Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-02-17

skill, courage and experience, was
the mining oracle of our CAMP
pointed him to the pump, which was
wearing itself out In vain, for 1t lift
ed no water. >
"Bob," said I, tive must fix that
pump! 1t Is our only hope to save
Little Jimmy!" ... ....... .....
We'll fix it," replied Bob quietly.
"The pump is starved-choked up at
the bottom. Well fix it; and as for
the poor lad, we'll git un out"
Bob was West of England man,
and his dialec: stuck to him.
"We'll get un out bonny; Think
he bean't dead. I've helped dig men
out in the Old Country and this too
an God will help us we'll get un out
now; won't us, Benny ?n
Benny, thus appealed to, answered
with an emphatic lioa bet" and
the next moment he and Bob, fol-
lowed by two others, were clamber.
ing down the steep and slippery
fight of ladders that led into the
mine, until their candles glimmer~
ing like stars were one by one swal-
lowed up in the black shaft. Axes
had been sent down in bucket, aud
in few moments were heard blows
ringing on the mass Of wood and
iron that composed the barrel of the
pump. They were cutting holes to
let the water into the pump below.
1t had already risen above their
waists, and the mouth of the lowest
drift was nearly submerged.
The machinery was cracking and
groaning and the wheel dashing
round, but 1t was idle show, and the
mine was filling up and soon the
men would be driven out; but mean
time we could hear the blows of the
axes. Presently the clumsy walks
ing.beam quit groaning. stood still,
and began to tremble. The wheel
had stopped for moment, then be-
gan to move slowly and went round
with surge. There was a great
rush of water through the pump,
and it was all right. Our old wooden
pump was equal to the occasion.-
The flood gates Were opened on the
great overshot wheel and It was re-
quired to do its best. 1t rushed
round steadily, and i'm az hour the
mine was freed from water, so that
men could press into the drift.
1t was arranged that IL little JIM
my were found alive, the fact should
be telegraphed aloft by two strokes
of the signal bell; but II dead, one
tap of the bell should announce it,
Men were working underground as
only such men can work. They had
been told off into gangs OF four each,
which spelled or relieved each other
every fifteen minutes; aud as they
advanced into the avalanche of rocks
and earth that filed the drift, every
inch had to be propped with heavy
timbers, for the vast mass above
them had been shaken and lost its
cohesion, and at any moment might
crush down like mountain.
1t was prayer, a prayerof thanks
giving and of praise. Not formed I'm
speech, not framed In language, but
the overfiowing of the heart that
cannot be uttered i'm words.
My story is done. Little Jimmy
had been overwhelmed with an ava
lanche, his candles extinguished,
and he dashed down with his face 10
the earth; but the rocks and timbers
had formed an arch over him. He
was borne down to the earth, and
the water had risen round him and
resting his elbow on the ground was
just able to support his head above IL
In a little while he would have
drowned where he lay, but he was
safe now. Strong hands had dragg-
ed him out OF this grave. They had
harnessed themselves to the "horse
whim," and had hoisted him into
the glorious sunshine. They bore
him TO his cabin, and placed him in
the tender care of "Doc." Here We
will leave him. The three drink
ing saloons i'm our little camp pro-
claimed open doors and FREQ whisky
for the rest OF the day; and as the
boys were about to take drink, Bob
Piper asked leave to offer senti-
ment: "Gennelmen," said he, IL
told you we'd git un out, IL so be as
God would help US. Gennelmen,
He did help u.s." "lou bet," was
the applauding aud emphatic an
swer.