Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-07-17
MLLERsBURe HOLMES COUNTY, o. THURSDAY July L. 1877:

n To Fannie the stimulus for exerticr
, was gone from the picnic scheme, ye
mechanically she worked with the 9th
: ers. 1t had been so pleasant to max
pics and cakes, cut sandwiches and boi
eggs for Gardiner's picnic, but whel
Gardiner had brought himself into con
tempt for this very scheme, the pi
, making and sandwich cutting wa
, heavy work. Still, there was that tru
germ of womanly chivalry in Fannie'
heart, that she would seem at least t.
cling closer to her betrothed, if tn
hands of others were against him. S
she baked and boiled, and ruined calic,
dresses and aprons over the hot range
on the dry, hot July days, till the morn
ing of the Fourth found hampers al
packed and started for the grove tha
was to be the picnic ground, band il
full blast, and the miners, in holiday
trim, eongregated in force. ...T..
Gardiner Forsythe, driving up to Mr
Germaine's porch, found a very prett,
Fannie, in the snowiest of muslins ant
red and blue ribbons, awaiting him.
"We ladies are wearing the national
colors to honor the day. she said, smi.
ling, "but think the combination o.
eolors for a aag is rather hideous in
sash and neck ribbons. However, 'tis
but once year ones feelings are SC
tried, so III try to bear it. Have you
been to the grove:"
Yes, there is large gathering there
though Herman Clark has taken the
Englishmen into the mines. l cannot
prevent it if they wish to earn day s
wages instead of taking days hoii-
day: but the contempt of the occasion
will certainly cause quarrels in the fu-
ture amongst the men. l am sorry the
man takes his ill-will out in this way.
As long as it was personal dislike to
me it was no matter, but it will cause
serious trouble if he starts national diff
ferences amongst the men. But, never
mind, We will try to give the poor fell
lows one happy day. They were all
dancing when l left. You will have a
good laugh over some of their steps,"
But Fannie was not destined to laugh
that day. Even while Gardiner spoke,
there fell upon their ears the horrible
report that tells experienced miners a
tale Of hideous catastrophe. Another
and two white faces looked into each
other, full Of unutterable horror.
"The mine has fallen in,' Gardiner
whispered. "If only all the men were
at the picnic." Turning his horses
head, he drove rapidly towards the
mines, hearing like q rush of wind the
trampling feet of the miners, as they
rushed from their festival towards the
scene of disaster. r-H .
Some were before them; several
members of the company, several of the
families of the Englishmen, buried
alive by the fall of some portion of the
walls, and hastily from all sides the
workmen rushed forward. 1t was a
good -half-mile from the grove to the
mines, but inan incredibly short time
every man, woman, and child who could
walk was around the mouth of the
mine.
Then followed 4 moment of horrible
suspense. 1t was impossible, where
they were all congregated, to tell where
or how to work to rescue those who
were within their living tomb, if they
we're yet alive. Some one must venture
down and see where the digging must
commence. Some one. Who? H.v
Every man in that vast crowd knew
that it was facing probable, if not GER
tain, death to enter the yawning black
.chasm in the hillside. Death might
come by noxious gas escaping in the
falling of the walls of the inner mine,
orit might come by still further falling
away of these walls. Sudden and un-
expected rs was the first catastrophe,
it was impossible to guess how far it
had extended or might still extend.
The silence that fell upon that mass of
humanity was so awful, so deep, it
could almost be felt.
Upon this hush voice arose, clear,
strong, and courageous. ..f.. ...'
Bring rope! l am going into the
mine," cried Gardiner Forsythe, and
bending low over Fannie, he whispered:
Darling, pray for me. If l never re-
turn, good-by!'
2 Then, as she fell back white and
senseless, he put her in her fathers
arms, knotted the rope about his waist,
put the hat with a lighted taper over his
thick curls, and entered the yawning
black cavern in the hillside.
Strong hands slowly slackened the
rope as the strain upon it proved the
courageous man, they had dared to
-taunt, was steady advancing upon his
perilous errand. Forward, forward
while the suspense of the watchers be-
came agonizing. Women tainted strong
men grew white, and sobs were heard
on all sides. f.sfH sa .-e7I
The rope slackend quickly. Back,
back, with rapid feet, It'll he stood white
and resolute before then once more.
sThe walls have fallen beyond the
third chamber" he said, "and they are
all there. The gas has prostrated them
and the entrance is partly filled up. As
far as l have gone, there is no danger.
want dozen strong men, with car,
brandy, water and light. Who will ac-
company me?" ...
"What would you do, Gardiner? ?" As
ked Mr.. Germaine.
81 will go into the chamber and drag
the men to the entrance. They may be
only stunned or stupefied, not dead.''
"But if you breathe the gas ~
81 can die but once. Come, those
who are ready
The volunteers were beside him in a
moment, hundred where he had asked
dozen. Selecting what he needed,
coolly as If it were an every day affair
Gardiner Forsythe again entered the
mine. 1t was so far in his favor, that
the accident had occurred in one of the
passages that did not run under the lev
ell of the ground, the third chamber be-
ing in the hillside. ........
BY the light of the torches they carri-
nd his cnmnanions could see that the