The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-09-06

might be buried alivcl This thought
so filed me with horror that IL was with
difficulty that could refrain from trying
the lid. Only the knowledge that this
would mean discovery II the lid yielded
restrained me. IL was hot day. and
the heat was intense in my narrow prison.
| was fearfully cramped from my strained
position, aud this and the heat added to
my misery. After waiting what seemed
an age heard at last the sound of steps.
A party of men had entered aud came
up to me. The next moment the coffin
was lifted. A sudden giddiness and
rush Of blood to the head followed, and
/ knew they must have held the head
lower than the foot felt the bottom
grating something hard. l was being
put into wagon. Then / was moving.
I could not hear very distinctly, but ]
could make out the regular tramp OF
soldiers following. The road was rough
and | was fearfully jolied. My one
thought now was: Has that negro done
as he promised and does my captain
know of my fixl What | feared most
was faintipg and being buried alive.
To prevent this was my aim. At last
the wagon stopped aud was taken out.
a grating sound and the next moment
was swinging in the air. Then rested
quiet. followed the movements ia my
mind and knew now was in my grave
Thore was pulling at my feet one OF
the ropes must have caught. aud the
next moment heavy body sprang on
the co.lin. Then voice, hoarse and
husky, but which l knew we'll, whis-
pcred through the gimlet holes: Il let
dem birds loose Jest rs you told me. For
Gods sake. don't hauSt me, bossp The
next moment he was out. Now was the
time for my help to come, il il was COM
ing at all, but | resolved to wait to the
last minute. \ dead silence followed,
and then dimly heard voice. Read
ing the funeral service, thought. How
! kept myscl calm at that time is more
than ] can say, but the knowledge that
in n moment | could break out and be in
the fresh air must have had much TO do
with it. The voice stopped. and dull
thud followed that made my heart beat
like sled hammer They were
throwing in the dirt, and my grave wns
being filed up. hal no time to spare
With head and brain rccling | doubled
myself up to force open the lid. Oh,
horror! | could no; move it. made
one last desperate effort, but in vain |
could not lift it an inch. had never in
my life elorc tainted, but this was too
much for me and l fell back in dead
swoOn.
When | recovered ! found myself on
horseback ~ front Of a cOmrade who was
holding me in my place. We were rid.
ing ut u furious rate, and the fresh air
quickly revived me. My friend handed
me n flask. TOOK a good pail and
looked around. | was surrounded by
my friends. We soon reached our camp,
and | got an explanation of what had
happened. 1t was my Captain who gave
it to me. lie shook my hand warmly.
u got your message by those pigeons, he
said. 'and got up this party for your
rescue at once We had very little
trouble with the half dozen soldiers who
were ut your funeral, but the old negro
here he burst out laughing had
jumped in your grave at the first sight of
us, and we had hard time to make him
come out. We got you out of your hole
rs fast as we could, and the rest you
know This explained all and it was
the negro's weight that prevented me
from getting out. | was hero for some
time, and the information had picked
up was of great value. but it did no; pay
me for the agony | suffered in that
grave. You see this hair" he added,
running his fingers through his siivery
locks. at was rs black rs yours when
entered that coffin. When they took
np ont IL yuS n. vnu SOC II nnyy -