Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-01
A .pERIIOUS POSITION.

We were tai!slng of positions Of danger
Of periIous situations, from which
escape seems less; when the thoughts
years are conc entratcd into moments
and a violent death seems looking US full
in the face.
~Eatombment in tho depths of the Garth
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. %I'ne Imagination seems power
less 10 picture the feelings Of men IL that
awful position, cut off from all human
aid, and conscious that no exertion on the
part OF the fellow men can bring even
the faiate5. hope Of release
eve have, Of course, no record OF the
mental condition that such situation
Produces replied another of our number,
~SfOr the earth preserves such secrets too
faithfully; out it cuce fell to my lot to
endure q few seconds Of concentrated
agony, the memory Of which will last me
TO the grave
Pressed 10 recount his experience, our
friend continued: >.Eightcen years ago |
was attached to the store ship Feedonia,
which vesacl--a d.sm4sted, but roomy.
comfortable old IiliS-was moorod in
the harboT Of Valparaiso, for the purpose
Of reyictuaiing such United States men
of-wat rs called there for provisions or to
reGt.
II was young in those days, indeed,
little more than a boy. The duty on
board vas exceedingly light. For this
reason, was able to pass 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
merchant originally hailing FROM Boston,
but then in business at Valparaiso, where,
he had taken to himself Cnilian wife, l
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
Kurapean 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 a marsh
few miles out OF Valparaiso, called Las
Sa}n6as.
CAT this spot, we were Informed, game
sbounded. So, with the prospect Of
full bag before us, we sailed forth in
high spirits, and soon reach the line of
railway along which our nearest route
lay.
u must explain that the Chilian Gov
ernment was endeavoring to connect Val
paraiso with Santiago, the capital; but
owing 70 the nature Of the ground, the
contractors made slow progress. At the
time speak OF, the cars only ran as far
as QuilIota, % village about half way be-
tween the two cities, whilst throughout
the whole distance the line was single.
con leaving the terminus at Val paraiso,
the railway followed the bend cf the bay,
sandy stretch Of ground, in which walk
ing was highly fatiguing; but by keep
ing between the metals, we found o firm
footing, and were able to move along at q
smart pace.
s;The first train for Santiago had not
left the depot when We started, so by
throwing a 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, Cd 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 the
rugged rise, before dropping down on the
shooting ground.
awe 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.
'sXavieT took out his watch, and then
hxed his eyes ipquiringly on Inc. Evil
IDENTIFY the same idea had struck us both.
"'The Cars won't be here for this half
hour he said; there were string Of them
loading up with WOOD, to be lain down
in q sandy place near Pana Blanca, where
the line has sunk little. Suppose we
try the tunnel, Ned9 We shall get
straight through before they arrive
"'Agreed,',I cried, reclllessly, by nc
means fancying the hot scramble over the
hills. But hurry on, we have no time &c
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 soor
lost in the obscurlty Of the tunnel.
We had made about oae-third Of oul
way, when distant sound was borne
upon our ears, the import Of which we
both knew but too Well--it was the hoarst
scream Of the steam whistle of an advanc
ing engine.
"'VaJqa mi Dios!" exclaimed Xavier
it is the Grain! Run, Ned and he was
starting off at speed, when loudel
scream, accompanied by adult rumbling
which increased ia volume with fearful
velocity, broke upon our ears.
"'5top! | cried. Stop On your life
and seizlng my companion by the arm.
drew him forclbIy against the brick sid
Of our prison.
Il mentioned before that the line wa
single, and the tunnel, in consequence
exceedingly narrow; but the space be
tween the rails and the wall never strucl
nae as being SO scanty until that moment
"It seemed as if the fiery monster mus
fill the entire hollow, and like some re
sistless demon was tearing down to GU
destruction.
Stand bolt upright and glue your bacl
A@ainst tina wat - | shouted in Xaviar'