Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-09-18

which brought with 1t a glean OF nope
l thought it possible that by applying
my strength to the weight itself, |
might be able to impart to it by slow
degrees a swinging motion, like that OF
a pendulum; and this being continued,
might at length bring the ponderous
mass in contact with the door, and 50
burst it open. Raising myself from the
floor OF the cell, upon which | had
again sunk down, 1applied my strength
to the weight, and by exerting all my
energy in O. succession of rythmical
impulses gradually succeeded in i'm
parting to 1t an almost imperceptible
movement. Gradually this increased:
and but for an unseen circumstance
the scheme might have been sue
cessful. But | presently found
that the weight did not hang
exactly in the centre of the shaft. The
consequence OF this was that it struck
the wall opposite the door before it
reached the door itself. The extent
of its swing being thus checked, my
utmost efforts failed to bring it into
contact with the door. The attempt
had therefore to be abandoned, and
hope again died within me.
Hope died within me. And now my
sensations were those OF extreme hor-
rOr and dismay. for the first time
felt the certainty OF my fate. A dead
ly sickness seized me. In a paroxysm
OF despair | flung myself upon the floor
of my prison, and lay there without
motion.
Twill not dwell upon the long hours
that follOwed-those hours of more
than mortal agony tfmind. 1t happen
ed that | had lately been read.
Ing an account OF traveller
who had persisted in quicksand. The
time of the accident was on a summer
evening, when the sun was sinking,
and the lonely shore was bathed i'll
rosy light. The spot where it occur
red was well known to me-and after
reading the account Ihad endeavored,
i'll that unreasoning spirit which some
times leads the mind to dwell on hor-
roIs, to realize in fancy the sensations
OF the victim, as inch by inch and
foot by foot, in full sight of the free
ocean and the glorious sun. the treach-
tIouS uIGN llllll llON INV tIO
-downward-to his doom.
What the sensations attending such
Il death must be could then but feeb-
ly realize. | know them now.
| know them now. The sensations
of those who have stood face to
Slce with death for long hours,
watching with starting eyes his
slow approach, are to memo mystery.
But the mind of man has mercifully
been so ordered that agony prolonged
beyond a certain point ends i'll be-
numbing the power of feeling. Thus
it is that criminals condemned to exc
cution often sleep soundlv and eat
with appetite; fact which seems
amazing to those who consider how
comparatively slight a degree OF men,
tai distress has power orob the night
of rest and to turn the daintiest food
to poison. They do not reflect that
mental agony in its extremity ceases
to be felt. But thus it is-and thus it
was with me.
| believe also that the air of the
shaft must have acted upon me
with some Supplying or bewildering
influence, like that of the vapor which
often gathers at the bottom of old
wells. The agitation OF my mind
gradually gave place to a strange feel
ing OF indifference. The peril under
which lay ceased to trouble me, and
at last no longer occupied my
thoughts.
i began instead to be curiously dis
turbed by another circumstance, very
trivial in itself; by n sound, which
reached my senses from somewhere i'll
the stiffness; a sound low, mutilcd,
throbbing and mysterious, like the
beating of my own blood. Had my
mind been clear / could not have fail
ed to recognize it for what it was,
The sound seemed in my ears; but this
was merely owing to my position i'll
the shaft. In reality it was the tick
ing OF the great closk, far above my
head.
For hours I sat there,
listening mechanically, half I'M
consciously to this monotonous
sound, broken at intervals by
the notes of the deep-toned bell. At
length, probably owing in great meas
IRE to the heavy effect OF the air upon
me, must have passed into a sort OF
stupor, which lasted very long.
When | came to myself was con-
scious OF q very singular sensation.
The pitchy darkness was about me,
and OF course Icould seenothing. But,
in some unaccountable manner, OF
which | fear it is impossible for me to
convey q notion, ] was aware that
during my trance the weight had de-
scended great way, and was now
close above my body. | could feel,
though nothing touched me, the huge
and threatening mass broodlng over
me i'll the darkness. With a mighty
effort-for like a person in a nightmare
| seemed to have lost power of motion
i raised my hand. My expectation
was correct one. My hand struck
against the under surface OF the weight,
at an elevation Hess than three inches
from my face! At last-aiter an eter-
nifty OF unutterable suspense-at last
it touched me.
1t touched me. At first lightly;
then with a perceptible pressure;
then with a pressure which grew dis
tresslng. In vain | sought relief; in
vain ! sought to writhe my body into
the narrower compass. Slowly, stead
lily, the mass descended, crushing me
against the floor.
The last minute OF my lie seemed
come. | breatned Il prayer to heaven
and resigned myself to die. Still Il
space the weight descended; my brain
swan: my breathing became difficult: