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ANARRATIVE of the SUFFERINGS of Lieutenant GEORGE SPEARING, who lived SEVEN NIGHTS in a COAL PIT without any Suftenance except fome Rain-water.

ON

N Wednesday, Sept. 13, 1769, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, I went into a little wood called Northwood fide (fituated between two and three miles to the N.W. of Glafgow) with a defign to gather a few hazel-nuts. I think that I could not have been in the wood more than a quarter of an hour, nor have gathered more than ten nuts, before I unfortunately fell into an old coal-pit, exactly feventeen yards deep, which had been made through a folid rock. I was fome little time infenfible. Upon recovering my recollection, I found myfelf fitting (nearly as a tailor does at his work), the blood flowing pretty faft from my mouth; and I thought that I had bro. ken a blood-veffel, and confequently had not long to live; but, to my great comfort, I foon difcovered that the blood proceeded from a wound in my tongue, which I fuppofed I had bitten in my fall. Looking at my watch (it was ten minutes paft four), and getting up, I furveyed my limbs, and to my inexpreffible joy found that not one was broken. I was foon reconciled to my fituation, having from my childhood thought that fomething very extraordinary was to happen to me in the courfe of my life; and I had not the leaft doubt of being relieved in the morning; for, the wood being but fmall, and fi. tuated near a populous city, it is much frequented, especially in the nuttingfeafon, and there are feveral foot paths leading through it.

Night now approached, when it began to rain, not in gentle thowers, but in torrents of water, fuch as is generally experienced at the autumnal equinox. The pit I had fallen into was about five feet in diameter; but, not having been worked for feveral years, the fubterranean paffages were choked up, fo that I was expofed to the rain, which continued, with very fmall intermiffions, till the day of my releafe; and, indeed, in a very thort time, I was completely wet through. In this comfortless condition I endeavoured to take fome repofe. A forked fick that I found in the pit, and which I placed diagonally to the side of it, ferved afternately to fupport my head as a pillow, GENT. MAG. Augufi, 1793.

or my body occafionally, which was much bruifed; but, in the whole time I remained here, I do not think that I ever flept one hour together. Having paffed a very difagreeable and tedious night, I was fomewhat cheared with the appearance of day-light, and the melody of a robin red breaft that had perched directly over the mouth of the pit; and this pretty little warbler continued to vifit my quarters every morning during my confinement; which I conftrued into a happy omen of my fu ture deliverance; and I fincerely believe the truft I had in Providence, and the company of this little bird, contributed much to that ferenity of mind I conftantly enjoyed to the laft. At the diftance of about 100 yards, in a dire&t line from the pit, there was a watermill. The miller's houfe was nearer to me, and the road to the mill was fill nearer. I could frequently hear the horfes going this road to and from the mill; frequently I heard human voices; and I could diftin&tly hear the ducks and hens about the mill. I made the beft ufe of my voice on every occafion; but it was to no manner of purpose; for, the wind, which was conftantly high, blew in a line from the mill to the pit, which easily accounts for what I heard; and, at the fame time, my voice was carried the contrary way. I cannot fay I fuffered much from hunger. After two or three days that appetite cealed; but my thirst was intolerable; and, though it almoft conftantly rained, yet I could not till the third or fourth day preferve a drop of it, as the earth at the bottom of the pit fucked it up as fast as it ran down. In this diftrefs I fucked my cloaths; but from them I could extract but little moisture. The flock I received in the fall, together with the diflocation of one of my ribs, kept me, I imagine, in a continual fever; I cannot otherwife account for my fuffering fo much more from thirst than I did from hunger. At laft I difcovered the thigh-bone of a bull (which, I afterwards head, had fallen into the pit about eighteen years before me), almoit covered with the earth. I dug it up; and the large end of it left a cavity that, I fuppofe, might contain a quart. This the water gradually drained into, but fo very flowly, that it was a confiderabie time before I could dip a nut-fhell full at a time; which I emptied into the palm of my hand, and to drank it. The

water

1

water now began to increase pretty faft, fo that I was glad to enlarge my refervoir, infomuch that, on the 4th or 5th day, I had a fufficient fupply; and this water was certainly the prefervation of my life.

