The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-06-29
Who Is the Greatest!

down his book, and, with glowing cheek
and sparkling eye, exclaimed
| " Wasn't he the most splendid man
that ever lived? I'd give anything to be
half as greatl'
Mr. Abbots's portrait so carefully con
ceals the blemishes of his hero, and i. set
withal in SO dazzling frame, that 60 d
not wonder at bows enthusiasm in con.
templating it. But said
"lour chance of being half 80 great as
| Bonaparte ls very good, think That is
not always great which consists in brilliaut
achievement. The highest greatness is
moral, and seeks the good of others, rath-
ell than its own glory. | could tell ,ou
of more noble hero than Napoleon, who
| lived in his own time.
{" / should like to hear Of one," answer
| ed Harry, with an air that said he was
not to be convinced. But he still loved
story so told him the following
Years ago, in the deep heart of a noun
tain in Belgium hundred men were work
ing coal mine.
Grim-risaged aud dusky, moving about
by the dull red light of their safety lamps,
they might have been mistaken for the
demons Of the mountain, once supposed
by the peasants to dwell in its cavs Their
work was hard, and surrounded ny dan
gers but their wives and children were
in the hamlets above, and long habit made
them forget their pcrils. SO they might
be contsnted, and even happy.
The crealing wiudlass raised and low
cred huge bucket through the deep and
narrow shaft, from morning till night, car
rying men and tools 10 and fro. This was
their only doorway.
1t was MONDAY. and the sun .hone down
the side of the shaft, and brought glim-
mer Of daylight to a part of tho mine,
when Hubert Coffin, the master miner,
took his place in the great kibble, and
was let down to the mine, many feet be
low. When he reached the bottom he
commenced handing some tools and
stores to Victor, blind miner, VINO was
waiting thera Victor had left sick
child in one of the cottages, and j. was to
inquire after him that LIE stood waiting at
the bottom of the shaft
The bucket was soon emptied, and HUI
bert was just stepping out, when bark ,
what sound was that which made his
cheek pale 1t was the rushing and trick
ling Of water. The next moment be
caught sight ef stream forcing itself
through tissure IN the mountain close TO
the shaft ! Hubert's experience instantly
showed him their full danger. 1t was not
feeble, oozing stream, but mighty
pressure Of water that had found its out
let here. They would be overwhelmed
lost.
One foot WAS yet in the bucket-a jerk
at the rope would save him. But though
death stared him in the face, he could not
sacrifice others to save himself Quickly
jumping out, he sezed blind Victor, say
ing quickly as he jeIked the rope:
"Tell them the water las burst in and
we are probably lost; bat we will seek
refuge at the further end Of the right gal,
Ter. Say farewell to our poor friends" "
In moment he Was gone, and with
him Hubert's only certainty OF escape
from terrible death.
The mine consisted Of long passages ard
on all sides deep caves from which the
coal had been dug. The men were all at
the further end Of the mine hewing out of
the mountain uncoucious Of danger HUI
bert quickly made his way along the dark
passage, followed by the swift spreading
water; and soon reached his fellow work
men with the dreadful news. It was a
moment of paic when each would have
rushed to certain death ia Iii. efforts to
save himself. But looking firmly into
their ghastly faces, the master spoke a
few courageous sentences:
Follow my words and be quick-our
picks may save us.
Then came few steady quick com
mands, to halow a new chanbe above
where the water would probably reach -
The men ob4yed in silence, though each
knew not but that be might be digging
his own grave. A hundred pairs of Lands
soon finished the work, and into the cave
q hundred men crowded to wait for death
or an almost impossible chance of relief
The water gradually till.l all the old ave
nues md chambers, AL then seemed
stayed. Never was a sitgation moredread-
ful. Not more than a days provisions
had been saved, and already two or three
of their number had been killed by falling
rocks, while hastily digging the chamber.
The long, dismal hours, with no change to
mark them, brought only the advance of
certain death
Courage, brave Hubert! God who
saw thy noble sacrifice will he p thee.
The terrified friends and towrsmep, on
hearing Victor's dreadful news, ran wildly
about in hopeless panic. But soon, gul-
ded by the message Hubert had sent,
they commenced working new shaft as
near as possible to the spot where the hap
less men might be. Five days and aights
they toilsd, digging deeper aud deeper in
10 the solid side of the mountain.
1t is vain task, said the men. But
the woman cried, "Do not cease. God
will help u.s."
/ at length, On the morning cf the sixth
/ day, the muffled sound Of blows from with
/ in net the ears of the workmen in the
shaft A signal ran along the rope, and
told the news to the waiting multitude
above, who rent he air with joyful shouts.
/ Soon a c. .uimunication was made. They
were saved--at least some were saved .
Who can imagine The feeling, Of the
J unfortunate men, buried for five days and