Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-08-24
RESCUE OF A BURIED MINER.

Correspondence from Laneha PIsna, Amador
County, dated June q, to the San Joaquin
Republican, describes the following exciting
scene: .i..~ -.. ~.
"One of those excitements incident to a
mining camp has just transpired. Soon after
clock this afternoon, word was passed that a
cave had taken place in q tunnel, and a
man was shut in The warm. sympathetic
hearts Of the miners were touched and they
gathered in crowds to aid in the possible res.
cue. But, was the man dead or alive1 Ifnot
crushed, he must soon suffocatei Signals were
made by tapping upon the rocks with q pick
and they were answered. Then commenced
the work of rescue in good earnest. First
lumber was procured to hold back the superin-
cumbent earth, which was consta ntly dropping;
then long iron tube. with an auger- bit at
tached to one end, with which to penetrate the
fallen dirt and convey air to him. Some thirty
feet of the tunnel was filed with loose sand and
gravel and the tube was too short to reach II
is hazardous work TO labor in a falling drift
The earth overhead often continues to peel of,
sometimes in large masses, until an immense
dome is arched off several feet in height. The
miners also were apprehen.ive that, if they
commenc ed to move the falle drift, they might
be interrupted by further slides. To make
sure, set of hands commenced a side drift.
to run at right angles through the solid earth.
An exciting race began, stimulated by the
double ambition Of. being rst in, and first to
rescue fellow mortal from impending death.
Determined hearts gave vigor 10 strong arms,
and the drifters worked with unparalleled
energy. But one could use the pick at time:
and, reeking with sweat and exhausted, he fell
back In tur1, to give place to his fellow. Sir
feet per day is the usual task. but here thew
performed that amount of work in an bour
Signals were occasionally exchanged with the
buried man He was still alive, and they
worked on with renewed energy. After FIVE
mortal hours, he was reached-aliye. safe and
sound Word was passed to the crowd above
and the welkin rang with cheerful and exult-
ant shouts. "Dutch Ned' was a popular char
acter, and the hearts which had been kept
intense with alternate fears and hopes. found
vent, some in tears. and some in other extraya-
CANT demonstrations. ........
. Ned states that the cave commenced some
thirty feet from the spot where he was at work
and left him a space but six by twelve feet
There was water in the tunnel, and some
danger from drowning. He threw up broad
bed of gravel, upon which he lsy down. The
vitality of the air became rapidly exhausted
and he was also in danger of suffocatiop. a
stupor came over him, and he fell asleep. The
buried man WAS aroused by the signals before
mentioned and hope succeeded the despair
which had settled upon him. Just then his
candle. which had been burning dimly, went
out. lie was afraid, he said It would consume
the oxygen of the 81: 5:..: as long as he lived
he wished for light. lie felt great relief when
the tube had penetrated, and the fresh air was
introduced. Another fear came over him lust
as they were breaking through for the earth
commenced falling again, and he yet might be
buried forever, when escape seemed so near
But the drifters persevered. and both lines
broke through almost simultaneously He was
safe :"