Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-09-16

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feet, so that I fell with my head and
shoulders resting on a heap Of loose
earth. The falling wall was Of course
seen only for an instant. II locke
black, and the rush u wind it caused
/ well remember. My head and
shoulders were somewhat higher than
my legs. possibly a foot. The feet
We're spread apart. There was little
pain-0nly pressure, intense pressure.
It forced the buttons Of my light field
costume partly inside the fest; my
watch chain left a bright red mark
along my left side. I could feel the
watch strongly pressed against two
ribs these were broken. The skin
over my forehead seemed being cut.
but Ct was the pressure Of my hat fore
ing flesh between the laced straws. 4
knife in my pocket seemed burning
hot.
Thoughts coursed like lightning-past
life. future and home. I did not think
much Of the situation, except to won
der if I could breathe when ] got out.
VIC NAAA-AAAiI tAhANEAN. btAlAllfls 4 re
memberel reading Of women who in
war times buried their husbands in
ash plies or sand heaps TO prevent
their being drafted into the army. I
had often wondered if it were possible
for one so placed to breathe through
a tube, as described in the stories. I
remember trying to move one hand,
even a finger. One could not have been
more firmly held in a mold. My arms
and hands were perfectly motionIess.
The chest could not be inflated or
moved the slightest distance. On the
contrary, the downward pressure forced
an the air out Of my lungs.
/ remember how hot the earth
against my face became as the last
breath was forced from me. Just in
front Of my mouth and chin was a
slight hollow, formed by the arching
Of two gOod-sized humps Of clay. I
could move my chin and open and
shut my mouth. That was the only
part Of my entire body that could be
moved. / remember trying to keep my
mouth shut to keep ont the dirt. But
after a few seconds my mouth in
stinctiyely opened, and the arch having
broken down earth filed it. I re-
member the horrible sensation Of try
Ing TO dislodge the earth and the fear
Of strangling that suddenly seized up
on me. ! then felt that I was doomed
to perish, but had no fear and did
not particularly care.
It was sixty seconds, SO the surveyor
says, when the men reached my head.
The laborers think it was over a min
ute, but I am inclined to believe the
surveyor. I felt the earth move slight
ly above my head. That gave me hope.
| had not though much of rescue, but
gathered my remaining strength. A
shovel passed across the top of my
head, cutting the scalp I remember
it as If a hot iron had struck me. Then
they uncovered my head and removed
the earth from my mouth and eyes.
The surveyor says the pressure was
so great upon the imprisoned portions
Of my body that the blood was forced
to the head. and the veins stood out
50 strongly he feared they would burst,
Even with the head uncovered I could
not breathe. They soon had me laid
outside upon some wheat sheaves. I
remember, just as they carried me out,
seeing n little yellow wild canary
perch upon a stall thistle near at hand.
I heard it sing q sweet song.
As the bird flew away ] seemed to
follow it. dancing about the fields,
pcrchiug on this and that shrub, just.
as it did. The sky seemed 70 have a
different color from that usually mo-
ticed; I was impressed with its grand
cur-the scenery Of the surrounding
country was remarkably beautiful, and
as | observed all these things they
affected me and I cried, They rubbed
my limbs. / could see the men at
work, but could feel nothing. The par
tial paralysis OF my limbs continued
for some days. To some extent the
accident has affected my mind. l an
not now enter an underground cave
or mine or stand under an O~verhang.
ing bank without an effort. Tt requires
an my win power to 90 In them. I
also often dream Of caving banks and
experience precisely the same feelings
us ] did in reality. 7 neglected to
state that the earth above my head
was about three feet thick: that over
my legs was much deeper.
STORY OF THE WEST