The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-03
AlHORRIBLE
FACINATI0N


Many autumns ago, the approaching
marriage of family friend furnished
me occasion for a visit to Atlanta,
where he and his promised wife re-
sided. Under the circumstances. | ex-
pected to see little of him, but the
southern country was new to me and
I anticipated seeing as much of that
as should prove of interest.
One exquisitely clear day, shortly
after my arrival, I took an early lunch
and boarded the noon train for Stone
mountain.
The man who shared his car seat
with me was on the same mission,
but vas far better posted on the scene
which we were to visit than l. He
stated It was rumored that there was
cave, in the most perpendicular side
Of the mountain. which was inhabi-
ted by myriads Of bees. AS 1t was
discernible only at a distance, We
agreed to make q wide circuit at
base of the mountain, to a point oppo-
site the supposed bee cave, and see
II my powerful field glass would re-
veal the cavity and possibly some safe
way of reaching IL from the summit
above.
Stone mountain is a SINCE immense
bowlder, one solid rock rising to a
height Of three thousand feet from
an almost level plain. Its three sides
are all steep, but the facing out upon
the open plain, invisible from the rail-
road, is extremely precipitious and in
places perpendicular.
At the base of the mountain nearest
the station are the stone quarries A
number of men were at work in them
cutting paving stone from the foot
OF the great bowlder. 1t occurred to
me as I noticed them that John Hardy,
my Atlanta friend, was interested in
| the Quarries.
AS our circuitous walk brought us
into view of the most precipitous side
of the mountain, my companion passed
| the glass to me and said,-
New for the cave"
We we're no small distance from
| the foot of the mountain, and per-
| haps q mile from the nearest place OF
ascent, at the quarrles.
Mice secluded place for lovers
| stroll up the Well, look at those
reckless fools!" exclaimed, catching
| sight OF man and woman threading
| the narrow path upon the side OF the
lofty decline. which dropped few feet
below them sheer to the plain, more
than two thousand feet down. Ii was
as though they were walking a cleat
across some gigantic Gothic roof.
false step would send them off its diz'
sickened me.
1.-THE fools The fools!" he cried
,inching my arm with his unoccupiet
hand. was too frozen by the spec
tacle for utterance. God! God
There they go." he exclaimed.
The woman slipped and as she fcl
she caught her companions feet pull
ing him after her down the decline.
A faint uncertain cry reached u
from the upper air like the bodyles!
voice of the prairie "kill deer" Th'
hand holding my glass dropped from
my eyes and / became faint almos
10 Inconsistencies.
Look! Look!"
The words aroused me. Again
raised the glass. Terrible spectacle
rhe man had clutched both hands owe
the sharp edge OF rock that formed
kind of trough or lip on the verl
verge of the perpendicular precipce
The woman still retained her gras
upon his feet, and they hung, like bats
fiat against the bare face of the cliff
''See some one above has sighte,
them and gone for help!"
True! But how long could he hol
on supporting the woman's weight II
addition to his own? Only a fe,
seconds at the longest! Oh. for time
Time and strength
| At first IL seemed that he could no
possibly cling until the rescuers shoul
return. But as moment after momen
passed.. and still they clung, the agon
Of witnessing the spectacle was In
creased by the feeble hope. that b
some miracle OF strength he Nigh
yet endure unto deliverance. The sec
onds seemed to lengthen into minutes
Still no help!
Just as a murmur OF JOY escaped IN
companion's lips at the sight OF tn
| rescuers the human mass unon m