At the bottom of the pit there were great quantities of reptiles, fuch as frogs, toads, large black fnails, or flugs, &c. Thefe noxious creatures would frequently crawl about me, and often got into my refervoir; nevertheless, I thought it the fweetest water I had ever tafted; and at this diftance of time the remembrance of it is fo fweet, that, were it now poffible to obtain any of it, I am fure I could fwallow it with avidity. I have frequently taken both frogs and roads out of my neck, where, I fuppofe, they took fhelter while I flept. The toads I always defroyed, but the frogs I carefully preferved, as I did not know but I might be under the neceffity of eating them, which I should not have fcrupled to have done had I been very hungry.

Saturday, the 16th, there fell but little rain, and I had the fatisfaction to hear the voices of fome boys in the wood. Immediately I called out with all my might, but it was all in vain, though I afterwards learned that they actually heard me; but, being prepoffeffed with an idle ftory of a wild man being in the wood, they ran away affrighted.

Sunday, the 17th, was my birth-day, when I completed my forty-first year; and I think it was the next day that fome of my acquaintance, having accidentally heard that I had gone the way I did, fent two or three porters out purpofely to fearch the pits for me. These men went to the miller's houfe, and made enquiry for me; but, on account of the very great rain at the time, they never entered the wood, but cruelly returned to their employers, telling them they had fearched the pit, and that I was not to be found. Many people in my difmal fituation would, no doubt, have died with defpair; but, I thank God, I enjoyed a perfect ferenity of mind; fo much fo, that in the Tuesday afternoon, and when I had been ix nights in the pit, I very compofedly (by way of amufement) combed my wig on my knee, humming a tune, and thinking of Archer in the "Beaux Stratagem."

At length, the morning, Sept. 20, the happy morning for my deliverance,

came; a day that, while my memory lafts, I will always celebrate with gratitude to Heaven! Through the brambles and bushes that covered the mouth of the pit, I could discover the fun shining bright, and my pretty warbler was chaunting his melodious ftrains, when my attention was rouzed by a confused noife of human voices, which feemed to be approaching faft towards the pit; immediately I called out, and most agreeably furprized feveral of my acquaintance, who were in fearch of me. Many of them are ftill living in Glafgow; and it is not long fince I had the very great fatisfaction of entertaining one of them at my apartments. They told me that they had not the most dif tant hope of finding me alive; but wished to give my body a decent burial, fhould they be fo fortunate as to find it. As foon as they heard my voice, they all ran towards the pit, and I could distinguifh a well-known voice exclaim, "Good God! he is ftill living!" Another of them, though. a very honeft North-Briton, betwixt his furprize and joy, could not help asking me, in the Hibernian ftyle, if I were ftill living? I told him, "I was, and hearty too;" and then gave them particular directions how to proceed in getting me out. Fortunately at that juncture a collier, from a working pit in the neighbourhood, was paffing along the road, and, hearing an unusual noife in the wood, his curiofity prompted him to learn the occafion. By his affiftance, and a rope from the mill, I was foon fafely landed on terra firma. The miller's wife had very kindly brought fome milk warm from the cow; but, on my coming into the fresh air, I grew rather faint, and could not taste it. Need I be ashamed to acknowledge, that the firft dictates of my heart prompted me to fall on my knees, and ejaculate a filent thanksgiving to the God of my deliverance; fince, at this diftant time, I never think of it but the tear of gratitude starts from my eye?

