Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-06-09
EVENING STAR.
The Men in the Coal Mine-A Thrilling
Narrafiua

| Mr.. Gilmore, of the GAINESVILLE Gazette, has
| published n pamphlet of some fifty pages,
giving full and detailed particulars Of the
men buried in the coal mine on the Muskin-
gum, Of which we have already published ac-
| counts This most extraordinary affair ex
| cited 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.
Such was the rush for this little narrative that
the first edition of two thousand copies was
sold in two days! 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.
1t was very fine and dry, and every time we
turned or moved, it seemed to raise a cloud
Even clearing our throats, when our faces
| were turned downwards, would blow the dust
all over each other. Our throats, and tongues,
| and teeth, would become coated with this dis
| agreeable substance so that it became neces-
| sary to scrape it off with our fingers wherever
We could reach it. 1t would cover our teeth
| in scales. 1t seemed to add very much to our
| thirst, and keep US using the cOpperas water
continually This water, although very dis
| agreeable at first, became rather pleasant
| towards the last. 1t seemed to possess some
| nOurishment. 1t began to have a taste, final
ly, like sweet milk, or rather like the whey of
buttermilk. We always felt better after
drinking it y
We think we did not sleep much, nor long
at time. We were too cold to do so. Some
times one of US would be able to sleep little
| by getting in the middle, and have another lie
| on the top for a cOverlet. Edgell says that
Pearson made the heaviest coverlet they had,
| aad they couldn't bear him on very long at a
time. We sometimes used the heads of each
| other for pillows; but the pillows generally
grumbled considerably before we had occu-
pied them as long as we desired.
We, Of course, had no way of measuring
time, but we thought we could tell from the
coolnesS of the air when evening came. We
supposed there must be some crack in the
bank, through which the air was admitted,
TOR there was difference at regular intervals
We did not attempt, however, to keep any ac-
count Of the days. 1t was long, unbroken
night to US.
Towards the last, Pearson did not 90 to the
breakdown at all. Savage and Catwood say
that they finally became so weak that they
could not 20 the whole distance without stop
ping once, and frequently twice, to rest. Ed
gell, however, was able to make the whole
distance without resting.
Very little merrimeIt was INDUCED in by
any of US. GetwOOd remembers having taken
one laugh at an amusing quarrel which took
place between Pearson and Edgell, as to who
would sleep in the middle. EdgelI also had a
laugh at Ned Savage once They had start
down, and Ned, who was behind, stumbled
and fell, eXclaiming as it happened, "I'Il be
darned If that amt down once for the first
time u
Savage seemed to keep in better spirits than
any Of US. He was in the habit of lamenting
less about his friends. His principal cause of
trouble was concerning his want Of sleep. He
frequently became spunky because not al
lowed to sleep in the middle, and when his
request was not granted, he would threaten
to tell his uncle Duck Menear, and get US
all thrashing after he got out
We did not make use of the oil as food
Edgell says that after they had been in about
week or thereabouts, he took one swallow
of it. He found it very pleasant, resembling
chicken gravy, as much as any thing else he
can think of. He did not taste il afterwards
nor did he tell the other boys, but threw the
can into one of the empty rooms. He says,
- thought that death was certain at all
events, and using the oil would only have
prolonged our sufferings. / did not wish to
be the last to die"
After the water in our jugs gave out, we
used to quarrel little as to who should go
for water. We got our water in a room about
fifty feet distant, which had dip, or low place,
in the floor. 1t was very strongly impreg-
mated with copperas. In order to get it into
the jug, We took the cover of a tin bucket
which had contained the dinner, and bend
ing it so as to make 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 disagreeable, but Pearson thinks
there was something about it which in some
way helped us to sustain life. He thought
very shortly after he began using it that the
pangs of hunger became less severe and fire.
quent, and the cravings of his stomach less
painful. For sometime after we were first
confined, the paroxysms OF hunger were fro
quent and terrible to bear. 1t seemed
though we must have food or die, then, as
the hours wore on, these paroxysms became
less and less common. Towards the last they
seldom occurred. After time" he says,
81 become delirious. Strange dreams were |
running through my head. Every good din |
ner ever ate seemed in turn to be standing |
before me again. I did not merely dream |
that saw them thus, but they were as plain |
before my eyes as you are now, sir. Tables |
loaded with noble baked hams and delicious |
pies, were just within my reach, but my deli |
rum never extended so far as to make me |
believe was eating them. Notwithstanding |
they were so temptlngly near me, never en- |
joyed more than the sight of them, and then |
I would wake up from my delusion to the full |
any hope left, do not know can hardly |
tell. We would often talk over the chances |
of being rescued. They seemed very dark, |
and yet we frequently went towards the en- |
trance. 1t was the way out to the world |
though we knew it was blocked up and i'm |
passable for US.
Gdtwood says, " L had tie same strange de.
lirium of which Pearson speaks. l also saw
splendid dinners standing beside me. L seem.
ed to recollect all the GOOD meals l had ever
eaten. Once l seemed to 5e at home sitting
at the table in front of my mother, in the po-
sition 1 always occupied. She passed the
bread, thought L took it, brought it to my
lips, and was aroused to find that had filed
my mouth with coal and dust. At another
time thought my father came into the bank,
bearing in his hand plate, containing sew
eral pieces of freshly baked shOrt-cake.
could see the yellow butter running melted
down the edge of it.
Father said to me, "James are you starry |
ing2n and having handed me the bread |