Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-04-14


for though armed only with shovel and
pick, they were as daring and as gener.
Gus as ever belted Prince who rode with
lance in rest to right imaginary wrongs
and they were ready now to risk every
danger to save the poor fellow buried in
the mine beneath.
On reaching the scene, | found oul
machinery apparently uninjured; but
looking more clOse-y | discovered that
the pump was raising not drop of wa
ter, and it would not be long before the
entire mine would be flooded. The pump
must be relieved at once or we could
not hope to save the mine, much less tc
rescue our friend.
Calling Bob Piper, tall, black beard
ed miner, who had worked at his trade
in every mining country, from the
English Channel to the Pacific Ocean
and who, for his skill, courage and ex,
perience, was the mining oracle OF oui
camp, | pointed him to the pump
which was wearing itself out IN vain
for it lifted no water.
Bob" said |, "we must fix thai
pump! 1t is our only hope to save Lit
tie Jimmy"
"We'll fix it," replied Bob, quietly
"The pump is starved-choked up al
the bottom. Well fix it; and as fol
the poor lad, we'll git un out"
Bob was a West of England man, and
his dialect stuck to him.
"We'll git un out bonny. | think he
beant dead. I've hel ped men out in
the Old Country and this too; an God
will help us we'll git un out now won't
us, Benny?"
Benny, thus appealed to, answered
with an emphatic " You bet," and the
next moment he and Bob, followed by
two others, were clambering down the
steep and slippery flight of ladders thai
led into the mine, until their candles
glimmering like stars, were one by one
swallowed up in the black shaft. Axes
had been sent down in bucket, and II
few moments were heard blows ring
ing on the mass of wood and iron thai
composed the barrel of the pump. They
were cutting holes to let the water into
the pump below. 1t had already riser
above their waists, and the mouth of the
lowest drift was nearly submerged.
The machinery was cracking anc
groaning and the wheel dashing round
but it was idle show, and the mine was
filing up, and soon the men would be
driven out; but meantime we cOulC
hear the blows of the axes. Presently
the clumsy wal1ing-beam quit groanlng
stood still, and began to tremble. The
wheel had stopped for a moment, ther
began to move slowly and went rounc
with surge.
There was a great rush of water
through the pump, aud it was all right
Our old wooden pump Was equal to tht
occasion. The fiood-gates were opened
on the great overshot wheel, and it wa
required to do it's best. 1t rushed rounc
steadily, and in an houJ the mine wa
freed from water, SO that men coulC
press into the drift.
It was arranged that if Little Jimmy
were found alive, the fact should be tele
graphed aloft by two strokes of the sigma
bell; but if dead, one tap should an
nounce it. Men were working under
ground as only such men could work
They had been told off into gangs o
four each, which spelled or relieved eacl
advanced into the avalanche Of rock
and earth that filled the drift, every
inch had to be propped by heavy tim
bers, for the vast mass above them haC
been shaken and had lost its cohesion
and at any moment might crush dOWr
like mountain.
Presently, to those who waited above
there came sharp peal of the bell
then another. He was alive What {
shout went up from the men assembled
there Out of the the depths of tha
canon, above its cliffs and crags, anC
over the trees that waved on their sum
mits, and above the mountains that tow
cred beyond-far above them all it rose
like incense. 1t assembled into heaven
for it was a prayer--a prayer of thanks
giving and of praise; not formed IL
speech, not framed in language-but the
overflowing Of the heart that cannot bt
uttered in words.
My story is done. Little Jimmy hac
been overwhelmed with an avalanche
his candles extinguished, and he dashed
down with his face to the earth bu
the rocks and timbcrs had formed ar
arch over him. He was borne down tc
the earth, and the water had risen rounc
him; and resting his elbow on the
ground, he was just able to support his
head above it, In a little while he woulC
have drowned where he lay, but he was
safe now.
Strong hands had dragged him out
of this grave. They had harnessed them
selves to the "horse whim," and hoisteC
him into the glorious sunshine. They
bore him to his cabin, and placed hin
in the the tender care of "Doc." Here
we will leave him.
The three drinking saloons in our lit
tie camp proclaimed open doors ano
free whisky for the rest of that day ano
as the boys were about to take a drink
Bob Piper asked leave to offer senti
ment: Gennelmen,' said he, ." / tolo
you we'd git un out, if so be God would
help us. Gennelmen, he did help us"
- You betE' was the applauding and
emphatic response.
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