The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-08-17
OFFICE IN HooPER's BRICK
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY

tain close to the shaft Hubert's long ex.
perience instantly showed him their full
danger. II was not feeble, oozing stream,
but mighty pressure Of water that had
found its outlet here. They would be over
whelmed-lost 7
Ono 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 seized blind Victor, and placed him in the
bucket, saying quickly, as he jerked the
rope:
Tell them the water has burst in, and we
are probably lost; but we will seek refuge at
the father end of the right gallery. Say fare
we'll to our poor friends In moment he
was gone, and with him Hubert's only GER
tainty Of escape from the terrible death.
The mine consisted Of long narrow pas
sages, and 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 the
solid mountain, unconscious of danger. llu-
bert quickly made his way along the dark
passage followed by the swift spreading wa
ter, and reached his iellow-workmen with the
dreadful Intelligence. 1t was u moment for
panic. when each would have rushed to GER
tain death in a vain effort to save himself.
But looking firmly into their CHASTITY faces
the master spoke few encouraging SEN
tires
Follow my words, lads, ,and be quick
our picks may save us !
Then came few steady, quick commands,
10 hollow q new chamber above the level the
water would probably reach. The men obey
ed in silence, though each knew not but that
he might be digging his own grave. A hum
dred pairs of hands 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 filled all the
old avenues and chambers, and then seemed
STAYED. Never was Il situation more dread.
full Not more than days provisions had
been saved, and already two or three of their
number had been killed by tho falling rocks.
while hastily digging the new chamber. The
long dismal hours, with no change to mark
them, brought only the advance OF almost
certain death.
Courage. brave Hubert God, who saw
thy noble sacrifice, will help thee!
Tho terrified friends and townsmen, on
hearing Victor's dreadful news, ran wildly
about in hopeless panic. But soon, suidedby
the message Hubert had sent, they commence
ell working new shaft as near as possible to
the spot where the helpless men might be.
Five days and nights they toiled, digging
deeper and deeper into the solid side OF the
1T is vain task said the men. But the
women cried, Do not cease! God will help
usr
At length, on the morning Of the sixth
day, the muilled sound of blows from within
met the ears of workmen in the shaft. a
signal ran along the rope, and told the news
to the waiting multitude above, who rent the
air with joyful shouts. Soon communica-
ton was made. They were sayed-at least
some were saved
can immeinc- tho -f.sl;sgs OF the .un-
fortunate men, buried FIVE days and nights,
without food, whom first the day CLEANED in
upon them, revealing human face
of the hundred who had been imprisoned,
over seventy survived, and with them Hubert.
Without him, indeed, probably no one would
have bccn spared to tell the story.
This noble act, done in q place and Mt
moment when no praise OF men could have
been looked for, echoed throughout Europe,
and obtained the praise and gratitude Of the
world. The ten thousand miners OF Liege
hailed their fellow laborer with delight and
pride. Napoleon heard and admired in his
palace in Paris, and sent reward to tho
peasant nobleman. lie sent him his Cross
Of Honor, the mark which all the high and
great coveted, and, better still, offered him
pension which raised him above want for the
rest of his life.
When God uniolds in heaven the secret
charity of men. many such heroes shall
shall stand revealed, whom the earth and the
waves have covered, sending no testimony to
the world. Their Father who seeth in Sc
cret shall reward them openly.