The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-07-25
BURIED IN Il COAL NINE.
a STORY FOR THE YOUNG.


Coal, you know, is dug out of the
earth Should you like TO visit a coal
mine? We come to a great hole in
the ground, and get into a big basket
hung by stout Ghains to a windlass.
Down, down we go; it grows blacker
and blacker, and is quite dark by the
time we touch the bottom. Here pas
sage-ways run off in every direction,
often crossing each other like the
streets of a town. On each side of
these are caves, where the coal is dug
out. Thick pillars are left between,
to hold up the roof The men who
hew out the coal are called "hewers"
The coal is put into tubs running on
wooden wheels, and dragged to the
foot of the shaft. Those who do this
( are called ''putters." 1t is hard work
pulling these heavy loads through the
long, low dark passages. Besides
these are. the ''trappers" whose bust
ness it is to sit cOoped up in little
black holes, to open and shut the trap
doors which lead out of the passages.
This is boys work. Often little boys
of nine or ten are employed. 1t is not
hard, but very dismal and tiresome.
And they have to stay all day long
How should you like it, children, who
go to school, and play on the grass in
the sunshine?
Then, there are dangers down in the
mine which do not happen to people
above ground. Foul air Sometimes
chOkes the men to death water some
times spOuts out and browns them !;
and sometimes part Of mine caves
in. This is called crush"
One morning while the pitmen were
at work in the mine in the north of
England, they heard noise like thun-
der. In moment every lamp was
out-for the men work by lamps
there is not a spark of daylight there
"A crash a crash ~ cries the men,
! ---.l III 4I--e--- eli. t~Ol~ .,-.>t
run for their lives.
1t is Tuesday morning. The men
gather at the mouth of the pit, and
count their number Five are miss
ing-two -'hewers," =" two ''putters" and
one little "trapper," Robert Lester.
+ The people above hear the noise, and
rush to the mouth of the pit. The
| workmen are taken up. Oh, the
. agony Ol GIlc WIVES anu lAiCtLASlo VI
I those who are left behind Brave
men go back to their rescue. They
! light their candles and reach the
/ crash" There is nothing but a heap
of ruins. Were the poor miners in
stantlv killed, or are they hemmed in
J to die of starvation? 1t is dreadful
thought. They called and shouted,
/ but no answer. They began with pick
/ axes and shovels to clear the way. It
! is hard labor and great risk. The
news of the accident bring help from
! far and near. Men flock from all
! quarters to offer their services.
How they work Towards night
I they hear something. Listen! 1t is
not voice but tapping. 1t can just
be heard CIink! clink clink elink !
clink five times and then it stopped.
Five more and then q stop. W hat
; does it mean? One mar guessed that,
as there were five missing the hve
J clinks showed all five were alive, walt
inc for a deliverance. A shout Of joy
was raised in and above the pit.
Amongst the foremost of the work
ers was the father of little Robert, the
strapper." Night and day he never
left the mine, and hardly quilted his
work
You'll kill yourself, Lester" said
a fellow workman. 'Go take a little
rest. and trust the Work to US"
NO no, Tom" cried the poor faith
er; Il promised Roberts mother we
would come up together; and SO we
will, if it please God" he said, wiping
the tears from his rough cheek and
he hewed away with all hfs might.
How does it fare with the poor pris-
eners? They are frightened like the