The Opelousas courier., 1885-09-05

cHCASy' Ill AdCts L Hhu tnouBut So
much about the object of u search
that | had become utterly regardless
of anything else. had dreamt of it
when sleeping, unused on it when wax
ing, and it had obtained complete con-
troll of my mind. Day after day we
worked digging, and my compan
ions washing; yet, strange to say, 1
did not become discouraged. They
said nothing about the bag Of gold
dust, ami l asked them nothing about
the result o. their washing the exca-
waited soil.
We had worked about three weeks,
and had formed a tunnel extending
about fifteen feet into the hill, when,
or one afternoon, completely tired out,
/ sat down to rest in the cave. l had
only intended to sit a little while, but
five minutes had not elapsed before |
was fast asleep. | was awakened by
a crash, and found my feet and legs
completely covered by a mass of dirt
and stones. The front part of the
tunnel had fallen in, and | was in q
manner buried alive. About ten feet
of the tunnel remained firm, and from
my observation of its structure prior
to the accident, l was convinced that
l had no reason to apprehend any
danger in that quarter. My partners
had carried dirt enough to the river
to keep them busy for the rest of the
day, so l had nothing to hope from
their assistance. The question that
first presented itself to my mind was,
How long can life be sustained in this
confined state? / had read a dozen
times statistics in relation to the
amount of air consumed hourly by a
human beings lungs, but. like almost
everybody else, had merely wondered
at the time and then forgot the fig
ures.
How much would | have given then
to have been able to recall them! The
next thought was. How a | proceed
to extricate myself? This question
was difficult of solution. If | went to
work with a shovel and pick to clear
away the dirt that had fallen, it was
extremely likely that all which / could
be able to remove would be immedi-
ately replaced by that which would
fall from above. This was pleasant.
| racked my brains to devise some
means of liberating myself. but with
out effect.
Leaning against the wall in utter
dependency. | was about to throw
myself on the ground and await my
fate, when / observed quite a current
of water, on a small scale, was making
its way down the side of the cave. AT
first | was alarmed, as l thought it
might loosen the earth above, and
bring another mass down on my head.
The next moment the thought struck
me that IL might be turned to my ad-
vantage. Why could | not so direct it
that it would wash away sufficient
earth in its progress to the outlet of
the cave to make al opening large
enough to allow me te crawl through
it? Il it only succeeded in making an
air-hole, it would enable me to exist
till my partners could come to my res
cue. Carefully examining the course
of the water, / succeeded in finding
the spot where it entered the cave,
and to my great joy ascertained that l
could easily direct it by cutting a
channel out Of the the side of my pris-
on to the mass of earth that blocked
up the entrance to the tunnel. The
air at this time was quite hot and
sitting, and | became aware that
whatever was done must be done
quickly, or | should perish for want of
oxygen. After I had cut a channel
for the water tc flow towards the n
trance, I enlarged the opening by
which the stream entered the cave,
and was delighted to observe that it
flowed with redoubled force. Taking
my shovel, I forced it through the
earth as far as / was able,
and then awaited the further action
of the water. In a few minutes I was
enabled to push it still further, till at
last it was out of my reach. Then,
placing my pick-handle against 1t. I
pushed both as far as / could. With
what eagerness did ! watch to see the
first opening made by the water, and I
was soon gratifed by observing that it
flowed in a steady stream in the direc-
ton in which / had pushed the pick
and shovel.
In few minutes I discovered afaint
glimmering in the distance. which
might be an opening Of the effect of
an excited imagination, I scarcely
knew which. But the doubt soon re-
solved itself into certainty, and an
opening some five inches in diameter
s. lilly disclosed itself. Larger and
larger the opening grew; lump upon