The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-05-29


and could catch n glimpse Of huge but
trcsscS reaching pom high, like the arm!
Of Atlas. The roof could not see, OWN.
to the momcn!aiiness of the flash, but tlit
noise was appalling. The explosion
echoed anil rc-cchncd round the dark
vault, and then fled away in muttering
thun,lcrs into the unknOwn darkness
seeming to be caught up, and buiTrtcd
between the buttrcsscs, and, for several
moments after these rcpcrcussions of Sound
had ceased, to lingcr like the recurring
undcrtOncs of some mOnStrous passing.
bell. | am Interpretations, but il seemed
justns not 10 lie ringing my own knell
so | determined not to waste powder in Ut.
tGrly futile attempts TO make somrbotl )
hear. .-
\ low moan nf pain ut my side now
made me starti but on calling TO Rover, |
found it proceeded from him. lie had
fallen with lie, but, less fortunatc-as !
found on scrambling to where the means
proceeded from-had broken his back in
the descent. 1t was pitcOus 10 feel tho
poor animal licking my hand and To know
that he was powcrleSs to drag himself n
yard. Even in the upper world, there
would have been no cure for him, and
sorry as | was To lose his companionship
i'll the utter darkness which cnvc!Opcd us,
| knew il WAS more humane to put IN end
To his suflcrings. There was agony i'll the
thought, but what could be done? Imme-
diately, the faithful creature was no more,
and now l was left absolutely without :,
friend il The bowels of the earth. Ill t;
measure encouraged myself, however. b =
thinking that after dinner had waited IN
hour, Mrs. Willis would probably become
alarmed, and send out to sc0ur the neigh
borhOod. But who would dream of me
in deserted coal-piti and who would
track my steps over the barren moors, to
the point where the earth subsidized under
met And then once more hope awOkc
strong and irrcprcssiblc within inc.
Being greatly exhausted. L could no
longer resist sleep, and when awokc and
struck fuscc, found it was again G
O'Clock; six a. NJ, suppnscri, of the day
after my accident. Shortly after, the
watch stopped, and was for the future
obliged to guess ut the lapse of time, as
the watch-kcy had been left OH my dress
ing table at home.
Energy returned after my slumbcr, and
A'SSAhNl WIN lilIlSls NfbNC
10 leave the mouth Of the pit, and search
for water. left my gun and poci;etbook
behind Inc, having first scrawlcd few
words on a page Df it, III case rcscuers
should descend III my absence. walked
on boldly from the mouth, where high
above the circular path of sky was once
morc'appeariug with dawn, md aiTording
me y ray of hope. When fairly in the
darkness, stopped To listen, and The ST.
lcncc was awful. Again | pressed on
through what seemed light sand, but
which | well knew was dry coal-dust,
which invariably carpets Il pit, and cX-
tends up Ia the ankles Of any one walking
i'll it. At length, heard the pleasant
sound Of water trickling down, and i'm
mcdia;cly | was on the edge of rill, ut
which had delicious and refreshing
dranght. lay for some time by the rill,
and left it invigOratcd, and once more,
strange TO say, hopeful.
How to find my way back, WAS now
my difficulty. Hunger admits Of no par
lcying, and / was now resolved to appcasc
my appetite on what had before seemed
so revolving, the flesh of puor Rover.
Staggering back to the spot where lc lay,
there WAS hurried I'll II past me of an
army Of small animals. The truth flashed
upon me. Poor Rovcr's body WIS being
gnawc,l Ia pieces and dcvourcd by rats.
Strength Of mind again almost fOrSouk
me. These irightIul creatures, thought,
were waiting in the gloom to pick my
bones as sell. Though this were dis
used working, the presence of rats, felt
assured, pointed out that there were
worked portions Of the mine at no great
distance. II they did not muster up cour-
age enough to Ovcfwhclm me by numbers,
| might yet bc saved. Now | tool; my
gun as protection, AMI resolving tn give
up what | had previously regarded as a
treasure of incStimahlc value, the rill Ui
running water, prepared To strike boldly
into an uppn,iic working, and take my
chance. My flask WAS full of water, and
with il | might support life for couple
OF days, il the worst came to the worst
| frightened my wnistlmnd--a plan tn mp.
rcasc the cravings of hunger, which had
learned also from the Rcd Indians-and
dipping Il finger Of my kid glove in the
flask, by dint Of chewing il, made sorry
meal, hut yet nnC that greatly relieved ny
pan9s, and opened the salivnry glands tt
my wonderful rcIrcshmCnt Ny new track
lcd Ia II floor of very uneven nature, ant
over which the roof could bc felt. con,
CludCd this was rather Il iUrSakcn working
than n thoroughIhrc, So To speak, of tIr
mine, and turned la one side, where tlIt
roof again rose. This ! supposed to Il,
the passage leading tu the abundance
working from the main adit of the mine
On the more level and dusty floor, hcrt
kicked something which sounded metal
lie, and picked up what | made out b,
feeling To hc un old safety. lamp. Thl
paddock was still on its side, and the rinl
at the top was moi eaten away nr rcndcrc,
less easy in its play by rust. Clearly, lh
pit had not been many years abandoned
And then n brilliant Thought struck me
| With hands trembling from excitement,
opened my pocket knife, and forced oi
the little pa'llpck with some little trouble
Then ] drew out my luscc-bnX, sCarccl
daring to allow Ia myself that there NIGH
bc sufficient oil left in the lamp to admi
nf my obtaining light, if il were but fu
II short time. There WAS but one fuse
left. All my hopes, almost my existence
seemed ccntcrcd nm il. At length
| rIuckcd up courage enough to try I
strike it.. Il liAHcd for n mnmcnt, an
then went irlcvUcably out, 'lnShingall III
expectations to the ground, and lcavin
me once more in utter darkness, both out
| n l..