Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-11-15

VIZ, PeiO anu sNaipui put HAoil NhNiSNS'
"There's no one down belonging to
you, is therey" | asked her.
"Oh, yes-yesl my father was down.
and John Kelsey"
Now, then, who's going DOWN. ]
shouted.
You can't go down !" shouted haf a
dozen voices " the choke got most the
better of u.s.
"But there are still two men down p
| cried, savagely. 4" You are not all cow
ards are your"
Two men stepped forward and we got
in the cage.
"Who knows where Andrews was ?"
and faint voice from one Of the injured
men told me. Then gave the warning
and we were lowered down, it having
been understood that at the first signal
we made we were to be drawn up sharp
ly.
We reached the bottom, and found
no difficulty in breathing; and shouting
to the men to come on, | ran in the di-
rection where had been told we should
find Andrews; but it was terrible work,
for expected each moment to encounter
the deadly gas that had robbed so many
men of their lives. But kept on shout
ing to those behind me, till all at once |
tripped and fell over some one: and as
soon as | could get myself together, |
lowered the lamp l carried, and, to my
great delight, found it was Andrews.
Whether dead or alive l could not tell
then but we lifted him among us, and
none too soon, for as took my first step
back, | reeled, from curious, giddy feel
ing which came over me.
Run, if you canp' | said family =
for my legs seemed to be sinking under
me. | managed to keep on, though, and
at our next turn we were in purer air
but we knew it was race for life, for
the heavy gas was rolling after us, ready
to quench out our lives if we slackened
speed for an instant. We pressed on,
though, till we reached the cage, rolled
into it, and were drawn up to be receiv-
ed with burst of cheers-Mary throw
ing her arms around her fathers neck
ana sobbing bitterly.
7" am not much hurt" he said feebly
the fresh air reviving him, as be was laid
gently down. "God bless those brave
lads who brought me up! But there's
another man down-John Kelsey"
No one spoke, no one moved, for all
knew of the peril we had just escaped.
"My lads he said feebly, " can't you
do something to save your mate ?" and
as | looked wildly from one to another,
felt my heart in my mouth.
DO you all hear said loud voice =
and | started as / saw Mary Andrews
rise from she had knelt, holding her
fathers hand do you all hear?'-
John Kelsey is left in the pit. Are you
not men enough to GO"
"Men can't go" said one of the day
shift grufiy; no one could live there"
" You have not tried !" again she
cried passionately. " Richard Oldshaw,"
she said with red glow upon her face,
John Kelsey is down there dying and
asking for help. VIII you not go ?"
"And you wish me to go, then y 1
said bitterly.
" Yes, she said. "Would you have
your fellow creature lie there and die,
when God has given you the power and
knowledge to save him?
The next minute stepped up toward
the pits mouth, where there was dead
silence, for no one would volunte er, and
in half clustering way 1 said
I'll go DOWN.
There was regular cheer rose up as
| said these words; but | hardly noticed
it, fer was looking intently at Mary,
and my heart sank as l saw her standing
there smiling with joy.
! The nextminute l had stepped into the
cage, and l began to move, voice called
/ out:
"Alow it allp' Dick Oldshaw shan't
go alone T.
And young pitman sprang in by my
side.
Then We began to descend. and through
an opening / just caught sight of Mary
Andrews falling back senseless in the
arms of the women. Then all was dark
and l was nerviDg myself for what l had
to do.
To go the way by which had helped
to save Andrews was, | knew, impossi-
Bile: but | had hopes that by going
round by one of the workings we nigh:
reach him, and l told my companion
what thought,
Turning short off as soon as we
we're at the bottom, | led the way, hold
ing my lamp high and climbing and
stumbling over the broken shale that had
fallen from the roof, for this part of the
mine had not been worked for years.