Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-07-01
A THRILLING ESCAPE.

San Frapcieco Call. King Is typical Cali 1
fornia miner. rugged and sturdy. and does i
not seem much the worse for his experience.
But he admits that his nerves are pretty /
well shaken, and he atkrms most solemniy-
,hat he woaid not 20 through the same 4
thing agasp for al the wealth of Guzerai or |
"one blazing hot day" says King, Il
left my camp in Pleasant Canyon. where
the big lodges are 10 be found.
After climbing The back OF that inn
mense ridge which leads by scues OF
broken dykes and rugged ascents aiinos;
TO the foot Of Telescope Peak, that g,Sni
sentinel Of the range. which towers tor
nearly 1900 feet into the barning sky OF
the desert, my eye ht upon some weil-de
fined outcroppings Of quartz. This seemed
a likely spot at which 20 commence my
prospecting. and hobbiing my burro and
taking my prospecting pick l began slowly
10 traverse the course Of the vein as It
was defined by the groupings. As ! 6e-
sceDded toward the Death Valley dope Of
the ridge toe vein showed stall more
strongly, and. intensely interested, i failed
70 notice that the ground over which
was slowly picking my way grew more end
more precipitous.
Suddenly, as I rounded rocky escarp-
ment, the awful panorama Of Death Valley
rnfolded itself 20 my view. had never
contemplated thus scene without a certain
feeling Of awe. and l now stood motion.
less before the vast spectacle.
Seven thousand feet below me .ay the
valley. hideous rcpU'sive. appalling 10 its
vista Of desoiation. its course defined by ap.
parcntly endless uphcavals of volcanic
origin, while borne on the wings Of an ap-
preaching storm an enormous cloud was
sweeping toward me az least half a mile
below. From the center OF this cloud
flashed incessant lghtnings, and the re-
verbcrations OF the accompanying thunder
cchoing from rock 20 rock. completed tins
picture Of q vertabie inferno.
Il can't tell you just how il happened.
bat something moved under my feet az /
stood watching the storm, and before !
could help myself was slipping down
down. with q rlpidity that took away my
breath, toward the sheer edge Of the prcCi-
pice.
AS sid. however, I retained sufficient
presence Of mind 90 clutch at everything
which might impede my progress. but there
was not much on that barren slope. The
next few seconds were terrible. ! knew that
F N nothing stopped me I was lost. II was
while ] was shding these few last feet that
f the phenomenon 50 often experienced 10y
men who have been suddenly put IN OK.
. traordinarily pculous positions occurred in
my own ease. In a single instant q seemed
or if the whole panorama Of single lic, OK
+ tending over - years, was flashed before
+ ne. / passed in one moment from my clld
hoods home in Connecticut 20 the awful
realization % present peril Then tAcrC
wa a sudden shock ! was brought ~
hy something that struck me under th,
left arm. and ! opened my eyes slowly Z,
find myself "a q peculiar position.
Il was iying on my back az an angle q
about IS degrees. my feet resting agoins
one Of those yellow. cone-shaped oacti
which takes such deep root IN the soil. NJ
LEFT arm vas oiutching a projecting rock
. which juttcd 70 a length Of about IS niche
s-om the face Of the prccipice. Neither o
: these would u itself have arrested my fal
, Unchecked by my spasmodic bat wholly an
conscious seizure Of the rock as / swept pas
d.. on the one hand ] must have piunee'
+. through the cactus against which my fee
p now rested On the other band, q my fec
had not struck the cactus my hold woua
, have been torn from the rock. which IA u
: turn partly supported me.
Il was saved-th.s was my first rCiicc
tion. Saved Yes, but for q lingering an
cruel fate.
I was miles from human habitation. 40
customed 10 De gone from camp for wee
or more 90 a time, ms partner would nc
bo 40 an alarmed az my absence. Beside
how long could / retain my present pos
tionf Already ms left arm was stfiene
and cramped by holding on 10 the rock, ia
was afraid 70 trust al my weight on a.
cactus
Just then shadow passed between m
aud the sun looked up. An enormol
I vuiture Was floating a few score feet aboS
me. ! felt nay nerves gradually brealur
70 down az the utter hopelessness Of escaI
). forced itself upon me.
"Au this time I had not noticed that
sul glspec IN my right hand Tie sma
: prospcctor's pick with which had start,
= ont. ! stall held il in a convulsiyc clutc
=. L. was this which finally saved me.
AS / say, / had utterly lost my nery
y ] dared not glance downward. There W
I a dreadful attraction about that avn
abyss which ] instinctively felt would dr.
me 20 destruction. A voice seemed 10 VIII
per: Why pro.ong this torture; Let
your hold IL viii soon be over
j. Il reviewed every action Of my past III
Severed from ali hope OF earthly aid,
turned my thoughts 70 Heaven have
?. distinct recollection how long this cont
i. ued, but the SUI went down and the sta
came out and fell in 70 a kind Of tranC
2 Soon the moon, peering over the mountain
Y penetrated into the valley and cast 4
shadow Of the great peaks in fantas'
streaks fniles ID length, so that in my wes
crsd state fsncied giants were advanc
over the aoor Of some vast, sanded parlor.
Hours passed. A frightful thirst h
~ assaied me, exposed az | had been all
- 20 the burning rays Of the sun, and / NJ
n felt my tongue swollen 20 such an exte
II that il seemed % al my mouth. cor
not summon q particle Of moisture to 4
~ cracked lips.