The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-16

lives to save, they had to leave at the end o
one of the side entries apparently dead.
panic seemed TO seize them; and Just then
as brave and noble a man as ever was ere
ated in the image of his maker
WILLIAM MARKS
by name-snnounc-dh his solemn determine
ton 10 90 down the shaft in search Of Kree-
bles and the entire party. To stand at the
shaft and behold the vast column of smoke,
so thick and dense that it could almost be cut
with knife, and think OF a man voluntarily
throwing himself into il, was appalling.
But Marks, born a hero, cool, unfiD ching,
and with superb courage, ordered those
near him to fzsten a rope under his arms and
let him down to what all seemed certain
death. Launched out over the awful Vor-
tex. but an instant and bis form was en-
quilted beneath the great sea of smoke, into
winch one could not Dser an inch. Down
he went like shot. the motion Of the rope
telling of his reaching the foot of the shaft.
NO sooner had he freed himself than
he ran into the entry. W here he found the
inanimate form of Kreebles lying in a coal
cart. To push the cart into the
shait was but the work of few moments.
Next, fsstenil z the end Of the rope under
the arms of Kreeb les, SOFAS to insure safety
IN running ham up, he called out to those
ABOVE 10 hoist away, and soon the apparently
lifeless body was in the tender hands OF
friends, who succeeded in restoring ANNA
ton, and then sent the fortunate man to his
home. In the meantime Marks searched
the region below for signs OF other men,
soon finding
SOLID WALL
ofslate and dirt thrown up across the main
entry. Hallooing at the top Of his voice, he
made those beyond bear HIM, and in a few
moments the barricade was removed so as
to permit of ready communication. To the
twenty-odd men imprisoned behind the
wall be conveyed the Joyous assurance that
escape was at hand, and from the caverns Of
the earth there went up n shout that was
heard and taken up by those standing
meath the light of heaven. From this time
on AL was rejoicing, for out OF the very
jaws OF death were snatched in all thirty-two
human beings. Slowly. but surely, one at a
time the men were hauled up to light and
air alive, many, however, having to be Sc
curely fastened to the ladder and removed
to their homes Immediately upon reaching
the surface. The last man was taken out
just before O'Clock, and call upon the
more severely prOstrateo ones tonight as
sured your correspondent that all were doing
we'll with little or no danger of fatal results.
The length ofthe main entry to the mine is
$50 feet. This entry is Is feet wide, and
averages four feet in height. From this
entry the cross-entries lead off, they being
five feet in width, and just high enough for
man TO work in. These entries are di-
vided into what are termed rooms, 80 feet in
width, two men ordinarily working a room.
The coal is carried about i'm small cars
running on trsmwsys. The furnace draws
out impure air, and is OF ordinary
brick construction. The main shaft is
sunken to the depth of 80 feet, and is
divided into two sections, up and down
which pass the hosting carts, the coal being
drawn up by horsepower. At the side OF
the shaft is the air-shaft for the escape of
This air-shaft, as we'll as the main shaft, is
boarded uD with ordinary pine boards. The
fire started in the SCOT gathered in the hori-
zOntal hue, and, quickly communicating 10
the shaft, set il as well as the main shaft in
blaze