Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-08-09

lOWdTuS tuc sea. OCtcIIuS CIy, III
stinctively flung my hands upwards;
one of them in some marvellous manner
caught projecting portion of the ledge;
the other was strongly grasped by my
uncle, who, being mercifully close to me.
turned at my shout, and instantly seized
hold of my extended hand. For two or
three minutes, which seemed an eter-
nifty to us both, my brave relative, who,
though an elderly, was very powerful
man, held me suspended in this fright
full manner, while he endeavOred tC
take in the situation and decide on a
plan of action. Our Mortified friends
were pOwerless to help, as they could
not possibly get near me, on account OF
the narrowness of the ledge, which
afforded even my uncle most preca-
rious footing, and rendered useless any
attempt TO raise me from my dreadful
position. | was young, and life was
very sweet to me: but felt that my last
moment was at hand. Another second
or two must end the matter; so severe a
strain could no longer be endured: our
hands must loosen their hold; and
must inevitably be dashed to pieces on
i
foot of the precipice.
There was an instant of breathless 81
lence, during which time my uncle had
clearly realized the critical natire of the
situation, and decided on plan of ac-
ton. He looked over, and saw that
just below the spot where l was sus-
pended there was a rugged projection
of rock, extending fully six feet beyond
the perpendicular of the point where
hung. If fell on this my fate was
sealed; no power could save me from
death. Beyond this rock was water.
possibly of depth sufficient to break
the force of fall, if only that water
could be reached; but in this lay all the
difficulty. My uncle was good as well
rs a brave man; he lovedme as the son
of a dead sister, and he was willing to
dare everything to save me; but he did
not undervalue the nature of the awful
risk he was undertaking on my behalf,
and he knew that he was going to take
his own life in his hands as well as mine.
Breathing prayer for Divine protec-
ton, he said quietly but firmly: Tom;
there is but one way for it. I'll save
YOU, or we will both perish together.
When | say the word, take your hand
from the rock-NOw!"
As my uncle loudly said "Nowr' l
relaxed my hold of the rock; and at the
same instant my uncle made an i'm
men>e effort and sprang horizontally
into the air, carrying me with him and
retaining his hold of my hand as we
rushed violently down, turning over in
our headlong descent. can not pre-
tend to say that l ever very distinctly
recOllected my sensations during those
awful seconds, for it was nothing more.
l had my senses pretty clearly while l
hung from the rock, and | can recall
the gasping feeling which l Experienced
as took my hand away; but beyond
that, all is chaos. SO great was the
force with which my uncle lea2ed, that
he completely cleared the projecting
ledge, and we fell into the sea, which
was deep enough to break our fall,
though the violence of the shock I'M
loosed our grasp of each other. Half
stunned as we were, the cold water
probably acted rs restorative. We
were both excellent swimmers, and
moment or two later we were breasting
the waves, fortunately not too bolster
Gus for our sorely tried strength. We
rose about twenty yards apart, at some
little distance from the rocky ledge,
and rather nearer flattish rock which
reared its head from the pillows. For
this shelter we made; and too deep for
u;terance were the feelings with which
we took each others hands and gazed
into each others eyes.
"Thank God! my boy" at last said
my uncle, fervently.
Il do, uncle; and you. too. Where
should | have been now, but for you"
"Hush! Tom. Thank God, we're
both safe. 1t was an ugly jump, no
doubt of that
We both shuddered as we gazed on
the precipice frowning above us, on the
top of which we could see our two so
recently horror-stricken friends, wildly
waving their hats in transport of JOY
at their discovery of us on the rock, APP
parently safe and sound.
A hearty cheer in reply assured them
of our perfect safety; and then my uncle
shouted to them some directions as to
the course they were to pursue in en-
deavoring to procure assistance for our
rescue. Owing to the width of ledge
broken off where fell, their return by
the same route was impossible; and q
long and perilous walk had to be under
taken before they were themselves in
security, when they Immediately sought
out means of deliverance for my uncle
and myself.
But in the meantime better luck had
befallen us. The noise made by our
shouting had attracted the notice of a
fisherman who lived in little cottage
under the cliffs, at place where the
shore receded. and left bare tiny
creek where small boat was mOored.
He had clambered over the crag that
hid us from his sight; and as soon as he
spied the two figures standing on the
solitary rock our situation became APP
parent to him, and he lost no time in
launching his boat and coming to our
assistance. Truly thankful we were for
the timely aid. We were both soaked
to the skin and shivering with cold. and
the rock was far too small for any at
tempt at exercise. A very short time
saw lis in the coy interior of the fisher
mans cottage, where a bright little fire
was burning, very welcome to us in our
chilled conditions; while his kindly
wife busted herself in preparations
for our comfort. and ransacked
her humble stores for supply
of dry garments. also highly acceptable.
Little remains to be told. When we
We're quite rested and refreshed, and our
clothes were dry enough to be worn,
the fisherman conducted us to the top
of the cliffs by circuitous little path,