The Van Buren press., 1869-10-19
VAN BUREN,, ARK, OCTOBER 10, 1869

all thoughts OF saving lie were o'er, su'
vet the bodies must be fetched up. Thou.
sands Of people were assembled around
the pit early in the morning, and many
sorrowful faces were peering down into
the blackness Of darkness; for
Hark! What's that9 Help" cried
a voice "let the bouk down"
What! a man alive! Yes, that feeble
cry had nerved brave men afresh, ana
many were eager to be let down. The
"skip" had got but short way down
when the choke damp again drove them
back; lime was thrown down. Then, AT
ter time, the bravo seekers again went
down, taking with them raft.
Pushing through narrow ways, they
came upon tive men seated upon WAL
Of coal just above food line. They were
soon taken on the raft to the skip Tor
another voyage, and a lad was discovered.
With these three they ascended; there
was solemn silence IS the poor famisn-
ed creatures came into the presence OF
day, and then loud cheer broke out as
much for the savers as the saved. The
first words Of the lad, as he awoke to con.
sciousness were, " Have you sent to tell
my mother?"
Half an hour later three more were
broughr up. For four days the poor fel-
lows had been hidden from sight, without
food or light; no wonder they were fec
bic and wan.
Without food, did say Well, not
exactly. Sankey 1.-THE lad) said that Tim
Taylor gave him bread and butter when
be was in the pit, and went without him
selfr' Oh, noble Tim Taylor! when
was such sacrifice made before! 1ou
had food, and who was Sankey! Only
neighbor's lad ! don't know thee,
Tim, and yet I'd 60 dozen miles to
press thy hand because you fed the lad
Sanksy.
1t was "one Jesus" who learnt thee
that sentiment though it is so long since
thy good old mother or Sunday school
teacher impressed the divine command
upon thy mind. Tim, you did It.
But this was not all that Tim Taylsr
did. Two days before he swan to the
mouth Of the pit, and shouted up.but
no one heard him, and lie swan back
again through those swollen waters with
saddcned heart, for hope was gone now
Back into the darkness he swan, for
the candles were used up by this time /;
but while there was yet light one man,
/" Hickman" had written and placed in
his tobacco box paper Let us see
whatever could be the subject chose at
such time:
Dear wives, we are singing and pray
ing while wo are dying! Tell my broth
ers and sisters to follow God more than
/ did" Then there were marks r.
Y 4 intended for kisses
for the wives and children. ~ write
this on Wednesday night, about . quarter
past six o'clock. Dear parents prepare
to meet us In heaven"
A glorious testimony from Hickman ;
the world was shut out-at least you were
shut in, and there could be no reason
why you should deceive either yourself
or others. And there have been crown.
cd heads which could have rested easier
in their lying hour on their pillows of
down, il they could only have left in their
bejeweled chest honest testimony like the
one in the old box.
All were not alike; one poor fellow
went frantic casting off his clothes, and
leaving his watch with Hickman, he rush
ed into darkness and was seen no more.
Hickman never lost hope. lie seems
to have been the prop of the company /;
and when the candles went out, leaving
them in darkness, be says, 81 still had
hopes that my light had not gone out IN
heaven" II told Holden" he said, ITO
have faith for though VIC was left there,
God would never leave u.s." Never mind
thy grammar, friend Hickman; Lindlcy
Murray never expressed firmer faith.
But there were six more persons in the
pit, were they still nlives All Sunday
night the toiers toiled on, and on Mon
day morning the joyful news came up,
/" All alive"
Alive? and without food for fve days
and nights-about 124 hours! Yes, up
they came all but one. lie, they said, had
been too weak to follow with them, and
they, trying to carry him, found them.
selves unable to do 30. But he must not
be lost. Down again Yes, there no is
in that "man- hole" alive, bit so meager
almost dead, but not quite.
lie was brought up; and then through
the length and breadth Of the land was
flashed out, "What hath God wroughtr
When the water Arst broke out upon
them, they turned to the high lands in the
mine, and when the waters began to sub
side, they followed the retreating waters
chin deep, so that the small amount OF
air which was forced in by the do wnward
pressure Of the mighty engine came to
them with life in its inhaling. British
Workman.