The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-18
TALLAHASSEE
NEWS NOTES
Special 10 ,The journal.

Tallahassee, Dec. 17.-Mose Shep-
ard, an eiedrely coiored man, on the
janitor force of the capitol, had a
very tragic experience Monday night
while on his way home.
Nose lives about a mile out beyond
the Sea5oard Air Line railway track
on the Bel Air road, and, being late in
going home on this particular night,
he took a short cut through a field in
which there was an abandoned well.
The path runs close by this well, but
as it is perfectly familiar ground to
Nose he unprecedented no danger.
However, Just as he came abreast of
the well, his foot slipped and down
he went, headforemost AT a depth
OF about fifty feet, he struck water,
but being a good swimmer he kept
himself afloat. The bottom of the well,
below narrow strip of curbing which
still remains in place, is caved in
and forms quite a good-sized pool, on
the surface of which floats a number
OF old planks from the eurbing. By
the aid of these Nose climbed up
upon the curb and sat there until he
could recover somewhat from his
fright and astonishment. Then ne
took several of the planks and stuck
them crosswise into the clay sides of
the we'll above the curbing, and
slowly and laboriously. little by little,
climbed up until he almost reached
the top.
But the treacherous soil gave way
and he fell back into the water.
Again he rested and again made the
attempt to climb out only to fall the
third time into the depths below. At
ter this last failure, almost despair
ing, the poor fellow climbed upon the
curb, braced himself with planks SO
that he would not fall into the water
should insensibility oyertake him.
then, cold, wet and exhausted. began
his weary waiting for the lawn. He
could hear the sounds of life all
around him: trains passing. wagons go
ing along the road, cattle lowing and
dogs barking; even the voices of men
men who could have helped him but
who. all unlxnowing, passed by on
the other side He Was left. alone
to wait for an expected DEATH He
had no hope of being found. His
voice. made hoarse by hours of calling
for aid, refused TO utter sounds which
would rise to the earth above. Saliva
ton, il it came at all, must come
his own efforts should be still
be alive when the daylight came
AT last, the morning broke. Almost
too stiff to move, Nose commenced
again to arrange his pIanks in the side
of the pit and to climb upon them as
he had done with such disastrous re-
suits during the night. With the light,
came hopes of deliverance.
A grape vine grew just upon the
brink of the well and a long pendant
hung down just behind his back In
the darkness it had not been SEEN
He caught and tried it. cautiously.
seeing how much of his weight it
would bear. Finally, he decided to
trust il, and so. between the impro-
yisad ladder and the neaven-sent
grapevine, Nose at last reached the
top. safe, but almost dead by reason
OF the terrible experience !. through
which he had passed
He lay on the ground a long time
too weak to moye-too thankful TO
do more than thank God for life and
safety. "Ah. mistis," ne said in tell
ing his story later, Il cant tell you
what I passed through. / didn't never
expect TO see nay wife and children
again. and I had nothing to do but
just sit there. half in the wafer and
half out, wondering what sort Of