The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-01-16

Moment succeeded moment, but still no
appearance from the vague darkness
beyond.
Again it sounded, sharper and more
clearly defined than before! What could
Was everything right? In a moment
more the suspense was broken; an
enemy more dangerous than the bear
had already faced me. The water had
worn away the sandy soil between the
rocks, causing the large stone at the
entrance to fall, completely choking up
the way. l was q prisoner!
A full sense of my position filed me
with the widest alarm. Vainly I put
my shoulder to the huge rock and es-
sayed to push it from its lodgment; for
it only seemed the firmer, and worked
the harder.
Turn my thoughts whichever way I
might, the awful, sickening idea of
starving slowly continually haunted
me. The fire was blazing brightly, and
the dim shadow danced fantastic fig
ures on the wall; the rain beat down
with undated fury, and distant flash
of lightning revealed q few small crew
ices about the entrance; the low growl-
ing of the bear, that had now returned,
and the scratching of its sharp claws
against the rock that shut him out as
completely as was shut in, all com.
bined to make my reveries of the most
unpleasant nature.
1t will be two days." thought /,
when calmness ruled my mind, "be-
fore my comrades take any steps to
look for me. They will not be alarmed
at my being out for one night, and the
second nights absence will only excite
their anxiety, not greatly, indeed, for
they trust to my skill and strength to
carry me through any ordinary con-
fict. Two days to excite their alarm
and one to reach me, if they take d.
rect route for me, which is not at all
likely, and the terrible storm has
washed away the faintest trace of my
trail. Three days of living death at
least-and they may be heightened un-
til-too late!'
My luncheon had barely satisfied the
hunger caused by the hard days strug-
gle over the mountains; there was an
inexhaustible supply of water within
three feet of me, but, alas! not drop
that l could get.
Casting my eyes upon the floor re-
solved to gain what refreshment might
- . .>~>a .1..r- TL... ~-~. -. s.-- >s
possible intrusion from any source,
and the sweet oblivion of sleep soon
robbed me of all consciousness of the
horror in store for me. Would that
the same oblivion had covered my fol-
lowing experience.
With the first dim rays of sunlight
family struggling through the narrow
crevices, l was astir, with mind and
body refreshed for the labor before me.
had keen appetite, but it did not as
sumo alarming proportions. The storm
had passed entirely away, and the sun
rode the heavens majestically, un-
dimmed by the slightest cloud. Yet,
Notwithstanding the brilliancy without,
the cavern was only dimly lighted. A
fresh fire dispelled the mornings
gloom. How TO get out was the next
thing.
The first step / took was to estimate
the weight of the rock from its dimen-
sions. My philosophy, confess, was
rusty from long disuse, but this was
the result: Six feet long, four feet
cubic feet of solid rock. Specific grav-
ity of water to rock, l to 2.83. Multi
plying this result by the weight of one
cubic foot of water gave the weight,
2,7S5 pounds. smiled grimly at my
desperate attempt to lift it, and set my
teeth together with the firmness of de-
spair.
My next calculation was to get the
weig ht might lift by using one of the
poles which had thrown in for wood
as lever. could lift a little more
than one-fifth! My thoughts few from
one determination to another. One
project was no sooner determined than
another was conceived equally infeasi-
BILE as its predecessor. Ahappy thought
flashed upon me after . couple Of
hours wore away. If I could drill a
hole in the rock, might blast it enough
to get it out. To think was to act.
Drawing my knife from its sheath, /
began to examine the stone for q soft
spot. 1t was hard as flint.
Finding no choice, l began to drill
carefully. Half an hour 8 labor result
ed in small hole, about an inch in
depth. The knife was small one, like
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 q crevice as
completely beyond my reach as was
the sweet liberty I was struggling 40
hard to obtain. The only hope left me
was that my companions should find me
before 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 . greater de-
gree; thirst began to add its own hor-
rors to those Of starvation. That day
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 food
and water. My stalwart frame was
weakening under the terrible absti-
hence. Hope was waning as nv BODY
weakened. Great heavens! would they
come too late!
It was horrible for me, in the vigor
Of manhood, to tamely starve there!
What more could I do? Did Provi-
dence will that should die thusf They
must certainly be looking for me. ]
took off my leather jacket, spread il
fiat upon the floor and poured the con-
tents of my powder flask upon it.
Carefully dividing 1t, found that there
were eighty small charges. These ]
/ determined to fire At regular intervals,
hoping that I might attract their atten.
aoH by To reports. BY shooting every