The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-27
Adventure I'm 4 Coal pi,.

II.
-.
Adventure I'm Coal Pit.
corre,p ,pondent OF the Philadelphia Press,
writing from the Schuylkiii (Pa.) coal region.
gives an interesting account Of an ad venture
IN coal pit, d few days since, in which two
young ladies--the elder only eighteen-were
prominent actors. The pit was the deepes,
one In the vicinity. The writer says:
An intelligent and brave Scotchman, whose
practical knowledge of mining IL of the mos
thorough character, was appealed TO. and he
decided that an old drift, q DRIFT lie an opening
leading horizontally into the side OF a noun
tain,l known as the "Otto Nine" was the most
suitable for the proposed visit. This driIt ex-
tended into the mountain distance OF one
mile and q half and had been worked for
years The dangers attending the excursion
were not concealed, bot these only added zest
to the sndsrtaking I've yoang nanpanv senmemes wss
formed. Ii was arranged that . drift car was
10 be taken to The entrance OF the mine, and
that this, drawn by mule aad driven oy
miner, was to convey the party into the earth's
bosom, while the Scotchman was to accom-
pany them as guide.
t.Having equipped themselves for the jour-
new they departed at S O'Clock in the after
noon, aud reached the end of the mine with.
out difficulty. Here an hour was spen in ex-
amiuing the coal formations and the subter-
ranean chamber and their curiosity being
thoroughly gratifed, they prepared TO return
Mounted on their novel conveyance they
were proceeding merrily along when one OF
the young ladies expressed a desire TO break
on piece o. coal as nemento OF their visit.
The car was stopped, and, armed with a stone,
the lady commenced battering at the grant ite-
like coal. While thus employed, q miner who
had been stationed at the ontlet OF The mine.
entered hastily, and informed the Scotch guide
that the earth over the pas assage-way had com
ruenced TO crumble.
This, To miners, is an almost certai indica-
tIon that fall will take place--the dropping
fay nm no for pr M n q
ing rocks and earth. The car was iInmedi-
aiely put in motion, with the hope that the
exit might be gained before the danger arrived,
but their efforts were vain. They had gone
buta few hundred yards when rum bling
ike distant thunder was heard--a rush CT
eold air blew over them, and then all was stili
as The grave!
There could be no doubt as 10 the cause OF
This phenomenon; the niue had caved in.--
The mule was brought To Il stand, aud the
Scoichman, accompanied by the miner who
had served as the Jehu OF the party, pro.
ceeded onward TO make an exploration. In a
short time they returned, and reported t5ai
The fall of earth and rock WAS SO great that II
would take at least three days 10 dig pas
sage. way out, and that there was great danger
Of further fails, the earth being now looseBed.
Here was a predicsnent. Buried beneath
mountain, beyond any possible help for three
days, with no water or food, ard the AR 50
close that unaecustomed lungs could hardly
breathe 1.-THE heart might we'll quail At the
contemplation of such condition. But fe-
male heroism rose superior to the misfortune,
and the ladies OF the party "stood as those
who championed human fears" One Of them
declared that they could XIII the mule and
live upon that for three days, or until they
could be dag ont
After ii consultation among the miners, the
Scotch guide announced tina. there was an
shaft ascending from the end of the mine 10
the summit OF the mountain, and tnat IL was
barely possible that this might afford way
OF egress The party therefore returned 10
the extremity of the drift, and the miner who
had accompanied them was sent up the shalt
TO ascertain Ii IL was open TO the surface. For
near two hours the company anxiousty await
ed The return Of their messenger. Al the end
of that time he came back with The report that
he had re ichsd the surface with great difficult
~, and that the shaft wss open, but in a very
dangerous condition. Time mad rotted away
the timbers which kept its sides from falling
together, and the stones hung loose in mauy
places, ready 10 fall al the slightest lonch.-
But still there was a hope OF escape: and when
humanity is reduced TO desperation, ieats can
be mplished which, in calmer moments,
would be considered impossible.
The air.shaft was less than two feet in diam
eter and rose to height of near six hundred
feet In some places it was perpendic uiar,
and in others 1t was horried up an angie
The dampness OF years had severed The lim-
bers around it with slime and where they had
rottea away a soft mud oozed out of the earth
But notwl thsta landing all these dlfiiS ties,
added TO the danger that falling rock might
wedge them in beyond the power of escape,
and leave them TO die the lingering death OF
beng buried alive, they determined to attempt
the ascent.
Tue party consisted of the two ladies, the
two gentlemen who acted as their escort the
Scotchman, who was their guide, and two
miners. The ladies prepared themselves by
removing all their superfuous clothing and
the ascent WAS commenced. The guide with
one miner vent first, the two gentlemen fol.
lowed, then came the ladies, aud, las ly, the
remaining miner. Painfully they titled up
ward now dragging themselves over decaying
timbers and projecting rocks, now forcing
themselves through spaces where it seemed
almost i'm possible for them to pass, and now
drawing each other by the hand, from step to
step. where the ascent was perpendic ular.-
Through all this the fOrtitude of the ladies
never tor a moment deserted them. They We're
cheerful and hopeful, when the men who ac-
companied them were ready to des pond
After TWO hours of almost superhuman eXer-
tion, the blue sky appeared above them, aud
the fragrant air filled them with delight
Thank God! they We're saved.
Bat what an appearance did they present
From head 10 foot they were covered with
muu and NTH. Their clothes We're in tatters
and their hands were laceTated and bleeding
Night had descended, and they were three
miles from home, in the midst of a wilderness
Bat the greatest danger was passed, and with
cheertulness which almost banished their ia.
tigue, they commenced their homeward Jour
ney. At length they reached the circle OF their
friends, who had suffered an anxiety almost
as painful as their own terrible experience. II
was not until the highest rest was reached
where fearful faces welcomed them, that the
two young ladies gave way, and then, the peril
being all over, and the occasion for heroism
past, feminine delicacy resumed its sway, aud
those who had borne so much and SO long sunk
into sWoon.