The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-23
Come right away to sink hole. quarter
mile southwest OF Birch Mound.


HARRY FARGO"
I snatched of my cap. rolled the letter
in 1t and stuffed 1t all in the top end OF
the bucket, which the next moment went
humping away up the hole. For ten
minutes, / think after 1t got up heard
not a sound and 1 guessed they were
reading my message out OF the earth
and getting over their astonishment.
Then there was sudden fash OF dazzling
light around the hole in the cave floor.
and I knew instantly that they were
flashing the sunlight down with a look
ing glass 10 get a sight OF me, so ran
over and tried to look up, but couid
no more open my eyes than couln ny.
But / knew they saw my race. because
/ heard a voice shot "Al right' with
n hollow ring. and then II was sun anu
I ran away to Sink Hole Dome as fast
az I could shaking my fist at the bats
as I went through what we called the
church and crying: "Ill get away from
you nowl'
I thought they would never come AZ the
dome. but at last I began to hear SOUNDS.
and then a piece OF tree branch almost
struck me as paced back and forth like
a wild beast in cage. Next l saw light'
and soon the hole was open and voice
called:
Are you down there?"
"Yes." | joyfully shouted back.
"Shall we let down a rope for you
mo" l returned. London has got the
CAPTAIN. Come down with enough men
to rescue him and catch the whole gang
After a few minutes | heard voice
call, Look out for me-Im coming ana
a man who proved TO be one of the we'll
drillers came dangling down at the end
OF the bucket-rope.
"Have YOU folks been down here ever
since you Disappeared he asked. look
ing at me in the blankest astonishment
YES" I said. 1--WE came down this
same hole. but our rope washed In with
the rain and we couldn't get back.
He called up for other men TO come
down. and told me that Sheriff Mlliron
had been sent for Men kept coming
down till there were some Twenty-Five
of them. all very much astonished, and
TO them ! told my story i'm as few words
as possible. Many of them had guns. and
when the sheriff came he ordered more
let down. with plenty OF lanterns and
candles. Then he came down himself
and after a few sharp questions, to which
I gave him answers sharp enough at
least. we made a start. at the head with
I shall not say much of our trip, since
any one who has read this account so
far has gone through Frontenac Cave
quite enough times (and too many l
fear); so / will simply say that we went
by way Of the Trap Door and Rope Pit,
going down the pole. We then took the
pole to Daulphin's Pit, since / suspected
there would be no other way TO get up;
so after all it served It's purpose at this
place, and more. carrying up twenty-sev-
en- men instead OF three.
The sheriff told me that the guard had
been kept up at both mouths OF the cave,
the other having been found since We
| had come down, so he did not doubt that
we should find the men stlll in the cave.
But feared greatly for the safety Of the
| Captain.
We went on from Dauphlins Pit with
/ great caution. and soon the sheriff and
secuted ahead. We got sight OF the Fort
and though the fire was low and no can
die burning we could see that most OF
| the men were asleep. with two on guard.
| counted them eagerly, but could make
out no more than seven. all told. and
feared more than ever for the Captain.
Sheriff Miliron brought his men down
very sklfully, I thought, and at a sig
! nal they all rushed forward. each with
| his gun ready and the head ones carry
| ing lanterns. The men on guard shouted
| and made as II ley would shoot, but
| when they saw tho number OF our party
| they dropped their weapons and threw
up their hands This a little surprised us
for London was not the man 20 surrender
I under any circumstances; but It was ex-
/ planned when the sheriff called for hin
and the nearest man said gruiily:
IKE London IS dead"
Then / dlved forward to a man who
was rolling over IN his blanket, and II
was Captain Archway; and ! felt so weak
and foolish that I thought I might n,
well sit there on the ground awhile and
pretend I was tying up my shoe. though
! wore boots, but the tops being cut on
made them not so unlike shoes after all
The sheriff first took off the Captain
handouts. slipping them on the neares
| outlaw; then he put others on the res
OF the gang. and a pretty sick lot they
were. too. Our men all shook hands will
the Captain. heartily enough you MAJ
be sure. for most Of them knew him wei
| and had been sure he was dead. | ha'
missed Dauphlin at first glance and ask
ed the Captain Of him.
Dead" he answered. shaking his head
but with kindly tone in his voice
Neither he nor London ever got up afte
they fred. IL was the end that Nigh
have been expected TO the kind OF III
Dauphlin had led. but If IL was fit 10
London, then Dauphlin deserved some
thing a little better. for he was not s.
bad a man."
The Captain went on 70 say that n
thought L.ondons death was all ina
saved him after our attempt 10 rescu
him. as when the others lost their chic
they became frightened and SCENE
| afraid TO risk "A desperate step.
The sheriff decided to take his prisoner
out by the way Of the mouth OF the cave
but the Captain wanted 10 go out as h
had come in. by the Sink Hole, partly $
that he might see the well which ha
broken into our bed room.
Three or four OF the men went with u
and were fast 10 see everything In tn
cave but as for the Captain and me, W
had seen quite enough of IL. and only car
ed 10 stop for a look at the well-hol'
The Captain would not forgive himsel
for not having guessed the sound
heard
Al Sink Hole Dome there were me
waiting 10 draw us up. First the Captal
went. then /. Half way up bat pnds
the ledge squeaked at me, but as he vi
hooked himself and slid down into IN
nit I told him II would be many lon
day before / bothered him and his Kin
again; which 1t has been.
When We came 10 the top the SUI
which was near setting, seemed to MI u
whole western sky with a mighty blaz
Ike ten suns instead of one, and "