The Shasta courier., 1872-03-16
:
CORRESPONDENCE.
Horsetown, Feb. 22d,

Ed. CouRIER-Here squib About
two weeks ago, the miners working IN
tunnel of the s-Shasta Blue Gravel Mining
Co.," had to quit working in the tunnel on
account of its becoming, charged with,
foul air or FIRE damp" as termed by
miners, (Carbonic acid gas) so much SO, that
they could not KEEP their candles lighted.
Supt. Mcpherson decided upon sinking an
air shaft, so as to tap tunnel about 600
feet from its head. Yesterday having the
shaft down between go K 20 feet, ga feet
being the required) the Supt. to facilitate
the work, concluded to put on two sets of
hands, one set TO sink shaft, the other to
drive up from the tunnel In order to do
this, it was necessary to go into the tunnel,
to decide what place to begin at, being
| guided by sound from the shaft. Yestcr
day morning Supt. Mcpherson went down
the shaft, (Which is about 900 feet from
the head of tunneD to judge where to begin
work. He passed up tunnel about 200
feet when the gas ignited, putting out his
light. The fame passed up the tunnel
Mcpherson made good his retreat, without
any mishap. But not so with Mr. james
Watson who went into tunuel some hours
afterwards. MIR. Watson when speaking
of how he got scorched so, said that, "when
he had got up the tunnel about 400 feet
carrying his light as low as he possibly
could,) the fame of his candle
heightened apparently two feet, then went
out leaving him with the gas ahame over
head. The flames seemed to pass him in
waves towards the shaft, the opposite di
rection that he had anticipated. He made
his escape, having his whiskers, eyebrows,
and hair singed, his face and three fingers
of his left hand scorched, SO as to blister
Mr. Watson deems himself fortunate in
escaping with his life. OBSERVER.
| Learn since that the accident was
caused by an act of gallantry on the part Of
Mr.. Watson, "who by the way, is gallant
and brave fellow" Squire jacobson had
been in the tunnel in the meantime and
saw the strange phenomena of the gas in
flames. 1t surpasses anything that he ever
saw or dreamed Of Its rolling and wavy
motion, and its variations of color, were the
most brilliant thing he ever saw. He
would not have missed it for any moneycon
sideraiion. His slowing description of the
sight, excited the curiosity of a young lady
who is visiting the proprietors of their
boarding house, so much that she declared
IA desire to see this strange phenomena
Mr. Watsons gallantry came in requisition
and of course the young lady went with
him to see what was to be seen. However
when they got there the sights had disap-
peared Mr.. Watson moth ng daunted was
not going to allow the young lady to return
disappointed, so he kept on up the tunnel,
the young lady following. He kept his
candle fourishing about, exhibiting in a
small way the variations of color. He final
ly succee ed in igniting the gas--with this
addition to the result as before stated
Young lady had presence of mind to cover
her head with her shawl and max, good
her retreat, With slight scurching of a
couple Of fingers on one hand. Both were
rather reticent regarding the result. Fri
day, men succeeded in expelline sufficient
Of the gas, by running up and down the
tunnel, as to allow a couple of hands to
work ip the tunnel opposite where shalt
would strike tunnel. They worked all the
afternoon, by placing candles iu the very
bottom Of the fume. Saturday mcrn;r:
there was SO much gas that none could sue
ceed in going up tunnel any distance
Sunday norDlng Squire Jacobsen made the
attempt accompanied by Morris Casio. rhe
Squire had some unslacked lime, and light
ed candle. They had gone up the tunnel
but short distance when the gas aga n
isnted with a terrible explosion towards
The head of the tunnel. and with considerable
force where they were-suficient to pros
trate No-rs Casio who became badly de
moraiized thereai, aud to drive the car
clean sout of the tunnel, and throw some
baggilg that was at the mouth of shaft some
distance from where it lay; an oil can hat
was standing on the bagging was thrown
with such force as to stick the point of can
into one of the timbers.
Monday forenoon shaft tapped the tunnel
Tuesday they found that shaft had purified
the tunnel, so that they could commence
drifting again. The explosion did con.
siderable damage to the fume collapsed
the sides of fume some II or 13 boxes in
lcnght They will have to be taken out
and relaid So ends niue-day wonfler.
OBSERVER.
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