Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-09-30
Barred Alive.

They had often gone down that yawn-
ing gulf before, aud no doubt were lear
less as to any danger being near them,
For 200 yards they sank into the bowels
of the ea.th, and then each went to his
appointed task of hewing out coal, so that
the steam engine should be supplied, that
the social hearth should be cheered, and
the many wants Of civilized life should be
supplied.
At halfpast 10 o'clock as usual, they
drew to one spot to have their supper in
company; no danger then threatened, but
each was Joyous in his own peculiar way,
and the laugh went round till the time
came for them to separate again for work.
At I o'clock on Wednesday morning
the engine-minder noticed an uprush OF
yapor from one Of the two shafts belong
ing to the pit, Something was wrong
but what? Oh all thought it was the
dreadful and subtle fire damp again, the
Golfers foe, that has slain thousands!
What's to be doneg Done why there
are two brave men, careless of sell, who
eagerly volunteer to descend the pit to find
out the cause. The skip was lowered
but take care Yes, there they go; but
so eagerly are they let down that before
they are fully aware and with only time
to shout up the pit, Water" they are
immersed eleven feet deep in the treach-
erous element. They were soon drawn
up, half drowned, and then the full GER.
tanty was known; the pit was full OF
water, and thirteen fellow creatures were
down there among the rising surges.
What's to be done now? What's to be
done? Why, everything and anything
that ingenious men may suggest ana that
wealth can purchase and woe to the man
who at such time could be lazy or mig
gardlv, should the noble owner of the pit,
Earl Dudley, know.
Swift men and swifter horses ran all
ways; the overseers were fetched out OF
their beds, and Earl Dudleys agent, Mr..
Smith, was soon on the spot. And then
began the struggle Nature poured in
from her hidden channels volumes OF wa
ter. Men with steam engines worked
hour after hour to draw the water out,
And why! Oh, there was one little glim-
mer of hope like the small star to the
wearied traveller, it cheered them on.
In some parts of the pit the coal lay
high up and therefore some parts of the
workings were likely to be dry after
others
Pump on, lads, the poor fellows, may
hap, have betaken themselves to the high
ground, and we mag yet help them.
But no chance was left untrled, Tor a
neighboring pit or shaft was begun, 50
that if one way failed, yet another might
succeed.
Wednesday and Thursday went on, and
the large multitude almost ceased to hope.
Friday passed, too, with but little to cheer
at first; the water seemed to rise; and
then, with all the efforts made, it only
sank at the rate of two and halt inches
in the honr-yet it did sink now, they
we're sure of that Cheer up, lads; work
with will And work they did. But it
began to rain, and should those torrents
penetrate through the earth, all was over,
But still iron engines and mani Y sinewS
worked on with vigor-it was a race for
life
BY noon on Saturday the water was low
enough to see the entrance to the working
part of the mine. An exploring party de
scended, and found that there was a space
of twenty inches between the water and
the roof, and that communication was
restored between the two shafts, 50 that q
supply of fresh air was forced.
But the space was not sufficient between
the roof and water for any one to penetrate
thewOrkings At six o'clock in the eve
ming another effort was made, but the foul
air drove the eXplorcrs back Again, at
ten o'clock, another effort was made,
headed by the principal agent; still the
entrance to the mine was too small for
any one to enter They shouted one name
after another, but no answer came along
that waste of water all was still as death,
Again the ohoke-damp came, and those
brave men were near losing their lives IN
the noble effort to save Others.
All hope was gone now; nearly four
DAYS had passed, &c, 900 tons of water had
been pumped up--could it be possible that
any were aliyey The most hopeful felt
that their best hopes were chilled.
Sunday came, dull and cherries day
all thoughts Of saving life We're over. and
vet the bodies must be fetched up. Thou
sands Of people were suddenly assembled
around the pit early in the morning, and
many sorrowful faces were peering down
in the blackneSs of darkness; for
Hank, What's thatg H|p" cried a
voice; "let the bouk down
What man alive! Yes, that feeble
cry had neryed brave men atresh, and
many were eager 10 be let down The
-" skip" had got but a short way down
when the chokc.damp drove them back;
lime was thrown down. Then, after a
time, the brave seekers again went down,
taking with them raft
Pushing through narrow ways, they
came upon two men seated upon a wall Of
coal lust above hoodlinc They were soon
taken on the ran to the Skip for
another voyage, and a lad was discovered.
With these three Ley assembled there
was solemn silence as the poor famished
came into the presence of day,
and then a loud cheer broke ouL as much
for the savers as The saved. The first
words Of the lad as he awoke 10 conscious
ness, were, Have you sent to tell my
motherN'