St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-05-12


his dialect stuck 10 him.
"Wc'll get IN out, Benny think he
bean't dead. Eve helped die men on
in the old country, and this too; an
God will help us we'll cit un out no.
won't us, Benny !'
Benny thus appealed TO answered will
an emphatic ''You bet" ani in mo.
mrnt lac and Bob, followed by two others.
were clambcrirg down. the steep and
slippery flight Of ladders ;l,at lcd into
the mine, until their candles, gIimmerin@
Ike stars, were one 10y one swallowed
mp i'll the black shaft. Axes had been
sent down in bucket, and in Il few mo
mcnts were heard blows ringing Oh the
mass Of wood and iron that composed
the barrel @! the pump. They were cut
tin- holes 10 let the wafer into the pump
below. II had already risen above their
waists, and the mouth of the lowest drift
WAS nearly submerged.
The machinery was cracking and
@roaning and the wheel dashed round,
bat it was idle show, and the mine was
filling up and soon the men would he
driven ont; but meantime we could hear
the blows of the axes. Presently the
clumsy walking beam quit groaning,
stood still and bc9an to trcmbc. The
wheel had stopped for II moment, then
began to move slowly and went round
with Il surge. There was Il great rush
Of water through the pump, AMI it was
all right. Our old wooden pump was
equal to the occasion. The flood gates
were opened on the great ovcr>hot wheel,
and it was required to do its best. 1t
rushed around steadily, and in an hour
the mine was freed from wafer, 80 that
men could pless into the drift.
1t was arranged that if little Jimmy
were found alive, the fact should be tcle-
graphcd aloft by two strokes of the sig
nal bell but if dead one tap should an
nouncc it. Men were working under
ground is only such men would work.
They had been told off into gangs OF four
each, which spelled or relieved each 9TH
er every fifteen minutes and rs they ad-
vanccd into the avalanche Of rocks and
earth that filled the drift, every inch had
TO be proppcd with heavy timbcrs, for
the vast mass above them had been sha-
ken and had lost its cohesion, and at any
moment might crush down like q noun
tain.
Presently, to those who waited above,
there came a sharp peal of the bell-then
nnnl har In .iIIN-,. ~ hot 81 Sl,,,nt
went up from the men assembled there
Ont OF the depths of that canon, above
lis cliffs and crag$, and over the trees
that waved on their SUBMITS, and above
the mountains that lowered beyond
far above them all it rose like incense.
1t a>ccnded into heaven; for it was Il
prayer-a prayer of Thanksgiving and
praise. Not formed oi speech, not
framed in language, but the ovcrtlowin1
of the heart that cannot be- uttered in
words
My story is done. Little jimmy had
been Ovcrw Inclined with an avalanche,
his candlcs cXtingui>hcd, and he dashed
down with his face TO the earth but the
rocks and timbcrs had formed an arch
over him. He was borne down to the
earth, and the water had risen round
him; "nd, resting his elbow on the
ground, he was Just able TO support his
head above it. In little while he
would have drowned where he lay but
hc was safe now. Strong hands had
dragged him ont Of the crave. They
had harncs>cd themselves 10 the ''horse
whim," and had hoiStcd him into the
glorious sunshine They bore him 10
his cabin, and placed him in the tender
care nl doc" Here we will leave him.
The three drinking saloons in our lit
tie camp proclaimed open doors AMI free
wh,kcy for the rest of that day and as
the boys were about 10 take n drink, Bob
Piper asked leave to offer 4 sentiment.
"Gcntlcmcn," SAID he, 81 told you yc'd
git IN out, il so be rs God would help
US" ''You bet" was the applau,iing
and emphatic response