Every morning while I was in the pit I tied a knot in the corner of my handkerchief, supposing that, if I died there, and my body should be afterwards, found, the number of knots would certify how many days I had lived. Almo the first question my friends asked me was, how long I had been in the pit? Immediately I drew my handkerchief from my pocket, and bade them count the knots. They found feven, the exact number of nights I had been

there.

there. We now hafted out of the wood. I could walk without fupport; but that was not allowed, each perfon prefent ftriving to fhew me how much they were rejoiced that they had found me alive and fo well. They led me to the miller's house, where a great number of people were collected to fee me. A gentleman, who had a country-houfe juft by, very kindly, at my request, fent for a glass of white-wine. I ordered a piece of bread to be toafted, which I foked in the wine, and ate. I now defired the miller's wife to make me up a bed, fondly thinking that nothing more was wanting than a little refreshing fleep to terminate my misfortune. But, alas! I was ftill to undergo greater fufferings than I had yet endured. By the almoft continual rains, together with the cold damp arifing from the wet ground on which I lay, and not being able to take the least exercife to keep up a proper circulation of the blood, my legs were much fwelled and benumbed. Some of my friends, obferving this, propofed to feud to Glasgow for medical advice. I at firft declined it, and happy had it been for me if I had purfued my own inclinations; but, unfortunately for me, a phyfician and furgeon were employed, both of them ignorant of what ought to have been done. Inftead of ordering my legs into cold water, or rubbing them with a coarfe towel, to bring on a gradual circulation, they applied hot bricks and large poultices to my feet. This, by expanding the blood-veffels too fuddenly, put me to much greater torture than I ever endured in my life, and not only prevented me enjoying that refreshing fleep I fo much wanted, but actually produced a mortification in both my feet. I do not mean, by relating this circumstance, to reflect or the faculty in general at Glasgow; for, I was afterwards attended by gentlemen who are an honour to the profetlion. The fame method was purfued for feveral days, without even giving me the bark rill I mentioned it myfelt. This happily ftopt the progrefs of the mortification, which the doctors did not know had taken place till the miller's wife fhewed them a black spot, about as broad as a fhilling, at the bottom of my left heel. In a day or two more the whose fkin, together with all the nails of my left foot, and three from my right foot, came off like the fingers of a glove,

Oppofite the river on which the mill ftood there was a bleach-field. It is cuftomary for the watchman in the night to blow a horn to frighten thieves. This I frequently heard when I was in the pit; and very often, when I was in a found fleep at the miller's, I have been awakened by it in the greatest horrors, ftill thinking myfelf in the pit; fo that, in fact, I fuffered as much by imagination as from reality.

I continued fix weeks at the miller's, when the roads became too bad for the doctors to vifit me, fo that I was under the neceffity of being carried in a fedan chair to my lodgings in Glafgow. By this time my right foot was quite well; but in my left foot, where the abovementioned black spot appeared, there was a large wound, and it too plainly. proved that the os calcis was nearly all decayed; for, the furgeon could put his probe through the centre of it. The fleth too at the bottom of my foot was quite separated from the bones and tendons, fo that I was forced to fubmit to have it cut off. In this painful ftate I lay feveral months, reduced to a mere fkeleton, taking thirty drops of laudanum every night; and, though it somewhat eafed the pain in my foot, it was generally three or four in the morning before I got any reft. My fituation now became truly alarming; I had a confultation of furgeons, who advised me to wait with patience for an exfoliation, when they had not the leaft doubt but they fhould foon cure my foot. At the fame time they frankly acknowledged that it was impoffible to afcertain the precife time when that would happen, as it might be fix, or even twelve, months, before it came to pafs. In my emaciated condition I was certain that it was not poffible for me to hold out half the time; and, knowing that I must be a very great cripple with the lofs of my heel-bone, I came to a determined refolution to have my leg taken off, and appointed the very next day for the operation; but no furgeon came near me. I fincerely believe they wifhed to perform a cure'; but being, as I thought, the best judge of my own feelings, I was refolved this time to be guided by my own opinion; accordingly, on the 2d of May, 1770, my leg was taken off a little below the knee. Yet, notwithstanding I had fo long endured the rod of affliction, misfortunes ftil followed me. About three hours after the amputation had been perform

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ed, and when I was quiet in bed, I
found myself nearly fainting with the
1's of blood; the ligatures had all gi
nd the arteries had bled a
e time before it was difco-
By this time the wound was in
Hamed, nevertheless, I was under the
specifit. of once more fubmitting to the
operan of the needle, and the princi-
pal artery was fewed up four different
times before the blood was ftopped. I
fuffered reuch for two or three days,
not daring to take a wink of flrep; for,
the moment I fhut my eyes, my stump
(though conftantly held by the nerve)
would take fuch convulfive motions,
that I really think a ftab to the heart
could not be attended with greater pain.

