of mater
nifty, guessed it was her Johnny who
was SLOWLY smothering down in that
frightful hole. With terrified shrieks,
she alternately wrung her hands and
covered her face with her apron. The
sight of the poor, crushed creature
brought tears into the eyes of many
stalwart man present. "Would they
be too late?'' was the whisper that
passed from one pale bystander to the
other. Jasper Mcdonald fell out of the
ranks of the diggers and lay upon the
sidewalk, utterly worn out, and Barton
Hill, the actor, stepped into his place.
Mayor Bryant threw his official dignity
to the winds, and, though equipped
with nothing but a piece of tin can, did
good service. The brokers, coming up
from the just-closed board, pitched in
with will. Sandy Austin came near
being submerged by the caving earth,
as the pit deepened, and Turnbull in a
few minutes looked as though he had
been resurrected by the last trump.
Econ some Of the Uorkingmen'S party
lent a hand. In just twenty-five min
utes from the first alarm thes level
was reached. The last spadeful of
earth was thrown aside by Mr.. Scott,
of Wells ~ Fargo, when, amid the
deafening cheers of the immense crowd,
the little prisoner emerged, dripping
and almost dead, from his critical posi-
ton. 1t was a parrot, that had left its
perch in front of sneigboring bird
store and had fallen down the trap, and
but that's all.-San Francisco NeaUS
Letter..