The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-01-10

quite ungovernable; few retaining any
calmness. They all now had found
that water, instead of relieving, rather
heightened their distress; and Air,
ARR was the general cry. Every in
suit that could be devised against the
guard was repeated to provoke the
natives to fire upon US. Every man
that could move was pushing towards
the windows with the hopes of meeting
the first shot. Then arose also gen.
eral prayer to heaven to hasten the
approach of the flames of the burning
town and put finish to our misery.
"But these failing, they whose
strength and spirits were exhausted,
laid themselves down and quietly ex-
pired on their fellows. Others, who
had yet some vigor left made a last
effort at the windows and several sue
ceeded, by leaping and scrambling
over the backs and heads Of those In
the front, and these got hold of the
bars, from which there was no remov-
Ing them. Many to the right and left
sank under the violent pressure and
were suffocated for now a steam
arose from the living and the dead
which affected lis as If we were being
forcibly held with our heads over a
bowl full of strong spirits of harris
horn.
Frequently when l was forced by
the load upon my head and shoulders
to hold my face down, 1 was obliged,
near as was to the window, instantly
to raise 1t again in order to escape
suffocation. In this plight, from half
an hour past eleven till nearly two in
the morning, l sustained the weight of
a heavy man, with his knees in my
back and the pressure of his whole
body on my head. A Dutch sergeant
had taken his seat upon my left Shout
der and a black Christian soldier was
bearing down on my right. The two
latter / frequently dislodged by shift
ing my hold on the bars and driving
my knuckles into their ribs; but my
friend above held fast by two bars
and was immovable.
81 exerted my strength and fortitude.
But the repeated trials l made to dis
lodge the insufferable membranes
upon me at last quite exhausted me.
Towards two o'clock, finding l must
quit the window or sink where ] was,
I resolved on the former course. In
the rank close behind me was an Off
Ger of one of the ships, whose name
was Cary, and who had behaved with
much bravery during the siege. His
wife, fine woman, would not quit him
but accompanied him into the prison
and was one of the few of US who sur
vived. This poor wretch had been
long raving for water and air; told
him was determined to give up life,
and urged him to gain my station.
On my falling back he made fruit
less attempt to get my place; but the
Dutch sergeant supplanted him.
"Poor Cary expressed his thankful
ness but said that he would give up.
too. It was with the utmost labor
that we forced our way back from the
window through dead bodies which
yet remained standing, being upright
by terrific pressure. He laid himself
down to die, and his death, l believe,
was very sudden.
Miraculous Escape.
II was at this time sensible of no
pain and had little uneasiness. | felt
stupor stealing on me and laid my
self down by that gallant old man,
Rev. Mr.. Jervas Bellamy, who lay
dead, hand in hand with his dead son.
Lieutenant Bellamy, near the south
ernmost wall of the prison. When
had lain there some time l had some
fear in the thought that l should be
trampled upon after l was dead, as
myself had done to others. With great
difficulty l raised myself and gained
the platform a second time, where l
presently lost all sensation.
"Of what passed from this time I'M
til the time of my resurrection from
this hole of horrors can offer no ac
count; and indeed, the particulars
given by some who survived were so
absurd and contradictory as to con-
vince me that very few of them re-
tanned their senses.
'In my own escape from death the
hand of Heaven was manifestly eX-
erted. When the day broke, and the
survivors found that no entreaties
could prevail to get the door opened,
it occurred to one of them-Mr. Secre
tary Cook, to make search for me in
hopes I might have influence enough
with the guards to gain release.
Accordingly, Messrs. Washington
and Walcot undertook the search and
by my shirt recognized me under the
heaped-up dead upon the platform.
They drew me forth and, imaging
had some sign Of life, brought me to
one of the windows. But as life was
equally dear to every man, no one
would give up his station in or near
the window; so they were obliged to
carry be back again. But soon after,
Captain Mills, who was In possession
of a seat in the window, had the hu-
mainly to offer to resign it. I was
again brought by the same gentlemen
and placed in the window. At this
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