Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-08-22
LOCAL CORRESPONDENCE.
In the Mine.

Mr. EDlToR-Will YOU allow Il small
space in your most excellent paper for a
short communication respecting visit to
Hoffman Hollow Coal Mines by a few Wis
tors from Baltimore City on the 4th inst?
Said party consisted of Miss Carrie Black
iston of Baltimore City, Miss Mollie Willi>S
of Ghcstcrtown, Kent County, Md, Rcv j.
+. Bradford, formerly of Baltimore City,
but at present Il resident of Frostburg,
(Pastor Of English Baptis; Church, JAS N.
Mair, Ransom Powell, William Simons,
Esq.'s, with the wives of the gentlemen
last named, Of Ecliparl, Md, eight in mum
Der On the morning Of the date mention
cd we started for il!e mines to enter, for
some ofus the first time, those dark sub
tclrancan windings in the bowels of tie
earth. from whence is cXhumed the black
substance called coal, that gloWs i'll the
CRATES in winter and warns us when bit
inc winds nip our persons.
Arriving at the mouth of the mine sever
al ofour panty, having never seen such a
place before, seemed timid about entering,
and of course, MS is always the case on the
part of the gcntlcr sex a great many "oh. s.
and my IS and "dcars" were expressed and
INDUCED. Some proposed to go no farther
than the mouth of the mine; but finally
overcoming all scruplcs on the tender side
ofthc question, we got under way and be
gan the descent. We were attended very
kindly by the obliging and urbanc assist
ant Superintendent, Joseph Is. Thomas,
Ess;. Three cars to ride in were provided
under the guidance of James SloWan, Esq,
assistant boss, as oar conductor: the cars
were manned by James Watson and Thos.
Stapeton as the managers OF our under
ground train, The word given, our en-
zine snortcd, being Il horse, away we went
amid little shricks from the female depart
mcnt and words of cheer and consolation
from the lords of creation on the other
side. The most extended heading being
REACHED, out we all jumped to examine the
deposit of ages, the great gift of nature, rs
prepared by mi@hticr hand than mans
and by wisdom as superior as the heavens
are higher than the earth. Arm in arm
we wandered from room to room, wonder
inc at the mighty and eXhaustless provision
of nature prepared for mankind, and ad-
miring the goodness and thougmtulncss
of that God who scans things of time and
eternity with one glance of His Omniscient
eve.
1 Finally, heing ready to depart, a pfopo-
sition was made for two of the ladies from
Baltimore to dig n piece Gf coal from the
F breast OF the main heading as a trophy of
the visit Accordingly, to the infinite
amusement Of the miners present, those
ladies graspcd the pick and began to peck
in rood earnest until each obtained n good
piece of coal, dug by their OWE delicate
and soft hands. Ii is needless to say those,
delicate hands were much soiled Ready
to return, we entered the car again and
proceeded to the mouth of the mine. On
tho return trip the proposition was made
TO put out the ligh; 10 realize what the sen
sation of black dafknes is. Truly they are
anything but pleasant. If soul lost will
be subject to this kind of black darkness,
our petition to the Father of Light is, good
Lord save us from such fearful end!
Arrived mt Ecllhart, we were eXperienc-
lag she pangs Of hunger which were soon
gratifcd at the residence of James NJ.
MAR, Esq. We did good justice to the
substantials placed before us, and felt well
pleased at the days visit to Hoffman Ho!-
low Mine. BALTIMOREAN.