The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-08-09
From the Weekly Press.
An Adventure in a Coal Mine.


keep the great machinery of industry il
motion, and make the homes of our sever
climate comfortable. afford no subject 70
study to those who are familiar with them
aud it is rare that denizen of our larg,
cities can te found who has been down il
the bowels Of the earth, where hundred
of men waste their lifes in toll amidst {
blackness OF darkness before which that
of ancient Egypt would pale. In travel
/ ling through the coal region, the visitor
/ is apt to be impressed with nothing save
the wild and desert like aspect of the
country. The earth yields no substance
the forests have disappeared before tn,
axe of the ToodmaR, and the trees are
buried deep down in the mines. Snail
huts, half hidden in the hill sides, and
surrounded With nothing that can make
home cheerful, are filed with the wiye,
and children of hardy miners, who earn
their bread deep in the murky cavern:
below. Here and there along the road
side yawniug cavern may be seen, dowr
which leads railroad, Oh which are
transported for hundreds, or perhaps
thousands of feet, the small cars laden
with coal. A wise Providence has or
dained that his richest deposits Of subter-
ranean wealth shall be placed in the most
rugged of natural caskets; and mad, in
battling for its possession. is compelled to
contend With obstacles which task to the
utmost all his energies.
The great central deposit of anthracite
coal in Pennsylvania is 10 Schuylki!l
county, about Que hundred miles north OF
Philadelphia. There the scans are spread
over hundreds of miles Of space, underlY-
ing mountains and valleys, and rolling
from the earth's surface to depth as vet
uDfathomed. For thirty years the miner
has been busy among these rich layers,
and the earth has been bored BY his tun
nels, until they intersect it like the wind
ing chambers and passages OF great
South American ant bill. As one layer
of coal is exhausted, the works which lie ad
to it are abandoned, and others are open.
| ed; thus leaving many deserted passage
ways which, in course Of time are flied
up BY the Gazing IN OF the earth and rocks
as the supports beneath them decay
These old mines are always more or less
dangerous. For want Of proper ventilation
foul air is epgeniered in them. which is
fatal to life; and loose rocks often hang
over them which the slightest concussiou
will burl down, crushing all below. Il
was iu Que OF these treacherous passages
rendered insecure By age, that the adven-
ture | am about to relate occurred.
During the present suBmer two young
ladies from the city of New York were
visiting at the residence of the superin-
tendent of the great Forest Ian provement
Company's mines, in the Sobuylkill eoaI
region. The younger vas but eighteer
years Of age, and both possessed that love
Of adventure which appears natural to q
city belle when relieved from the contras
ted and con6pinz Influences Of aetropoli
tan life. After sojourning some weeks
amid the wild and beautiful scenery O
Wood-side,; they became anxious for {
novel excitement, and determined to "gt
down into mine" This idea, once con
cciyed, could not be reasoned away; intt
e mine they must go. and the deepest one
must be selected for their ezcursion.-
An intelligent and brave Scotch hman
whose practical knowledge Of mining i!
| Of the most thorough character, vas ap-
pealed to, aud be decided that an ole
DRIFT, % DRIFT. reader, is an opening lead
ing horizontally into the side of noun
tain), known as the lotto Mine" was th'
n ost suitable for the proposed visit. Thi
drift extended into the mountain dis
taDee of one mile and half. and hat
been worked for years. The dangers at
tending the excursion were not conceal
ed, but these only added zest to the IN
dertaking. Two young gentlemen, ais
from New \ ork, volunteered as escorts
and the company was formed. 1t wa
arranged that rift car was to be take
to the entrance of the mine, and that this
drawn By a mule, and driven by miner
was to convey the party into the earth
bosom, while the Scotchuau was to &C
company them as guide.
Having equipped themselves for th
Journey, they departed about five o'cloc
in the afternoon, and reached the end c
the mine without difficulty. Here a
hour was spent in examining the coal fol
nations aud the subterranean chamber
and their curiosity being thoroughly gra
flied, they prepared to return. Mounte
on their novel conveyance. they were prc
cecding merrily along, when one Of th
young ladies expressed desire to bres
off piece of coal as memento of thei
visit. The car was stopped, and arme
With stone the lady commenced battel
tering at the granite like coal. Will
thus employed, a miner who had bee
stationed at the outlet of the mine, enter
ed hastily, and informed the Scotch guid
that the earth over the passage way ha
commenced to crumble. This, to miner
is aa almost certain indication that ia
will take place-the dropping pebbles D
J ing bat the forerunner of the crushiD