The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-06-07

the distance ye, to be tnversed, Tho shat
had never seemed 90 deep bcforc. Istrain-
ed my eyes into tho darkness below, and
saw no bottom; glanced up, and the
gleam OF light aPove grew smaller and faint
CT. I scanned the walls Of the shan. and
marked only their plack bound. But my
progress was notified by tho increasing dem
sity Of the dir, which began to effect my
breathing; and a. ] went on. had TO shifi
my face from side to side to make a little
current A, las, my fsst touched ground.
] looked round ~ Jumped of the strad.
die, and saw the furnace was out which
put q stop to the ventilation OF tho mlne, a.
Gar as Il depended 90 the bratilces, and no
air entered but by tho shsft. Tho stencil
was ovePowering, and, from this and the
silence, ] guessed the worst. Il was plain
that the explosion had killed the horses; for
no, sound came from the stables, which
were close 10 the SHAFT; and what hope
could there be Tor human beings in dis.
tan, pan the pitt You may bo sure ] did
not stand to make these reflections; they
floaied across me, and l was working for
ward before they had got through my mind.
I knew the old mine blndfoId; but what
with tho foul smell, and what with the
gloom, and my shor,ness Of breath, was
some minutes scratnl'lins to the top Of the
incline, keeping my arms stretched out, as
went ulons, to feel for anything In the
way. And It was lucky I did, or I should
have dashed my head against somo empty
trucks, and, In the state was IN, that would
have finished me. Thus reached the first
galley, which you could only enter STOPPING,
pushed open the trap, aud went on few
steps, though my Davy.lamp was what pit.
men called "a.tirc,"-,he fame being all
blue-and I knew that the atmosphere was
50 much gunpowdcr. But stumbled
along; if wasn't to save any one, Il didn't
matter what became Of myself and pleas.
ell myself with the thought that Nelly would
hear that died in tho attempt. And then
all at once, il came into my mind what she
had said about her brother Jack being in
the pit. This gave my heart such turn
that quite staggered, and the Precipitation
poured from my forhead like water. i
rushed forward as IL l was mad; my foot
struck some,link; bent down over wha,
seemed a sorpso, and the glcaln Of the
lamp fell on its face. 1t was Jack Glover.
I didn't know whether no was alive or dead,
but caught him in my arms, and with the
strength Of a giant, and the speed ofa deer,
hardly conscious, hardly breathing, made
dash for the shaft.
II was easier work going back, when
you were once in the main, or horse.road
for now the shait was before you, instead
Of behind /; and, though you wouldn't think
il, this made wonderful difference in the
light. Dark as pitch II still was, though not
to pitman's eyes, aud had found out
that Juck breathcd when 1 reached the
SHAH. The discovery neryed me afresh,
and kept all my senses a, work, without my
seeming to know It. only felt that there
would soon be another explosion. 80
placed Jack on the araddle, and taking the
cord from my Davy.lamp, tied him hand
and foot then pulled the signal-ropc, and
rs the people above hauled the tackle, and
lifted the .traldls from the ground, hung
on by my arms; this we began to mount
tho shalt.
1t wasn't ill we had got twenty feet up
that I fclt the strain Of standing OIL nothing,
hut, from that moment. it became just ter
rible. My hands seemed ready to snnp;
the ache in my arms spread through every
muscle; my head spun round ; and my
feet kicked ubou, in agony. watched the
mouth Of the pit It'll my eyes SWIM. aud as
I rcckoncd the space between,. while my
strength waned, and my misery dcepened,
! thought must drop before reached the
top. Then they began 10 hoist faster. ]
mustered all my strength; ,igh.ened my
grip Of the stmddle, though my fingers
were growing numb; stcadied my feet,
and hardly trusted myself to breathe.
could feel the purer mir; heard voices
and presently the tackle swung ;strong arms
caught me round, and was landed OIL the
hank.
They had Jack Glover off tho s,rad'lle
before you could look round, and he was
carried awny, while they ruised my head,
and poured little brandy in my mouth. ]
called out for the viewer.
aWhat is il. Charley Batson 7" he asked,
bending over me.
aEvcryl'o,ly away from tho pit, SIR"
said. ... a..
you arc right" he answered ut will
como in minute or two."
They got me to the top Of The bank, when
heard scream, and there was Nelly. try.
ing to throw herself on her brother Juck,
n - Ill