The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-29
A COAL NINE HORROR.
A Thrilling Story of Mule Boys Ad-
ventures in an Abandoned Mine.
THE LIGHT OF REASON PUT OUT.
A Flight from Cruelty to an En-
counter with Rats.
DUNMoEE. Pa. July 81. ISIS.

OF the Pennsylvania Coal Company at this place u
mule boy III the same mine was recently put to SO
terrible an experience III one OF the company's
abandoned MINES that he has become. 1t IS feared,
hopelessly insane, ana has been sent 10 the luna
tic asylum In DanvIlle Montour county
The miners name is James Barrett. The boy Is
the son OF a poor widow, and although but four
teen years or age contributed largely to her sup
port. Ills name Is James Gallagher. The man
Barrett, IL seems, was in the habit OF abusing the
lad In most shameful manner, having no aprar-
ent cause save mere personal antpathy. The
boy stood III mortal lie IT or Barrett. A weak
or so ago the latter had been tyrann.zlug
over young Gallagher with more than usual
cruelty, ana finally swole that II he did not quit
his sight at once he would Kill him. at the same
time running toward the boy with his pick raised
as II 10 strike him. Gallagher ran screaming away
rom mis- prosecutor, and made directly into the
abandoned chamber. rever stopping To look where
he was, IN his fright only thinking OF getting out
OF the reach OF Barrett. After running for some
time the boy stopped. and for the hrst saw
that ne was In the worked-out nine. Even tnen
terror OF his cruel Laskmaster was uppermost
In his MIND and II was not until the little
mine lamp on his cap began 10 grow aim and
finally went entirely out that he awoke TO The
horror OF MS situation.
THE ABANDONED NINE.
u
world 1t Is a coal mine that has been worked out
and deserted. Its labyrinth OF silent corridors
responds to the least sound with the most demonl-
acal echoes, and noxlous gases generate
In the pools OF SHINY water that eX.
udes rom the walls and drps down
upon the slippery floor. PITFALLS filed
with water that aceumulates without In terrup-
ton abound in these noisome halls, aud myriads
OF hungry rats, bold and even aggressive, haunt
the desolate chambers hundreds OF feet below the
earths surface, and over Nil the most oppressive
darkness. There is no darkness like that In
mine. 1t Is dense and heavy that
one feels its weight upon hin AZ II he
were beneath iathoms OF water and the
eye does not become accustomed to It's pail suni-
ciently 10 penetrate 1t in tae slightest degree. ON
every side the constant drip, drip OF the unwhole
some water is heard, and the noise Of rats. which
frequently dlsplace some loose powder or coal As
they scamper over IL, and send IL tumbug TO the
noor awaking thousand horrld echoes and send
ing them reverDeratng through the deserted
chambers
''HELP! HELP"
1t was into such place as this that young Gal
lagher found himself, without Ight, alone and
entirely ignorant OF the way out His first
thought was to shout aloud for help, but the SOUND
OF his voice traverslng the devious corridors and
yelling back to aim his cry, prolonged and multi
piled hundred times. as If so many tiends were
mocking his distress, so frightened the boy that he
ne commenced gropin9 his way along III silence IN
the direction he thought most likely would lead
to the entrance OF the mine. lie had proceeded
80 lie distance along the stiihy wall, wnen cel-
tain dihculty OF breathing ana choking sensation
warned hum that he was trespassing where
miner, nre damp, prevailed, ana he hastily
retraceG his steps with the Intention Of turning
into the first corridor came 70. # was loag
time before he reached one. 1t turned on 10 the
right and he entered IL and followed IL Ior quar-
Ter OF an hour. feeling his way along one size or
IL and being careful not 10 turn into any OF the
corridors crossing II, 30 that he might not become
confused II circumstances compelled him to
again retrace mis- steps. Suddenly, 10 putting MS
loot forward he found no rest or 1t, anu before
he could recover his balance, he Tell neadong into
the excavation. He attempted TO regain Ills ieet,
but he was overcome win II sense or numDness,
and Tell back into the slime and ooze that covered
tic Jagged bottom OF the pit How long lie lay
there unconscious the boy Ola not know. He came
10 nlse Win ao"ieGG r, ot n peG nnt pam
where nc was, but the impenetrable darkness aud
cold. damp atmosphere soon recalled his situa-
ton. dc drew up his nands and ieet 10 make an
effort 10 arise. when an army OF rats scampered
away from about nm. They ran over his body
and traIled their cold shiny tails In his face. he
spran2 up with snrieK OF terror tnat again
started the blood-curoling echoes through the
chamber.
From the leeling OF his hands and feet Gallagher
knew that the rats mad been gnawing al his nesh,
but he ola not stop To MAKE any investigation
until he escaped rom the PIT ana was again
on ms, way back to the place whence
he found no easy task. twice he clam oered
up Its Jagged sides until Le almost reached
the top ana as many times fell UAck
to the bottom. The third time trying was sue.
cessu, ana ne drew himself out exhausted aud
lalntlng. lie lay down on the door oil the corr.
dor Tor several minutes before ne had strength to
proceed, and then gathered himself up anu hur-
ned away from the spot which was SO iul of
terors 10 him. when ne reached the INST cross
corridor he sat down jutinv piece
OF coal and Tor the nrst time found that
10 the bone had eaten away the upLers oi MS
shoes ana the flesh OF his TWO great toes. lie hau
often heard old miners relate over their luu CHI IN
Inc dismal cnamper me experience o. men lost IN
mines aud attacked by rats, am now the reality OF
the thing nearly overcame nm with It's horror
ana he almost swooned at the thought OF what ne
had passed through ana what he might yet De
doomed 10 experience. TO add to the terrible sit
Itself manlest ana the fortunes OF thirst were be-
gaming IL ariict him. AS was the case with tue
Ancient Mariner there was
But not a drop to drink
From the fact that he was growing so hungry
and THIRSTY Gallagher judged that he mad Deen u
long tue in the nlne. Up to this time he mad
been confident that he would DO able to hnd Ills
way out OF tue ola mine Iii the course OF lew
hours out now nope seemed to he leaving hm.
lie conJured up pictures OF bis mother waiting
Tor MN to come home at night, Of her Anxiety at
his tardlHess AID then ner uncJntrollaoe grlei at
the news ol his loss. Then his mind
dwelt the horrors CT q death by staryatiJn Or
that ne was followed ny horde oil ravenous rats
that were ready TO make food OF him even before
ne was dead. These thoughts almost drove MIN
craZy, and he aroused himself determined TO
make another enOrt 10 escape lom the nine. He
followed Que OF tue cross corridors and wandered
about III the maze ol cnamoers for hours. Once
ne thought he beard MS name called ana he
shouted IN reply, only 70 near It repeated for
many minutes by tue demon echoe.
THE LIGHT OF THE sEARcHEKs
While wandering ABOUT III this way, prey TO
the tortures OF munger and thirst, and 10 coin
mental and physical agony, ne saw n liRnt Hash
for an instant acG oss tue corridors IN wulcn he
was groplug II was long way OF, but ne knew
II was a miners lamp, and felt that paf ties
were searcnlpg through the deserted chamOers
fr nlm. Regal dless Of the nara, jaageu moor, the
stroug walls. tue ever-accUmpanying throng OF
rats tnat kept In his rear, or dangerous PITS tnat
might lie an 4ad o him, ne ran rapidly toward
where ne had seen tue light, shouIIng untn he
was hoarse.
"r0ls way Here am Here ami THIS way,
for Gods saKe"
rne echoes took up the cry anu earned lt
through the no some avenues. iliteL IL up 10 the
rool OF the ceruiean vault, and repeated II unit It