Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-07-25


piekaxes and shovels to clear the way.
1t is hard labor and great risk. The
news of the accident brings help from
far and near. Men flock from all quar-
ters to offer their services. How they
work Toward night they hear some
thing. Lstenl 1t is not a voice but a
tapping, 1t can just be heard. Clink,
clink, clink, clink, clink five times,
then il stopped. Five more then a stop.
What does it mean? One man guessed
that, as there we're five missing, the five
clinks showed that all five men were
alive, waiting for deliverenee. A shout
of JOY was raised in and above the pit.
Among the foremost Of the workers
was the father of little Robert the trap
per- Night and day be never left the
mine, and hardly quilted his work.
you'll kill yourself Lester" said
low-workman "go ana take little
rest, and leave the work to u.s."
, "No, no, Tom,' cried the poor father,
!" / promised Roberts mother w'd come
up together; and so we will, if it please
God" he said, wipiDg the tears from his
rough cheek, and he hewed away with
all his might.
How does 1t fare with the poor prison.
ers? They were frightened like the
rest, by that sudden and awful noise.
Little Robert left his Ioor and ran to
the men, who we'll knew what it meant.
Waiting till everything is quiet, they
went forward to examine the passage-way
Robert left. 1t was blocked up, They
tried another; that, too, was blocked
up. 0, fearful thought, they were bur-
led alive! The men went back to the
boy. "I want to go home please let
me 60 home" said poor Robert.
"Yes, yes, as soon as we find the way
out, my little man" said miner called
Truman, in kind yet husky voice.
The air grew close and suffoeating and
they took their oil cans and food bags to
one of the galleries where it was better.
The two "hewers Truman and Lo-
gan we're pious men. We'll, James
what shall we do next?" asked Truman
"There is but one thing we can do"
said Logan. "God says, Callnpon me
in the day of trouble; and l will deliver
thee and thou shalt glorify me. >"
They told the boy their danger. "But
we must keep up good heart" said the
believing men and the way to do so,
IS to put our trust in the Almighty God
more than in man. He heard Jonah
cry to him from the whales belly, and
he can hear us from the bottom of the
coal-pit. LIST US pray to him"
Thew all knelt down, and Robert cri-
ed bitterly. But as the pious men prayed
first one then the other--their hearts
grew lighter, and even the little trap
per dried his tears.
When it was time for dinner, they ate
sparingly, in order to make the food they
had last at least three days. for it might
be full that time before they could be
dug out. Meanwhile what should they
do for water? A rickling noise was
heard "Water, water" Yes, it was
water dripping from rock. 1T seems"
said Logan, as If this water was sent
on purpose to put us in mind that God
won't torsake US Tor don't you know
the good Book says, When the poor and
needy seek water, and there is none, and
their tongue faileth for thirst, the Lord
will hear them, | the God OF Israel will
not forsake them r"
Soon the imprisoned men got their
pickaxes; but what a hopeless task it
seemed to cut through the mass of earth
and stones to daylight! Their hearts
beat with hope and joy when they first
heard the sound of their friends working
on the other side. 1t was then they
made the clink, clink, with the pickaxes,
which was heard, and so encouraged their
deiverers.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and
no rescue. What dark and dreadful
daysl Worse than all. the sounds they
had heard did not appear to draw near.
And yet prayer and songs of praise
might have been heard in that dismal
cavern. BY Friday morning their food
was gone, and by Friday night their oil
too.
"Our food is gone, our light is gone,
but our God is not gone" said Truman.
/" He says / will never leave you nor
forsake you As for little Robert, he
was so weak he could not sit up. His
mind wandered, he talked about tn. sun
and grass as if he saw them and once
he repeated what he had learned at the
Sunday schools
Sweet fields beyond the swelling food
Stand dressed in living green"
Saturday came-the fifth day-and
the men at work outside knew there was
not an instant TO lose. They were too
anxious even to speak. For hours they
had heard no signals. Were their poor
comrades dead? Suddenly the wsll
was pierced; hole was made through
it feeble voices we're heard. "Truman,
are you there !"
yes, all here
All living?"
Yes, thank God, all living"
"All living, all livingi' shouted
the men, and the shout went up to the
top of the pit. When Roberts fsther
heard that his little son was alive, he
fell down senseless.
One hour more, and the rescuers
reached their comrades. Who can de-
scribe the meeting? l Cannot; nor the
gratitude of wives, mothers and friends,
as one and another were brought to the
surface. AT last came Lester with Rob-
ert in his arms. What huzza rent the
air as they came in sight. q Safe, safe
God be praised - Edriu Ddus.