Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-07-11

that quarter. My partners had car
ried dirt enough to the river to keep
them busy for the rest of the day, 80 1
had nothing to hope from their assist
ance. The question that first present
ed itself to my mind was, How long
can life be sustained in this confined
state? 7 had read q dozen times sta.
tistics in relation to the amount of air
consumed hourly by human beings
lungs, but, like almost everybody else,
had merely wondered at the time and
then forgot the figures.
How much would have given then
to have been able to recall them !!
The next thought was, How can I
proceed to extricate myself? This
question was difficult of solution. III
went to work with shovel and pick to
clear away the dirt that had fallen, it
was extremely likely that all which
1 could be able to remove would be
Immediately replaced by that which
would fall from above. This was not
pleasant. I racked my brain to devise
some means of liberating myself, but
without effect.
Leaning against the wall in utter
dependency, I was about to throw
myself on the ground and await my
fate, when I observed quite a current
of water, on a small scale, was making
its way down the side of the cave. At
first I was alarmed, as thought it
might loosen the earth above, and
bring another mass down on my head.
The next moment the thoaght struck
me that it might be turned to my ad-
vantage. Why could I not 80 direct
it that it would wash away sufficient
earth in it's progress to the outlet of
the cave to make an opening large
enough to allow me to crawl through
lit? IF it only succeeds in making an
air hole, it would enable me to exist
till my partners could come TO my res
cue. Carefully examining the course
of the water, I succeeded in finding
the spot where it entered the cave,
and to my great joy ascertained that
I could easily direct it by cutting a
channel out of the side of my prison
to the mass of earth that blocked up
the entrance to the tunnel. The air
at this time was quite hot and sitting,
and I became aware that whatever was
done must be done quickly, or should
perish for want Of oxygen.
After I had cut q channel for water
to flow toward the entrance, I enlarged
the opening by which the stream en-
tered the caye, and was delighted to
observe that it flowed with redoubled
force. Taking my shovel I forced it
through the moistened earth as far as
I was able and then waited the further
action of the water. In few minutes
I was enabled to push it still further,
till at last it was out Of my reach.
Then placing my pick handle against
it, pushed both as far as l could.
With what eagerness did watch to
see the first opening made by the
water, and was soon gratified by OBJ
serving that it flowed in a steady
stream in the direction which had
pushed the pick and shovel.
In few minutes I discovered faint
light glimmering in the distance, which
might be an opening or the effect of an
excited imagination, I scarcely knew
which. But the doubt soon resolved
itself into certainty, and an opening
some five inches in diameter speedily
disclosed itself. Larger and larger
the opening grew; lump upon lump
was washed away by the stream until
the channel became large enough for
me to place my head in the opening
and halloa Justify for assistance. Just
as I was drawing my head back l
caught sight of a buckskin bag. Has
tily selling it, I found that it was the
one we were in search of, and which,
but for the accident, 1 would never
have found. Wishing to surprise my
companions concealed it and redou-
bled my cries. In few minutes they
came running up the hill, and soon
liberated me from my unpleasant
position.
On opening the bag we found about
$4,000 worth of gold. We could
never ascertain anything about Mr..
Forrest, so we divided the money
among US,