Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-10-06

"Oh, yes my father was down,
and John Kelsey"
AS she said the first words, | felt
ready for anything; but as she finished |
her sentence, a Geld chill came over me,
and she saw the change, and looked at
me in a strange, half angry way.
Here comes the cage up" l said,
trying hard to recover myself, and GO
ing up to the bank by her side but |
when half-a- dozen scorched and black
ened men stepped out, and we looked at
their dis6gured faces, poor Mary gave a
low wall Of misery, and heard her say,
softly, 80 father father father p
1t went right to my heart to hear her
bitter cry, and I caught hold of her
hand
Don't be down-hearted, Mary" |
said, huskily; there's hope yet"
! Her eyes flashed through her tears,
as she turned sharply on me and press
| ing her hand for moment, | said, softly.
"Try and think more kindly of me Ma
ry." And then I turned to the men.
Nov, then, who's going down p |
shouted
"You can't 60 down." shouted half-a
dozen voices ..the choke got most the
better Of u.s. s
sBut there are two men down !" l
cried, savagely. You're not all cow
ards. are you?'
Two men stepped forward and we got
into the cage.
..Who knows Where Andrews was p
! cried; 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 were to be drawn up sharply.
The excitement kept me from being
| frightened but there was a horrid feel
| ing of oppression in the air as we got
} lower and lower, and twice over the men
with me were for being drawn up.
[ at steals over you before you know
it" said one
t at laid me like in a sleep, when
0 Rotherby pit fired" said the other.
t Would you leave old Andrews to
|
die ?" | said and they gave in.
t We reached the bottom, and / found
: no difficulty in breathing and, shouting
1 to the men to come ON, ran in the di-
reetion where had been told we should
e find Andrews; but it was terrible work,
4 for expected each moment to encount-
!; er the deadly gas that had robbed SO
2 many men of their lives. But kept
S on. shouting to those behind me, till all
at once / tripped and fell over sowe one
t and as soon as could get myself to-
/; gethcr lowered the lamp carried, and
p to my great delight, l fouEd it was An.
# drews.
n Whether dead or alive | could moi
i tell then; but we lifted him amongst
n us, and none too soon, for as l took my
first step back reeled. from curious
II giddy feeling which came over me-
" Run, if you can," l said, family
# for my legs seemed to be sinking under
it me. | managed to keep on, though
a and at our next turn we were in purel
IF air; but we knew it was race for life
| for the heavy gas was rolling after US
IS ready to quench out our lives if W,
:, slackened speed for an instant. w,
le pressed on, though, till we reached tn,
ID cage, rolled into it more than climbed
and were drawn up. to be received Will
a a burst Of scheers. Mary throwing he
er arms around her fathers neck. and sob
(, bing bitterly.
at "I'm not much hurt, he said, feebly
le the fresh air reviving him, as he wa
ID laid gently down. "God bless thos
Of brave lads who brought me upl Blu
X there's another man down-John Kel
st sey."
ht No one spoke, no one moved. for al
ir knew of the peril we had just escape
ne from.
Il can't go myself, or would" sal
I'd Andrews '.but you mustn't let him Ii
as there and burn. / left him close up t
at the lead He tried to follow me. bu
en- the falling coal struck him down.
| believe the pits on fire.
There was loud murmur amongs
es the men, and some Of the women waile
20 aloud but still no one moved exceT
he old Andrews, who struggled up on on
of arm, and looked at US, his face blacl
and his whiskers and hair all burnt Of
he My lads" he said, feebly. ..can
TO- you do nothing to save your mate?' an
cir as he looked wildly from one to the otl
ne er, | felt my heart like in my mouth
..Do you all hear?' said loud voice
ID and | started, as | saw Mary Andrew
MT rise from where she had knelt holdir
no her fathers hand; do you all hear ?
ere John Kelsey is left in the pit. Are yc
up not men enough to go?''
In MEN can't go" said one of the d;
wn shift, grufly; mo one could live there
You have not tried, again she erie
, it passionately. Richard oldshaw," 81
ing said, turning to me with red glow u
nc on her face. ..,John Kelsey is down the