Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-05-23
Heber, in a aMay-day carroll celebrates
the beauties of May, in charming verSe:
Fifteen DAYS I'm the Earth.


Erall
Fifteen Days in the Earth.
h We have chronicled the release of tn
four men who were entombed at Blue Rocl
Goal Mines and now give, from the States
man, the scene before and at the time o
their release.
The work of rescue was a herculean work
but bravely undertaken and heroicly con
sumatedl 1t was the more difficult as bu
about eight men could work at a time
There were eighty men constantly laborine
day and night, relieving each other in gangs
The progress was slow, and became slower
the farther they went into the bank; so that
since Sabbath last, not more than foot an
hour had been realized. And this progress
was interrupted by the rock falling in, and
by the impure air, which put out the lights
Let it be known that these heroic work
men were in constant peril of their lives in
all the fortnight's work. Of course they
had propped up with timber as they worked
In: but at times the timber bent like reed
under the immense pressure, and, at times,
gave way. The fragmentary condition of
the rock prevented the workmen from max
ing themselves secure. They could not
work without light, and when, on Sunday,
they had cut 256 feet, and were about to
despair, owing to the bad atmosphere and
the counsels of some who thought it too
late to save the men-they took new vigor
and new hope, and still pressed on until
Friday, when the attention of the workmen
was arrested by knocking from within
They paused, aad halloed-again and
again halloed when the voice Of the en-
-tolnbed was heard family in a responsive
Harah!
The crowd without, on the river bank,
soon caught the cheering news, and "hurrah !
hurrahlp rent the air with such joy as
never awoke the echoes Of that beautiful
valley before. The scene was most thrill
ing. How differently it affects different
men, this rapture of JOY. Some ran aside,
in silence and tears! Some laughed Wild
Iy, as lunatiesi Some whooped like Abort
sgines Some capered and eavorted like
dancing Dervishes in their inspiration 1t
WAS 8. rare scene, and not increditable to our
fallen human nature.
The next thing in order was to hold a
conversation with the entombed. The first
ineligible question propOunded by the in
siders was, ~
"Was anybody killed by the caving@
GNone,n said the #orkmen. .,-,.
sHuTah hurrah!"' was heard from with
in.
This jubilee of the entombed was report
ed outside to the crowd who responded to it
by spontaneous hurrah of their own.
It seemed that the men had picked their
way some twenty feet within the rocky fis-
sure, ank were enabled to converse pretty
freely. The workmen told them TO retire
within, as they were in eminent danger
Edgin said he wouldn't bulge till they told
them the day and hour, and how long they
had been shut in. The woIkmen told him
that he had been in only a week and that
it was Friday-deceiving him, as they sup
posed, for his own good and that of his com
panions. Edgin then told told them to say
TO their families that if they didn't get out
they were ready to die happily, having
made their peace with God. Edgin then
retired, exclaiming to the workmen most
cheerfully, 1i -+t
q swell go in! Work on, boys! May
God bless your
This dialogue gave new hope to the work
men, and they labored on till the bad air
put out the lights again, when the work was
suspended for four hours, until they sent to
GAINESVILLE for some hose, bellows and a
pipe, by which they sent fresh air in; and |
the lights were resumed, and the work went
on TIL Friday night, when it is said they
were within twenty minutes of the rescue.
Arrangements were made to receive them |
and expectation was again banked by an
other caving in of the earth and rock. Fri |
day night the work continued. Some six |
hundred people remained till one o'clock
Saturday morning, when the rescued were
brought out to the crowd with their faces
covered, and their bodies very much emaci-
ated and exhausted. Their families were
not permitted Immediately to meet them.
Physicians were present to look after their
well being, and everything done to make
sure of the results Of the long labor, viz:
the preservation Of their lives. Pierson, the
older man, had auttering at the heart;
the others seemed to be ''as well as could
be expected Their faces were covered to
protect their eyes. The boy, Savage, it is
said, made enquiry the first thing after
''chew of tobacco"-the rest after their fam
lies and friends They had taken some
sleep on some dry dirt which they had pill
ed up for that purpose, but had no idea of
Sho fim0 that bo6 n1on,o1
Notwithstanding these men were imbed-
ed in the earth, perhaps their preservation
from death by hunger was prevented by
that very fact In the English mines, men
have lived even sixteen days withot food
Tho very want of light and free circulation