Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-03-04

forehead in great drops. I rushed for
ward as if [ were mad my foot struck
something; [ bent down over what seem
ed corpse, and the CLEAN of the lamp
fell on It's face. It was Jack Glover. [
didn't know whether he was alive or dead.
But | caught him in my arms, and with
the strength of giant and the speed of
a deer~hardly conscious made a dash
for the shaft s'- .a
/ 1t was easier going back, when you
were once in the main or horse road for
now the shaft was before YOU, instead Of
behind; and, though you wouldn't think
it, this made wonderful difference in the
light Dark as pitch it still was, though
not to a pitman's eyes, aud [ had found
that Jack breathed when / reached the
shaft. The discovery nerved me afresh,
and kept all my senses at work without
my seeming to know it. [ only felt that
there would soon be another explosion
SO Z placed Jack on the straddle, aud
taking the cord from, my Dayy lamp, tied
hlm ,.aad and foot then pulled the sig
Ial rope, and as the people above hauled
the tackle and lifted the straddle clear
from the ground, | hung on by my. arms,
and thus we began to mount the shaft.
II was not until we had got up 20 feet
that / felt lt7the1strain of standing on nota-
ing, but from that moment it. became just
terrible. My hands seemed ready to snap;
the ache in my arms spread through every
muscle my head spun round and my
feet kicked about in agony. [ watched
the mouth of the pit till my eyes swan,
and as L reckoned the space between,
while my strength waned and my agony
dee pened, | thought [ must drop beforeI
reached the top. .-.......
I Then they began to hoist faster. I
mustered all my strength [ frightened
my grip on the straddle, though my fin
gers were growing numb. [ steadied my
feet, and hardly trusted myself to breathe.
could see the walls of the shaft could
feel the purer air. heard voices, and
presently the tackle swung, strong arms
caught me round, and | was landed on the
bank
They had taken. Jack Glover off the
straddle before you could look round, and
he was carried away, while they raised
my head and poured a few drops of
brandy into my mouth. Then [ called
out for the viewer ............ d, -5-..-
"What is it, Charley Batson?" he
asked, bending over me. - -~A
"Everybody away from the pit, sir 7"
[ said.- asit a+8' T.. -.5'
=' "You are right" he said, "it will come
IN a minute or two" gy.Hsts $50, gdt .stai
They got me to the top of the bank,
when | heard scream, and there was
Nelly, trying to th;ow herself on her
brother Jack, but kept back by the other
womenfolk She never glanced round at
me. [ wished then that | had stopped in
the pitt or let myself drop from the bar
as | came up, and so escaped seeing her
again. But [ made up my mind that [
bad looked on her for the last time. [
told my bel pers that [ could walk now,
and when they let go my arms [ turned
towards the moor, intending to pick Up
my pack and drag on at least to the next
village. . ..fa...s saH .e-ss.fazes, ge
But L could no more walk five miles
than | could fly. When1 came to the
pack, Isank down by it, and felt that [
must give up. ! was so beat that though
there was now another explosion at the
pit, as | had expecied, and though it
shook the ground under me, [ never raised
my head. All thought of was stretch.
ing my arms and legs, and lying there
quiet. But, by degrees, [ recovered a
little strength, and my thoughts took
m re shape, when [ decided to return to
my o,d lodging and have day rest be-
fore set out on my wanderings.
The day passed, and the night,
and the next day, and was still
in bed, the good folks tending me like
child. My limbs, which had been rocked
with pain, how felt easy, and was ready
for start again. But [ thought there
would be. opposition, 50 [ got NJ, very
quiet, and was putting on my things,
when the door opened, and to my wonder,
in walked Jack Glover. '' ~ wa 80
Hatloo, Charley, here we are p he
cried seizing my hand and giving it
hearty squeeze, ''Whowould have thought
of Us two being alive to-day p -....-..
"Well, Jack, M glad for you, but T
shouldn't have cared for myself | an
swered. '' ...rs.1 -
"How'a that p he asked. 10y ~ ..as
because" A." | replied, Il have SO me-
thing on my mind ...,....-... ....f...s
you r he said, laughing, and giving
me little push Here, sit down and
have pipe. and it will go off like the
smoke. .u.