The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-04
A PERILOUS POSITION.


escape seems hopel less when the thoughts
Of years are concentrated into moments
and violent death seems looking us full
in the face. rs s545
"Entombment in the depths of the earth.
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. "sThe imagination seems power
less to picture the feelings Of men in 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 faintest hope of release"
"We have, Of course, no record of the
mental condition that such a situation
produces replied another Of our number,
''for the earth preserves such secrets too
faithfully; but it once fell to nv lot to
endure 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 I
was attached to the .store-ship Fredonia,
which vessel d:smasted, but roomy.
comfortable old hulk-was moored in
the harbor of Valparaiso, for the purpose
ofrevictualing such United States men
of-war as called there for provisions or to
reft
~ was young in those days, indeed,
little more than boy. The duty on
board was 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
I had made.
with one young man, the son Of
merchant originally hailing fronn Boston,
but then in business at Valparaiso, where
no had taken to himself Chilian wife, l
was particularly intimate, and in such
expeditions as I 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. .
"ORe 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
Salinas.
"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. @4 @2tta
81 must explain that the Chilian Gov
eminent was endeavoring to connect Val
paraiso with Santiago, the capital; but
owing to the nature Of the ground, the
contractors made slow progress. At the
time speak of, the cars only ran as far
as Qulllota, a 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 tf the BAY,
sandy stretch Of ground, in which walk
Ing was highly fatiguing; but bv keep
ing between the metals, we found a firm
footing, and were able to move along at
smart pace.
"Fhe 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, en- 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. -
eve glanced up at the hills confront
ing us. They looked rough and Steep
We peered into the dark tunnel before us.
It seemed somber, cool and refreshing.
Xavier took out his watch, and then
fixed his eyes inquiringly on me. Evi-
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
oadlng up with WOOD. to be lain down
sandy place near Pana Blanca, where
the line has sunk little. Suppose we
try the tunnel, Ned? We shall get
straight through before they arrive -. u.
"'Agreed,'I cried, recklessly, by no
means fancying the hot scramble over the
hills. But hurry on. we have no time to
lose, It would be awkward to be caught
in this dark hole. IT,, =, -. - -
Throwing one final glance behind us,
and seeing nothing TO cause alarm, we
hurried forward at a run. and were soon
lost in the obscurlty Of the tunnel.
We had made about oue-third Of our
way, when a distant sound was borne
upon our ears, the import of which we
both knew but too WELT was the hoarse
scream of the steam whistle Of an advanc-
ing engine.
i 's3s'Vazqa MI DiosE" exclaimed Xavier,
st is the train! Run, Ned = and he was
starting off at speed, when a. louder
scream, accompanied by dull rum bling,
which increased in volume with fearful
velocity, broke upon our ears.
sStopp I cried. Stop on your life ~
h md Selling my companion by the arm, I
drew him forcibly against the brick side
pfs our prison. ta ILL.
EsSI mentioned before that the line was
single, and the tunnel, in consequence,
fxceedingly narrow; but the space be-
tween the rails and the wall never struck
'h hlale As being SO scanty until that moment.
AT seemed as if the fiery monster must
fhll the entire hollow, and like some re-
isistless demon was tearing down to our
Idestruct 81
bolt upright and glue your back
AGAINST tue WALL | shouted in Xaviers
|ear, for the din of the advancing train
|drOwDeH ordinary tones an9 o,foroo2