Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-11-04
ATragedy in a Coal-pit.

ATragedy in a Coal-pit. s.
About seven years ago, when the ole
Lady-well shaft, in South-Staffordshire
was nigh worked out, and there Were
galleries and galleries stretching out
the men said, for miles of old workings
which they, or even their fathers before
them, knew nothing Of, and could no
find their way about, it was determined
by our owners to sink a fresh shaft ant
l,commence working the other side of thu
hill;a and SO leave off working the&ole
/ mine, for ominous rumors of choke-damE
and falling ROOF. warned, them that il
would.not be safe much longer. Accor
dinghy the new works were begun they
found thick seam, and very soon they
weresins full operation, and the old mine
deserted. The viewers told the Aaeaic
avoid the side nearest the old workings
but the seam ran that way, and the mer
worked and worked, till at last they
broke in one or two small places, and
these the viewers had closed IN as so61
as possible.
There was at that time in our employ
as viewer, or oyerseer, "a. man by the
name of Tilnlnins, rigid Wesleyan,
and good workman, but of a reserved
and morose temper, and with whom the
men did not care much to lncddle. They
often said Black Jack flor such was the
nickname he wentsbyy was not right in
his head, and indeed his manner was at
times eccentric, but, as I before said
he was a most excellent hand in the
pit, and that was all his employers
wanted.
About that time the smallpox com
inencedits ravages sdreadfully lin Sthis
neighborhood, and Timmins' wife, tc
whom he was devotedly attached, be-
came one of its first victims, being car.
| riedof il, a very short time. = : ]
The loss seemed quite to have chang
ed the man. From'a a stern rehgonist
he turned to drink, and no one was
more reckless, more rdebanched and de-
/ graded. SieE<A-lssss - ~
His employers demonstrated with him
and told him they would be obliged-te
part; that he was only setting the mer
| bad example instead of keeping then
OUT Of danger; but remonstranees wa'
thrown way, and finally they were
obliged to tell him that at the end O.
the week he would be discharged. Ht
went to his work, but after day or 81
he was missed, and when pay nigh
came he did not appear at the table; Sc
the cashier said: -
Isuppose Timmins is drunk again
he'll come some other time. >
But the men shook their heads dark
| ly, and said among themselves, they
never thought any cook would come o
Black Jack.
/ Now it happened about this time
] there was appointed to our mine new
manager, for the former one was to-
old and superannuated. He came iron
the coal-felds in the neighborhood o
Newcastle, and was a widower, Will
one, daughter. Mr., Woodward soor
showed himself q clever nam, and iron
the kindness and genial.ty of his TEN
per made himself beloved among tn
! men, a race always grateful for kind
/ ness. His daughter Meta was seven
teen, and possessed one of those charm
ing English faces which to look at wa
to love. Her bright auburn curls clus
tered round fair, open brow; dove
like eyes and sweet mouth expressed
the eentleness of the spirit within
|.Metas features might not separated.
have been regular, but, taken as a whole
the effect was perfect. Her looks, how
ever were not her only reeommenda
tion-her sweet disposition, kindlines
Of heart, and charity. endeared her t
Fall her friends. She often visited tn
works with her father, and begged hin
to let her descend the mine, but, he re
fused. Constant dropping, they say
will wear away stone and so Meta
supplication must have worn away he
fathers resolution, for one day it wa
4 settled that Meta should descend wit
her father and pitman and explor
the mine. They arrived at the ne'
shaft about noon, and, after the Gag
. had been arranged, Mr.. Woodward, hi
daughter, and a miner named Baccul
descended. They were each provide
with candles, and, arriving at the bot
tom, proceeded to visit the men i'll thei
several workings. Thcy9had been int
severak and were thinking of returning
whe4, Just MS they came to an interceI
ting gallery. violent gust of wind ea
{. tinguilshed all their threc.candles, an
r left them imperfect darkness. For tn
first few moments no one spoke, an
then Mr.. Woodward encouraged h
daughter by telling her that, althoug
doubtless very un.toward to be le
without a light, still. there could be Il
possible danger, as all they would hay
to do was to keep straight forward, an
they wouldcome to the foot of the shat
and most likely some of the men woul
\ II