Year: 1877




i month to a boy residing in Monroe
county, this state. Among the residents
of that vicinity Is n family named Sny-
der. Near their farm are some fields
that were once under cultivation, but
which have been neglected by the owner
who lives in New York, and they have
grown up with underbrush. The build
ings of this deserted farm are also falling
into decay, and in what was once the
door yard of the dwelling is an old well.
The cattle of the neighboring farmers
having free access to these fields, boards
were laid across the well some years ago,
and the brush having grown up about it,
its existence was almost forgotten,


Frank Snyder, an eight year old son of
the farmer mentioned, was sent on Mon
day, towards evening, to look up COW
that had wandered off in the woods. He
frequently went on such errands, and
his parents did not manifest any un-
easiness at his being absent longer than
usual until it grew dark, and he not yet
returned. Thinking that he might have
stopped at a neighbor's, about three
quarters of a mile distant, his father
went after him. He was not there
Meantime heavy thunder shower had
come up, and it had grown extremely
dark. Mr. Snyder hurried back home.
The boy had not come, and it being evil
dent that he was lost in the woods the
alarm was given throughout the settle
ment. Great excitement prevailed, and
men with lanterns started out in various
directions to look for the missing boy.,-
The rain poured in torrents. About ten
O'Clock one of the searching party, in
passing through the lot containing the
old well, heard faint voice calling,
" Papa Papa !" The farmer went in
the direction of the sound, and as the
light of his lantern fell on the clump of
bushes surrounding the well he discov-
cred the lost boy lying on the ground.-
The man raised him to his feet. He
was dripping wet and unable to stand.
One of the boards over the we'll was
broken, and it required no explanation
on the part of the boy to tell where he
had been. The man who discovered him
carried him home, and the news was
soon carried to the anxious seekers in
the woods.


The boy was so nearly exhausted that
he could with difficulty speak, and it
was some time before he was sufficiently
restored to give the following account of
his adventure:


He had been unable to find the cow,
and he started back home about six
O'Clock. When he went out pheasant
had flown out of the clump of bushes by
the well, and upon reaching the lot, in
coming back, he went over to see if the
bird had nest there. He stepped in on
the boards covering the well, and one of
them broke and he fell to the bottom.-
His descent was so sudden that the boy
did not at first comprehend where he
was. The ice cold water, in which he
stood waist deep on regaining his feet,
recalled him to his scenes. Except the
streak of light that came down from the
opening above, all was dark as night.


He was at first nearly overcome with
terror at his situation, and called loudly
for help. But after time he realized
the folly of expecting to receive any re-
| sponse to his calls, and set about as
calmly as possible for some way to escape.
! The stones with which the walls of the
well were laid were rough and Jagged
as far up as the boy could reach, and the
chinks and crevices between them were
large. Frank says that he knew the
only way of escape that was open to
him was to climb up the wall, aided by
the jagged stones and cracks. Unfor-
tunately the well was too wide to permit
his placing a foot on eitherside, by which
his ascent would have been comparative
ly easy. So he was compelled to creep
up one side. After several attempts he
! drew himself from the water, one crew
ice affording a secure footing while he
felt above for another. He could see by
the opening above that the well was not
very deep, and the little fellows says he
prayed to God to give him strength to
reach the top. His progress was very
slow. The stones were damp and slip
perry, and as he slowly dragged himself
up the wall his great fear was that he
would miss some foothold and fall to the
bottom again. This fear was realized
when the boy was, half way up. AS he
was feeling carefully above him for an
other crevice the stone upon which he