The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-06-04
The Men in the Coal Mine---A
Thrilling Narrative.

sette, has published a pamphlet of some
fifty pages, giving full and detailed par
ticulars of the four men buried in the
coal mine, on the Muskingum, of which
we have already published accounts.
This most extraordinary affair excited
the deepest interest throughout the
whole country, and thousands rushed to
the scene of disaster to lend a helping
hand or add their sympathy in behalf of
the sufferers.
We are glad that a full and authentic
history is before the public in a form
satisfactory to them. Such was the
rush for this little Narrative that the
first edition Of TWO THOUSAND COPIES
was sod in TWO DAYS. Another edition
is now ready.
In their thrilling Narrative they say
We experienced but little difficulty
for want of air, though we were very
much annoyed by the dust of which our
bed was composed. It was very fine
and dry, and every time We turned or
moved, it seemed to raise a cl I'D. Even
clearing our threats, when our faces
were turned downwards, would blow the
dust all over each other. Our threats,
and tongues, and teeth would become
coated with this disagreeable substance,
so that 1t became necessary to scrape it
off with our fingers wherever we could
reach it. 1t would come off our teeth
10 scales. 1t seemed to add very much
to our thirst and kept US using the cope
ras water continually. This water, al
though very disagreeablc at first, be-
came rather pleasant toward the last.
1t seemed to possess some nourishment.
1t began to have a taste, finally, like
sweet milk, or rather like the whey of
butter-milk. We always felt better after
drinking it.*
We think we did not sleep much nor
long at a time. We were too cold to
do so. Sometimes one of US would be
able to sleep a little by getting in the
a coverlet. Edgell says that Pearson
made the heaviest coverlet they had, and
they couldn't bear him on very long at
a time. We sometimes used the heads
of each other for pillows; but the pillow
generally grumbled considerably before
we had occupied it as long as we de-
sired.
We, of course, had no way of meas
uring time, but we thought we could tell
from the GOODNESS of the air when eve
ming came. We thought there must lie
some crack in the bank through which
the air was admitted, for there was an
evident difference at regular intervals.
We did not, however, atte npt to keep
any account of the days. 1t was a long
unbrokeu night to US.
Towards the las, Pearson did not go
to the break down at all. Savage and
Gatwood say that they finally became
so weak that they could not go the whole
distance without stopping ONCE, and fire.
q~uently twice, to rest. Edgell, howev-
err, was able TO make the distance with
out resting.
Very little merrimcut was INDUCED
in by any one of US. Gatwood remem
bcrs having taken ono laugh at an anus
ing quarrel which took place between
Pearson and Edgell, as to who should
sleep in the middle. Edgc!l also had a
laugh at Ned Savage once. They had
started on their hands and knees to go
to the break down, and Ned, who was
behind, stumbled and fell, ex~claiming as
it happened, "Ill be darncd if that amt
down once, for the first time.
Savage seemed to keep in better spir-
its han any of US. He was in the habit
of lamentiug less about his friends. Ills
principal cause of trouble was concern
ing his want of sleep. He frequently
became spunky because not allowed to
sleep in the middle, and when his re-
quest was not granted he would threaten
to tell his uncle Duck" Menear, and
get US all a -thrashlng after he got out.
We did not make use of the oil as
food. Edgell says that after they had
took one swallow of it. lie found it
very pleasant, resembling chicken gravy,
as much as anything else he can think
of. He did not taste it afterwards, nor
did he tell the other boys, but threw the
eau into one of the empty rooms. He
says &c thought that death was certain
at all events, and using the oil would
only have prolonged our sutferings. |
did not wish to be the last to die"
After the water in our jugs gave out,
we used to quarrel a little as to. who
should 60 for water. We got our water
in a room about fifty feet distant, which
had dip, or low place, in the door. It
was very strongly impregnated with cop
eras, In order 10 get into the jug, we
took the cover of a tin bucket, which
had contained the dinner, and bending
it o as to make a suitable mouth, we
would dip up the water and pour it
through the left hand, which was held
funnel-shaped at the mouth of the jug.
This water was, at first, very disagreed
Bile, but Pearson thinks there was some
thing about it which ia some way helped
US to sustain life. He thought very
shortly after they began using it, that
the pangs of hunger became less seve e
and frequent, and the cravings of his
stomach less painful. For sometime af-
ter we were first confined, the parox-
ysms of hunger were frequent and terri
bic to bear. It seemed as though we
must ave food or die, then, as the hours
wore on, these ~paroxysms became less
and less Towards the last
they seldom occurred. CATER a time, !"
he says, a became delirious. Strange
dreams were running through my head.
Every good dinner L ever ate seemed in
turn to be standing before me again.
I did not merely dream that l saw thea
thus, but they were as plain before my
eyes as you are now, sir. Tables loaded
with noble baked hams aud delicious
pies, were just within my reach, but my