Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-29
Br0aching q Mine.

AMONG the many dangers the Cornish
miners have to battle against, one of the
greatest arises from accidentally carrying
the excavations too close to some disused
pit, that perhaps many years since has
been boarded and earthed over, and in
course OF time forgotten.
When miners have reason to suspect
that such is the Casa suspicion general
ly caused by greater emulation of water
than IS usual-they at once proceed to
what is technically termed "hole it," and
the following description of the holing or
empting pit Of water may best be given
in the words of an old Cornish miner, one
of the principle actors in the undertaking
Well you see, sir, we were working
two hundred fathoms down-runnipg a
level due north-and to our surprise the
further we went the more moist the earth
got, till on going to work one morning,
we found the whole end of the wall COW
cred with drops of dew. Seeing this, it
struck all OF us at once that there must be
pit at no great distance, and (as they
Almost allus are) full at water Fancy
this, sir; body o water reaching many
fathoms above you, and the narrow space
IN which you are working only separated
from it by thin crust Of clay, putting you
in the momentary fear of this giving way,
and the water crashing in upon you!
However, there it was and must be
got rid of, and this, too, by driving or
holing right into it; for if left We should
never be safe, or tell when we might come
unaware across one Of the many levels or
shafts which run such numerous ways and
depths.
when the captain Of the mine learned
OF its existence an offer was soon made on
tolerable generous terms to any who chose
to empty it; which offer six of US accept
ing, We at once proceeded with our dan
gerous task.
The first thing we did was to put up
strong frame work with doors attached,
opening inward toward the old pit, so that
the instant the mine was holed, by run
ming and closing the doors in passing, the
mass of water would be kept back Tor
time-long enough, at all events, as we
hoped, for us to reach the ladders.
After placing three of these safety
valves, as We called them, along the level
at short distances apart, We proceeded
slowly and cautiously with the more dam
gerous part of our work. Bit by bit We
got nearer and nearer to the old mine, at
every blow Of the sledge on the borer ex-
pecting the rush of water to follow, often
and often fearing to strike more than one
blow before running for our lives, till the
constant dread which we were allus in 80
worked on the nerves of the bravest that
even falling stone would be sufficient to
put every one of us to flight.
"Never shall / forget the morning
when at last We did get through; and can
Almost fancy seeing one o my mates as
he then stood with the borer held up
ready for another to strike, the rest of us
watching for the blow to fall, and pre-
pared to run if necessary.
AT last, while every eye was fixed on
'em, the steel hammer rang on the borer,
which in another second was sent whiZ-
Zing far away down the level, as with a
horrible roar the water came tearing and
crushing through the earth.
ut was run then for life, sir; and in
far shorter time than can tell it, we were
through the first doorway, and in the act
of swinging to the next, when the first
was dashed against it; but, thank God,
this for a time resisted the pressure of the
water, or should not be here telling of it.
"On we sped, our only hope Of safety
lying in gaining the ladders before the
last door gave way and what distance
they seemed, when even few moments
gained might rescue us from death
Breathless, at last we reached them, and
had but assembled few rounds when, with
q bang-whirl-crash water was upon
us, and, fast as we climbed, like some hor.
rid monster seeking our destruction, II
glded up step for step with us.
Even now shuddering feeling creeps
over me as / call to mind the fierce strug-
gle it was to climb faster than the water
rose. Faint and weary, we still tore up
ward, for to rest only few moments
would, to a certainty, have been 'dedM.'
Up, up, with our dread enemy gaining on
our tagging footsteps; now with the cold
water gliding to our knees, yet still with
desperation struggling on. Thank
Heaven, the adit was at last reached, and
we were saved. Dragging our exhausted
limbs few feet higher, we watched the
dread torrent rushing through this outlet.
Then it was that, giving glance toward
my comrades, find there are but tmo left.
Yes, cir, six of us went down; three only
came up. Whether they were overlook in
the level or washed from the ladders none
could tell, for death was too closely fol-
lowing us at the time to allow of us be-
slowing thought on our poor mates.
However, we thought deal more about
them on reaching the mouth of the pit,
where stood their pale faced, anxious wives,
scanning us on coming 10 grass, and ask
ing, with frightened cry, Where are our
husbands?'
1--WE could only point down to the roar
ing guilt for our hearts were too full to
utter even the simple word-dead."