The morning call., 1891-10-25
IN A QUICKSAND.
Terrible Experience Of a Man Being Gradually
Sucked Into The Earth.

About five miles south of Portsmouth,
Nebr., is one Of the most dangerous pieces of
road in this whole country. and while in
some seasons of the year it is safe for travel
ing at others it is all mans life is worth
to go over it. The cause of this is quick
sand which lies directly across the road
which is Used in the fail of the year, but is
abandoned in the spring and summer. To
prevent strangers from getting into trouble
there is generally sgnboard at the forks
warning them of their danger. In some
manner this signboard was removed and
the result was that Henry Girard, who lives
at Joplin. Mo-, came near losing his life.
Girard tells the following story of his adj
venture: | WAS coming to PlattsmOuth 10
transact some business regarding some
lands in which l have an interest, and AS |
wished 10 see the land before 1 got here
concluded to come on horseback. The horse
is regular pet and is one raised by my
self. He comes at my call or whistle like
dog. When l got 20 the forks Of the road |
saw that the river road was not used but
that the travel went over the hill. but l con-
cluded to go along the bank and thodght
that | could pick my way without
trouble. l got down off my horse
and turned him loose to follow
me as 1 walked along. De stopped to
Craze and | walked slowly watching the
river. Having got some distance ahead of
the horse L sat down 10 wait for him. How
long | sat there / do not know, but | was
suddenly aroused by finding that my legs
were firmly grasped by the quicksand. L
was slowly but surely being drawn into the
earth. | threw myself on my back and
tried to draw myself from the sand, but all
my efforts were unavailing, and / was
slowly being drawn under the sand. |
shouted for help until almost exhausted,
but could get no response, and was forced
+oh o1i, hat, last had md
that was to suffer a most horrible death.
1t was late in the evening and | wondered
why my horse did not come. | called him
time and again, but he was evidently too far
away to hear me-
AS lay there, sinking deeper and deeper
every minute, heard party of people on
the river. 1t appeared to be a pleasure
party of young folks, and as they fioated
down the stream they were singing. The
song came distinctly over the water. but for
some reason could not make them hear,
and they passed down the river singing
''Home, Sweet Home" while l lay there
thinking had seen my home for the last
time. By this time the sand had pulled me
down until it was almost up to my shout
ders, and l lay with NY arms spread out in
order to give as much resistance to the ter
rible suction as possible. / thought | heard
my horse and called with all my might Civ
ing peculiar whistle which | had taught
him to answer. He heard me and came run
ming to whers.I lay, but could not see me
on the ground where | was in the hole, as it
was rather dark by this time. l called him
again and again until he found where l was
and then he came to me and tried to reach
up and get sumo sort of hold on the saddle
or bride, but / was too low. By some
chance he stepped by me and got firm
hold on his tail and then urged him to go
on. 1t was an awful pull but could feel
that was being dragged cut of the sand.
1t was such strain that [ was compelled
to stop and rest often, but at last was
pulled so FAR out that l could extrieate my
self and then managed to hold on to his tail
until lie dragged me away from tue place
and there | lay until heard wagon on the
road and was brought to this city to recover
from the terrible mental and physical suf-
ferings. 1t was q narrow escape, and do
not think | will ever hear Home, Sweet
Home" again without feeling a spasm of
tbankfuncss.-Pla special to Fort
Worth Gazarte