The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-15
~ Terrible Experience.

Mr. Jacob Fikc, a wealthy farmer, lives
on what is known as the Barker farm, ten
miles north Of Marietta, on the Ohio river.
Ills house is large brick structure, well
| calculated to attract the attention of tramps
and idlcrs Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Fike
and his wife came to this place, leaving
| their daughter Mary at home alone, her two
brothers being at work in distant field
About three o'clock p. NJ, Miss Pike went
| to the well for bucket of water. The
well is under the roof of u side porch to the
house, and just as the young lady stepped
out OF the door two tramps accostcd her and
asked her for something to cat. She was
alarmed at the rough manner of the request,
but with great GOODNESS told them she had
no time to wait Oh them. She then pro-
ccedcd to lower the bucket into the well.
One OF tho men graspcd the lady by the
arm, and In threatening manner said they
would have something to eat or she would
suficr for it. Now thoroughly alarmed the
poor girl struggled to get free, but the
rascal said something to his confederate,
and each one grasping her by an arm and
her dress below they crowded her through
the box of the well and down through tho
opening into the darkness, and then fled
with all haste. In her extremity the victim
graspcd the rope, and there being some
twenty-five feet yet on tho windlass, this
ran rapidly off, and with Il sudden jerk left
her suspended twenty-five feet from the
top and thirty-tivc feet above the water.
The sudden jerk of the rope, while it
almost tore the girls arms OFT, probably
saved her life, for by some srangs twist it
threw one or two coils of the rope around
the girls ankle, and this enabled her to re-
tnrrihln q
she could find a foothold in the wall. In
this terrible position the brave girl stood for
one hour and fifteen minutes, not daring to
cry out at first for fear her would-be muir
dcrcrs would know that she was still alive
and finish their helish work. At last she
heard the joyful sounds of the barking Of
her favoritc dog us he accompanied her
brothers home from the field, and called
loudly for help. After some little delay a
rope was lowered with Il loose knot into
which Miss Fikc willingly sank, and she
was drawn to the surface The alarm was
Immediately given, and parties were sent
Ill all directions III pursuit, but with no sue
cess up to this evening, although several
suspicious looking parties were arrested to-
day and brought before the lady, but she
did not recognize any of them. Miss Pike
Is sixteen years of age, a handsome, finely
developed little brunette, and is to-day the
wonder of thousands of visitors, who have
crowded in to see her and congratulate her
on her wonderful pluck and endurance.
She looks badly shaken up, however, and
as she was relating the story today when
her eyes wandered to the we'll a shuddcr
ran through her whole frame. She says
that while in the well she could sec the
stars above her, as well us their reflection
in the water below but she never lost heart
Il moment. She can only give a poor de-
scrip,ion of the men who attacked her, and
thinks one was Il tall person, with sandy
moustachc and straw hat. Tho whole
country is aroused, and it may yet result in
case of lynch law.