The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1892-05-14

to look up. At that instant piece
of clay or rock struck the side of
my head, knocking me down across
the bucket and partially stunning
me, and before l could raise up the
whole we'll collapsed, burrying me
alive. AS if luck or Providence
was in my favor, a portion of the
wall in falling inward had met and
formed an arch over my head, so
that 1 could stand almost upright.
1t would be impossible for a HUI
man being not placed in the same
situation to imagine the awful hor-
ror of being buried under such an
avalanche of earth. When 1 fully
realized my predicament l lost con-
scousness. l think 1 must have
swooned for how long, I know not,
but when reason returned could
hear the confused murmur of voices
and could distinctly hear the
stroke of pick. Thank God!
They were trying to rescue me.
My heart was full of unutterable
joy. But would they be in time?
| felt that I could not live very
long in the confined air; already I
was gasping for fresh breath. 1
called and shouted to let them
know was alive; only exhausted
my supply of breath. for they
could not hear me. I could not
measure the length of time; it
seemed as if 1 had been shut in for
days. Now l could plainly hear
the sounds of workmen removing
the dirt, but could not hear what
they said, which I was anxious
to do in order to know if they
thought l was alive. Oh, if could
only hurry them to work faster.
My head was getting dizzy and
confused, l could scarcely breathe,
l was losing my reason and all
hope would soon flee. The awful
thought came over me that 1 was
surely dying. The thought was so
terrifying that I shrieked aloud.
Thank God! 1 was heard.
l remembered nothing more
until I heard voice say, "He's all
right now" and with returning
reason found I was lying on a
lounge in the house, whittier they
had taken me after working day
and night without intermission for
thirty-six hours. I was taken out
for dead, but a doctor who had
been brought in said that was
still alive, and I was soon as we'll
as ever.
l have never been down we'll
since, and if I had the choice of
thousand modes of death, would
prefer any one to being buried
alive.
The war with Mexico was now
over and our country possessed
more western sea-board frontier
lands, which was soon to create
the greatest excitement of modern
times. The discovery of deposits
of gold in the newly-acquired lands
of California was made, the partic-
ulars of which is well.known to
every one, so I will not enlarge
upon it, suffice it to say that the
incentive to acquire a fortune by
mining was so widespread and
universal that nearly all who could
by any possibility get to the
golden country were determined to
60. Every available means was
put into requisition for the trip.
Almost boundless plains had to be
crossed, war-like savages roamed
over the country, ever ready for
deeds of blood and plumber. Riv-
ers-torrsnts to cross, but nothing
could deter tho rush for gold.
Those in tho eastern states mostly
went by steamship or sailing vessels
while those in the middle and
western states and territories, went
"the plains across" Several of
our neighbors got the fever, I with
the rest.
Three young men joined in with
mo, we bought team of oxen, pro-
visions, arms and some clothing.
On the 3rd day of March, 1S49,
we left for the distant west: on the