The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-02-12

OOS AOA UA0 SOp EOck naQ de-
scended and the bottom raised till but
three inches of coal were left. and that
was so shelly that it could easily be
crumbled between the fingers.
The superintendent took ont his little
pocket-compass from it's velvet lined
case, and, after poising it delicately be-
tween his fingers and noting the course
of the roll, stated his opinion that it
would be met with in the next abreast." !"
about five feet higher up the pitch than
it was in this. We now prepared to
descend, when he suggested that we
might as well eat our lunch here, where
it was dry, instead of going into the
gangway, where we would find a diff
Guilty In getting convenient seat. In
this we acquiesced, making ourselves
as comfortable as we could upon Jumps
of coal. We opened our cans and-but
just then sharp, cracking noise was
heard, which brought us all to our feet
and, following it almost instantly, the
roof was seen at little distance to sway
and then to fall, making a draft of air
which instantly extinguished our lamps
and left us standing, for the moment,
I bereft of speech in the darkness, while
the dull, heavy echo reverberated till it
was lost IN the recess of the mine. We
were, as said, stupefied for the mo-
1
| and senses and anxiously inquired of
each other if ally one had been hurt.
answered that I was all right, and
asked where the s'inside boss - was, for
had not heard his voice. The super
intendent said he was standing by him
when the fall came; so we produced
matches, lighted our lamps, and looked
around us. A glance to the left showed
us his form, lying insensible, with a
L. III &41,
of coal dirt on his face contrasting ter
ribly with the waxy color of the skin,
rendered far more CHASTITY and death
Like by the yellow gleam of the lamps.
It was evident that we were fastened
in by the fall of coal; but tnat did not
concern US greatly, as it was well known
that we were inside, and men would
soon be sent in search of us. But what
were we to do with the stunned man,
for By this time we had ascertained
that he breathed family. Though
neither of us had the advantage of a
medical education, we knew what to do
in case of this sort, and dampening
our har rdkerchiefs from little dripper,
we laved his temples and soon had the
satisfaction of observing the return of
his faculties.
After we had explained the situation
to him, which he slowly comprehended,
we took counsel as to what were the
best means of escaping from our under
ground PRISON.
Though we felt certain that it could
not be long before parties would be in
search of us, yet it was agreed that we
should not remain idle, but endeavor to
cut our way out into some other cham
Der of the mine. Picks and shovels
were lying around, where the miners
the preceding evening had left them,
and each taking one of these in hand,
we proceeded to tap lightly the coal in
order to determine, If possible, by the
sound where the thinnest pillar stood,
, and, therefore, where we would have
! the least cutting to do.
, While we were engaged in thus
sounding the walls of our prison, dis.
I tant rumble was heard which caused uf
to stop short in our labor and look al
each other with blanched faces.
: Our thoughts ran ON but one thing
the timbers in another part of the mine
; must have given way and blocked us
out completely.
We now waited motionless for the
gust of air which always follows fall,
r but as our lamps gave not the sightesl
) flicker, we were entirely at loss to &C.
count for it.
So puzzled by this collection of mis-.
, would come in search of us, we continu.
ed our tapping on the sides of the
) "breast;" but it always gave back the
same ringing sound, and that was No
: guide whatever.
Just then the wick of my lamp need
, ing trimming, searched in my pockets
Z for knife, and, feeling piece of paper,
= took it out and found that it was the
q sketch of that portion of the mine.
+ We felt that this little drawing was
: our salvation, for without it we would
have been working blindly. After 6
4 close examination of it we determined
: just where to start in order to cut into
!. an air-hole, which was thirty feet away
= through solid coal.
!. After having decided upon the spot
i we began work Immediately. Only ont
4 could work at time, and as We were
q each to work fifteen minutes, in order
4 to tell when the time would be up, the
3 superintendent looked at his watch.
The hands pointed to little aftel
o twelve. He said, .sI thought it va'
J. latter, as it must have been almost tina
q when we began our dinner"
g The boss responded. 8" Is it noon
. or night ?"
Il "Noon, of course - answered th,
q superintendent.
( We thought for time by way of de
: sermining, when the boss said Hav,
3 you watch-key ?" ss Yes.
e "Then wind up your watch and yol
can tell. The superintendent did so
E and found that his watch was almos
! run down.
{ We looked at each other in silence
q Could it be that we had been ther
: twelve hours, and no help come to us
IT seened strange that we ha