Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-08-10
A LEAP FOR LIFE.

A LEAP FOR LIFE.
When | was n Young fellow. now
many years ago, frequently spent part
ot my vacations with an uncle. who
lived In n beautiful part of Wales. and
whose house was only mile or two
from the cOast-in that ncighborhood.
very wild and PERCEPTIONS, and remark
able for the peculiar character Of the
strata OF which many Of the wave and
wcathcr-bcaten cliffs were composed.
My uncle was keen gcolOgist. aud had
imbucd me with some Of MS own inter-
est In the subject; and many n long and
pleasant ramblc We had together. armed
with our little hammers and specimen
eases; sometimes starting directly after
breakfast. and remaining absent till the
evening, either carrying our simple
luncheon with us. or adiOurning for re-
frcshmcnt 90 some humble village hos
telry. when such happened to be within
easy reach.
These were pleasant DAYS. often
look back tO them now, when | am an
elderly gentleman. subject To govt and
rheumatism. and tied for most of the
week to dingy office i'm the city. But
they were very nearly being brought to
an abrupt conclusion hy an incident
That occurred during one If our more
distant excursions; and rs the relation
at this incident commentaries n rare
instance Of combined pluck. presence of
mind and heroic sclf-sacriiicr. | do not
think | need any further excuse for en-
tering upon the details connected with
M
placed In n similar position: should.
however, such an occasion arise. let Ms
hope they may not be found wanting i'm
ability to follow so admirable an cx-
ample.
During one Of my visits to NV uncle.
he hal NJ the same time rs guests two
professional gculogists of some emf
hence, who had heard Of the special IA
Cilitics the neighborhoOd afforded for
the pursuit of their favoritc science. and
had had some correspondence with nv
uncle ON the subject. which resulted i'm
their receiving an invitation from my
hospitablC relative 90 come To his house.
and Judge Of the matter for themselves.
This invitation was accepted, aud the
grologists arrived; two very pleasant.
Well-infurmed men, between whom and
my uncle very Interesting and ami
mated conversation speedily ensucd. i'm
which the terms granite debris. g"
boulder clay. - &" newer foFr,ations' n
" dip OF the strata, Wer,s ,fr,saly Ian.
dtcd about IN q manner ycy cdifyiiig 10
listen Ia. II not altgYdhr lntallttihle ID,
the majority Of their hearers, -,
For the first day or two .wo conisnicd
ourselves with showing the strangers
the features Of scientific interest more
immediately In the vicinity: and with
these they were greatly gratilicd. But
my uncle was anxious that they should
inspect u district some miles oil. pccul-
larly rich IN specimens. and which has
had himself visited several wears he
torc, but never since hail been the
companion Of his expeditions: therefore
was new tO me rs we'll rs To our
guests. Every thing was arranged for
our start; and we st OF after an early
breakfast. driving the first portion of
the distance. and putting up our tran
30 y farmhouse. to await our return.
while we pursued the remainder of our
excursion on foot. II was an exquisite
day; and rs we walked along the cliffs
magniliccnCc we INDUCED i'm loud ex-
preston ot admiration at the beauty
ot the scenery. the bold line Of coast
stretching away for miles ON each side.
the tremendous prcCipiccs descending
sheer To the blue waters that lappcd
their base; only here and there broken
by some Jagged AMI pointed rocks. that
threatened rapid destruction To- any I'm
fortunate vessels which should be cast
upon them.
Our expedition was n great success.
Many rarc specimens of different fos-
slls were added to our collections. and
my uncle was much gratiiicd that his
oNeftlOns Tor the entertainments Of his
guests hal been so satisfactorily re-
Warucd. We hal taken some sandwiches
anu sherry with us, aud cniovcd our
lunch during an interval Of cessation
from our geological researches. Bvthis
time we had reached the extreme end
ct oureNpcditiou. aud were ON the point
OF rctracing our steps when one OF tho
strangers expressed desire 10 round n
prOmontory short distance ahead. so
as To inspect the line Of coast lust be-
You'd; the proposal was agreed TO: and
we MI started along the cliff. which NJ
this place was Of lesser altitude than
nc some points we had prev;ouslv
passed, though still Il was about iiftv
or sixty feet above the level OF tho sea
which nc the time was nj full flow
and washed against the rocky wall be.
low Us. To round the prom0ntory we
found u was necessary 10 descend a lit
TIC way, and then proceed along n narrow
lodge ofprolccting rock. so very narrow
m some parts that IL would have been
impossible for any one to have ATTEMPT
ell the passage unless he had n remark
ably good and steady head.
We were all experienced elimbers an
the risk was disregar,led; and the two
BIOLOGISTS and my uncle had inst turned
round . rather sharp angle and i was
closely following. when the rock ON
which trod suddenly gave wav under
my feet, and after abrief but Intellectual
struggle l slipped down. with my face
towards the sea. Uttering n cry. / in
stlnctively Hung my hands upwards;
ono OF them In some marvellous manner
caught projecting portion of the LEDGE:
tho other was strongly grasped bv NV
uncle,who. being mercifully close 40 me
turned at my shout. and instantlv se;1ed
hold Of my extended hand. For two nr
three minutes. which seemed an eter-
nity 70 US both. my brave relative. who.
though an elderly, was a very ,,,,,,,.-t,,i
man, held me suspended m this fr;s,l,-
iui manner, while he endcavored 80
take In the situation and dec;da -, ~
plan OF action. Our Mortified friends
were Powcrless 70 help, as they could