Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-10-21


ing Of myself as being like rii In wei,
as swan round by the side trying TO
find place to hold on by.
| swan slowly along, striking my right
hand against the side at every stroke, but,
after a few strokes, it did not touch any.
thing; and then, striking out more boldly,
| swan on, turning to the right with ray
OF hope in my heart, for | knew chat |
was on the level of one of the old veins,
and, though swimming further into the
bowls of the earth, yet | had not the hor.
rible depth of the shaft under me, while
| knew that, before long, | should find
bottom for my feet.
All at once my hand touched the side;
then raised one up and could touch the
roof; and then, after a few more strokes, /
let my feet down slowly, and found the
bottom, but the water was to my lip still,
by swimming and wading, soon stood
whereit was only to my middle; and now,
pausing to rest for awhile, leaned up
against the side, and, in the reaction
that came on again, cried weakly, and like
the despairing wretch | was.
BY degrees, the heavy painting of my
heart grew less painful while, heated with
the exertion, did not feel the cold but
soon an icy chill crept over me as | stood
there listening to the low echoing drip,
drip, drip" of the water far away to my
right Racking thoughts, too, oppressed
me, and despairing, | felt that there was
no chance Of my being discovered, since,
to keep alive, must penetrate further into
the mine, though, even from where was
then, it was doubtful whether my voice
could be heard.
knew very well where | was, and that
very little traffic lay by the old pits mouth;
while the next day being Christmas, made
the chances less. But would not my wife
give the alarm, and would not there be u
search? Surely, | thought, there must be
hope yet; and then, in disconnected,
halfwlld way, | tried to offer up prayer
for succor. Not standing not with my
hand resting upon the wall--but kneeling,
with the water rising to my neck and
rose again stronger and better able to
think
And now began to look within, and to
think Of the dangers | had to encounter.
AS to there being things swimming about,
or anything terrible to attack me, my COM
mon sense told me that there was no cause
for fear in that direction; but the next
thought was terrible one, and my
breath came thicker and shorter as |
seemed to feel the effect of it already
"Was there any foul gas?" But found
that could still breathe freely, and by de-
grees this fear went off; while summon
ing up my courage, waded on splash
splash" in the echoing darkness, further
and further into the mine, always with the
water growing shallower and shallower as
| receded from the shaft; and at last
stood upon the dry bottom, but with the
water streaming off me.
The place did not feel cold, while as |
sat down could not but wish that my
clothes were dry, for they chung to me till
stripped part of them off and wrung out
the water, when felt on putting them on
again comparatively warm. But what a
position Trembling there in the midst
of that thick darkness, with wild imagi-
nation peopling it with every imaginary
horror, | lay despairing, till, with the
thought strong upon me that Twas buried
alive, | began to run recklessly about, now
dashing myself violently against the sides,
now tripping over the fragments that had
fallen from the roof till at last the splash
ing water beneath my feet warned me to
go back, when, with my head feeling al
most on fire, crawled back to lie painting
amongst the coal and slate.
All at once | recollected the tobacco,
and put a wet piece in my mouth, and
after time it seemed to calm me, and then
| could sit and think, though at times |
would have given worlds to have run away
from my thoughts. How time went |
could not tell but it seemed after while
that must have slept, for leapt up all at
once with the fancy strong upon me that
| heard Polly calling; but though /
strained my ears to listen, there was moth
ing but the drip drip of the water;
while | feared to call out, for the sound
went echoing along so that it seemed to
be repeated again and again, till felt my
flesh to creep with dread.
Many hours musG have passed. for a
heavy, dull, Sleep feeling oppressed me
as lay there numDed bodily and in mind ;
but at length | started up thoroughly
awake feeling certain that had heard a
cry which seemed to have whispered like
in my ear | sat trembling, when again
there came the shout family heard as ii
came along the top of the water, and then
gave loud despairing shrek for help
three times, and then tainted.
When came to again, it seemed like
waking from dream and felt that con
fused that | could hardly believe that
was not in my own room at home; but as
| sat up, the thought of where was came
upon me again, while like faint, buzzing,
whispering noise, | could hear voices. 70
rouse up and give tremendous shout was
but the work Of moment, when my heart
rose, for it was answered, though but
family, and knew that was being sought
for, and sat listening.
But soon grew impatient, and began
wading into the water, so as to be once
more nearer to living creatures; and l
waded on and on till the water was up to
my chin and could hardly stand, when |
shouted again, ana now | could hear the