The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-11-26
From Tuesdays Daily.l

Little less thrilling than the rescue |
of a score of miners from the very |
laws of death at the Cherry mines last
Saturday was the rescue of two cadets
at the Columbia Military Academy at
an early hour this morning from the
dark recesses of Greenfield cave,
where they had been lost in its hldeous
caverns and tortuous paths for more
than twelve hours.
More dead than alive, weak and stiff
from cold; tortured with hunger ana
thirst, in the last throes of despair
Robert Williams and Joe Hoxie were
dragged by comrades from the cave at
half past twelve o'clock this morning.
For more than twelve hours they
had wandered through the myriads OF
paths and chambers that make UP this
wonderful subteranean curiosity In
vain endeavor to once more behold the
light of day. But they had lost all
bearings. They seemingly walked IN
a circle. Finally, when found by their
devoted comrades they had hudled
close together and were the very pic
ltcra of despair and resignation was
written upon every feature.
When found Williams and Hoxle
were too weak from hunger and cold
ard fear to walk and they had to be
assisted from the cavern by their res
cuers and taken to the station at God
win. where they boarded the / o'clock
train for the Academy. Once at home
again every complaint that had been
Registered against the cuisine of that
institution was forgot and having sat
isfied their longing for food and drink
they we're tenderly put to bed by their
associates after being carefully wrap
ned in blankets and through the night
their sleep was disturbed by visions
If frightful scenes in the underworld
AT the Columbia Academy, Monday
lis the. weekly holiday. Early yester'
day morning Williams and Hoxle
started for a tour of inspection OF the
famous Greenfield cave. They expect
" ed to remain but short time and they
took neither food nor drink, but were
accoutreed alone with few pieces OF
. candle with which they expected &c
light their pathway through the treacn
lerous recesses of the fathomless DEF
that Law far beneath earth's surface.
Arriving at the mouth of the cave
near Goodwin at about 1870 o'cloci
: Yesterday morning they immediatei!
n,unoed into its recesses. For three
or four hours they explored the beau
ties the curios and the wonders tina
7 lie hidden in the bowels or motne
oor+b Then the call to dinner CAM
strong to their boyish appetites AM
lthey decided to return to the Acao
envy. but within short time the
found that it was easier to propos
than to dispose.
It dawned upon them with sudden
ness that brought despair and fea
of the future that almost overwhelme
s. their hoyish imaginations that the
= we're lost.
Lost beneath the earth's surface
lost in the circles and winding pati
WAYS of a treacherous cavern; los
from a single guide post; lost frol
y. the light of heaven; lost as the mi
H. riner upon the trackless waste
or waters without star or compass Io
~ guide.
NJ. The situation dawned upon the
ke with ali of it's fearful, its terrible pc
Us sibilities. Missed they might be
ce the Academy, but could not the san
fate befall those who came for the
rescue or would it be possible Tor al
nartv to explore every recess OF TN
ne yawning abyss ere they must yie
b. 10 the pangs of hunger and the teri
on hle fever of thirst
ne It would be difficult to picture u
on gloomy forebodings of these boys
OF fifteen unaccustomed even to the orr
'se nary vicissitudes Of life, wheh tn
ng' found escape cut off, their sole Dope
'or depce for light.a few broken stubs
OF candle and one tickle match.
he Then after endless wanderings;
ice ter following almost countless p'
ith sageways to find every aven
the
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