My blood too was become so very poor
and thin, that it abfolutely drained
through the wound near a fortnight af-
ter my leg was cut off. I lay for 18
days and nights in one pofition, not da-
ring to move, left the ligature should
again give way; but I could endure it
no longer, and ventured to turn myfelf
in bed contrary to the advice of my fur-
gton, which I happily effected, and
never felt greater pleafure in my life.
Six weeks after the amputation, I went
out in a fedan chair for the benefit of
the air, being exactly nine months from
Soon after,
the day I fell into the pit.
I took lodgings in the country; where,
getting plenty of warm new milk, my
appetite and ftrength increafed daily;
and to this day, I blefs God, I do en.
joy perfect health; and I have fince
been the happy father of nine children.

GEORGE SPEARING.
Greenwich Hospital, Aug. 1, 1793.

P.S, The above narrative is a plain fimple matter of facts, and affords a very ufeful leffon to mankind, viz. never to give way to defpondency be their fituation ever fo deplorable: let them confidently rely on Almighty Providence, and I fincerely with, and doubt not, but their misfortunes will terminate as hapG. $. ply as mine.

ON THE 20TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1769. Almighty God! who, on this day,

My life from death didft fave, To bee I now prefume to pray, And future bleffings crave.

Ch! grant I ever may confefs

Thy goodness fhewn to me;
With grateful heart and tongue exprefs
The praife that's due to thee.
While in the dreary pit I hy
My life thou didit fortain;

And, to my comfort I may say,
Thou gav'ft refreshing rain.
In this, thy providential care

Is to the world made known,
And teaches us to fhun defpair;
For, thon art God alone.

Then, fince my life thou didst preserve,
Oh! teach me how to live;
Let me not from thy precepts (werve:
This bleffing to me give.

So will I yearly, on this day,
My grateful tribute bring,
In humble thanks, to thee alway,
My Saviour, God, and King!

Mr. URBAN

G. S.

July 25.

threw out againft me being the A infinuation vour February Index fole ground on which a writer in p. 404. of your June Magazine cenfures what he does not profefs to have feen; no apology is due for my troubling you with the following thoughts on fuch licentious publications as relate to the Birmingham Riots. In my letters much duinefs and various inaccuracies may be difcovered; but I defy Ariftarchus himself to point out any thing libellous. Some lawyers draw the line of actionable writings fo wide as to take in almot every modern dedicator, by giving as an inftance "the praifing any man for qualities for which he is by no means diftinguished:" on this ground, whenever faftidious patrons follow the example of Horace's Calar, “ cui malè ji palpere, recalcitrat," Newgate muft warm with cringing authors. But, narrow the definition as we will, injurious charges, the truth of which cannot be proved, tending at the fame time to difturb the peace, are on all hands allowed to fall under judicial cognizance; let us now see how far this applies to your correfpondent, who figns himfelf Chriftianus" on the fame principle, I take for granted, as the thetoricians derive lucus à non lucendo," and his "refpe&table" affociate J. M. Of all calumniators, the most abominable are they who calumniate the oppreffed, it is extremely unwife in him whofe windows are composed of the brittleft materials to be over-bufy in throwing ftones at thofe of others."

64

The words on which I more immediately lay my hand, as containing malignant inferences drawn from groundlels affertions, are," the causes of the Riots are well known, and the enemies to the Conftitution may thank them. felves for the effects;" in July, 1791, a dinner

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