The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-05-22
Marrow Escape.

On Sunday night last, Miss Maggie
Christie daughter Of Geo. S. Christie, Esq,
Treasurer Of the town of Harrisonbnrg,
came near being drowned. Mr.. Christie
was at church and his four daughters at
home. About half past O'Clock, Miss
Carrie went to the cistern to draw some
water, and thinking that her sisters had
retired to their rooms for the night and
that there would be no occasion for any one
gong into the yard, left the opening of the
cistern exposed, for the purpose of ventil-
alton. There were about eight or nine feet
of water in it. It seems, however, that
Miss Maggie was sitting in the parlor, and
shortly after her sister Carrie had en-
tered the house, fshe went to the cistern
with a glass to get a drink. Not MOTTO
ing that the top was uncovered. she fell
in, Immediately sinking to the bottom, and
without giving any alarm as to her situa-
tion. Miss Carrie heard the splash and
taking up lamp moved into the yard, and
placing it on the platform SO as to throw
the light over the aperture in the els
tern, discovered her sister struggling
for life in the water. 1t so happened
that day or two before several dead
young trees had been sawed off, and
one of them left resting on the side
Of the house, while the others had
been piled in the wood shed. Miss Carrie
had the presence of mind to seize hold Of
this limb and hand it down to her drOwn-
ing sister, who grasped itand drew her head
above the water. In the meantime Miss
Nellie ran to the rescue, and reaching
down, took. hold of the dress of her
sister and by the efforts of the two
she was kept from drowning. All the
time this struggle was going on they were
calling for help. The male neighbors were
absent at church, but accidentally Jacob
Haney, a c0lored man, was passing by,
and hearing the screams OF the young la
dies came to their assistance. Catching
in the situation at a glance, he made for
the cistern and with his strong arms seized
Miss Maggie and Immediately lifted her
from her perilous position. 1t was with
8~Oap 0iiuou1ty ACA clasp VA eilC SlOuhOS "
her rescaer could be ioosened. A white
neighbor, whose name we cannot remem-
Der, came upon the scene at this time, and
taking the half.dead girl in his arms, car
ried her into the house. Restoratives were
applied without moments loss of time,
yet she remained unconscious for some
hours, with the extremities of her limbs
cold, although hot water in bottles was APP.
piled constantly. Mr.. Christie had been
sent for, but did not reach his home until
his daughter had been laid ON the bed and
the remedies at hand given by his other
daughters. DR.. Neff was called in as
soon as possible, but when he arrived he
found that the case had been so well ,man-
aged by the young ladies that his ser
vices were not needed. On, Monday last
Miss Maggie was considered out of danger
but still in weak and FRUSTRATED condi-
ton. 44
The escape from death of Miss Maggie
was very narrow indeed, and seems almost
miraculous. But for the accidental loca-
tion of the old limb that had been sawed
off the day before and left in an unusual
place, death would have occurred before
help could have been commanded to rescue
her, as she had sunk twice when tho
branch was placed in her reach.