Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-09-30
CAUGHT IN A TRAP
Swinburne's Odd Adventure on
the Coast of Normandy.
FACED A MADDENING DEATH.

Solid Rock and Came Near Putting q
Premature End to His Mortal Career.
In his youth Swinburne was IA
nous swimmer. and for years he used
TO retire In summer to the picturesque
little village Of Etretat, on the Nor
mandy coast, there to breast the waves
and to wander about the chalk cliffs
and gaze forth from some coign Of van
tage upon "the blown, wet face or the
sea-"
One day he met with q singular adj
venture. which has never been told in
print, and came near putting prema-
ture end to his mortal career.
At one point of the coast a vast natu-
raj arch nearly 100 feet In height Ii
formed by flying buttress at right an
giles to the general line Of the cliffs,
which plants its foot below high water
mark on the shingie beach. The CEN
trail mass of this buttress fell or was
eaten away by the waves In prehis-
toric ages, leaving a pointed gothic
doorway of remarkable symmetry and
mightier than any ever built by man
1t is a famous landmark Of the coast
and Is to be seen In countless marine
pictures painted In the latter half Of
the last century,
The outer springer or pier OF this
gigantic arch IL submerged at food
tide, but when the water recedes II Is
seen to be pierced by small hole or
tunnel. also of natural formation. pass
ing clear through the substance OF tho
chalk from one side to the other. This
hole is partly choked up with the flint
pebbles OF which the beach Is com
posed. but space enough remains for a
man to crawl through.
The passage Is about sixty feet In
length, but is bent in its course. SO that
when halfway through daylight cannot
be seen In either direction. II was
local feat Of the athletic young fisher
men of the region to wriggie their way
through the tunnel at low tide
Swinburne had witnessed one OF
these performances and made up his
mind to attempt the passage himself.
He chose day following one Of the
fierce storms of late August When be
reached the spot the sun was setting
and the beach was deserted He did
not think 1t worth while to remove any
Of the rough tweed outing garments
that be wore. but got down on his
hands and knees and began worming
himself into the darkness OF the hole.
oil xx-apf xt-ali f,,,f ha rrs,
ceeded the passage narrowed and the
shiny walls of the chalk rock SO I'M
peded his movements that he was un-
able any longer to use his arms freely,
but could only push with his feet and
undulate his body. He had reached
the bend Of the tunnel and the dark
ness was absolute. He still pressed on.
but only to find himself wedged In Jet
more tightly.
A minute more and be realized with
horror that he could no longer move
an inch either forward or backward
The waves had heaped the pebbles up
In the center. and he was now firmly
embedded within a hundred thousand
tons OF solid rock.
Ii was evening. There was no
chance OF any ones coming to his res
cue. No one had seen him enter the
tunnel. or had been informed of his
purpose. His presence there might not
be discovered In days or weeks, and
meanwhile the tide would have risen
and fallen many times. and he would
have been helplessiy drowned.
In black darkness. powerless to stir,
he must lie and wait for the certain
end. The recession and rise Of the
tide would take. he calculated. not less
than six long hours, and his best hope
wac that madness would render him
unconscious long before the end came.
But as he lay there sound came
to bis ears that chilled his nerves with
fresh terror. 1t was the sound of a
wave breaking at the farther mouth
OF the tunnel. The tide was rising and
In few minutes IT would begin to ill
the narrow passage.
The realization Of this fact paraiyzed
him for moment; then 1t stimulated
MN to almost superhuman effort.
Forcing himself on his left side. he
succeeded In getting his right arm out
beyond him. 1t gave his body a little
more play.
BY desperate but systematic wrig-
giings and twistings he was able to
work away from beneath him some OF
the loose shingle. and to gain little
forward The exertion was tremendous
and Tar beyond his natural strength.
but he was working for life or death.
1t was race between him and the
tide.
The end was sudden. The tunnel
abruptly enlarged. He could now
crawl on hands and knees. As he
scrambled forward. trembling ana
gasping. a rush Of water met and sub
merged him. but 1t carried him with II
as 1t receded. II flung him forth into
the open air like wreck Of seaweed
bruised. choking and exhausted. Int
n