Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-08-11
A NARROW ESCAPE.
An Rditsr Visits = "Cave," and Gets ssme
Experieacc II Mintns.

An Rditer Visits y "Cave," and Gets ssms
Expsrisacc IL Miatns.
The Virginia New Territorial Enter
prise says: Below the groupings Of the
Gould and Curry mine is to BIO seen a
large cavity, or sink, which marks the
spot under which great cave occurred
during the superintendency OF Charley
Bonner. Happening to pass over the
ground, We were strongly reminded Of a
rather perilous trip which We made into
the underground regions Of this mine at
the time the cave occurred.
Luckily ample warning had been given
by the settling Of the ground within the
mine and the swapping and splintering
of timbers, therefore no lives were lost
in the cave. News Of the grand crash
in IKE mine spread rapidly through the
town, and all who heard of the accident
gave sigh Of relief when told that all
the miners escaped uniniured. The full
extent OF the cave and the damage done
thereby in the interior of the mine was
not known for some time, but from the
cavity foimed on the surface was judged
to be very great. Being DESTROYS of
obtaining, if possible, full particulars
in regard to the condition of the under
ground sections OF the mine, we called
upon Mr.. Bonner and made know our
wishes.
81 have not been in the mine for
three or four hours, and therefore am
unable to give you an exact account of
the present condition of tho caved por-
tions. However, if you will venture
with me-" said Mr.. Bonner, eve will 60
in rs far rs possible and see how things
look"
Having agreed to Mr.. Bonner's propo-
sition, two lanterns were procured, and
we soon found ourselves on the level
where the greatest damage had been
done. The miners had all left that part
of the mine. Nowhere was to be seen
the friendly twinkle of either lamp or
candle; all was dark Us the caves of the
Cimmerii, save where the light of our
lanterns fell upon the walls of the tun-
mel along which we were advancing, or
where the rays etreamed far ahead and
were reflected back by points Of polished
pyrites or bright quartz crystals.
At first, too, all was silent as the tomb,
but as we moved forward the sharp snap
of falling timber or the dull boom of
heavy ia of earth reached our ears.
These sounds constantly grew more dis
tinct. Soon was heard sort of running
fire of sharp little snaps from the bent
and splintering timbers, with ever and
anon startling musket-like report, as
some large timber broke in twain or was
rent asunder
We were now fast nearing the scene
of the cave. As yet the ground about
us was sound and all the timbers stood
intact in their places. Our advance was
slowly and cautiously made. At times
some unusual commotion caused us to
halt and listen half minute, with bodies
inclined forward and eyes strained to
penetrate beyond the light thrown out
by our lanterns. Few words passed be.
tween us. "Wait bit or Now let
us move on" from Mr.. Bonner, was
about all that was said.
Presently we came to drift leading
from the tunnel we had been traversing
The swapping and grinding sounds were
now more distinctly heard.
cit is in this direction said Bonner,
leading the way into the drift.
We had not proceeded far before we
came to where the timbers of the drift
were badly bent and displaced. We were
in spot where the ground was settling
A kind of ticking noise came from the
tagging overhead and along the sides of
the drift, and dirt sifted down on our
hats.
Soon we reached place where the
posts on the sides of the drift were bent
like bows. The backs of these bows
projected ir.o the drift, and were full of
splinters, some of which were formed
snapped out-before our eyes. Shortly
we came upon two posts bert out from
opposite sides of the drift till their backs
were not more than foot apart.
"This looks bad," said Bonner.
every. Let us go back, said we.
1T cannot be far to the edge of the
cave. We want to see that. Suppose
we venture? Timbers are still strong
when they snap"
Then move on," said we, but our
legs wanted to so the other way.
In passing between the two bent posts
it was necessary to turn our bodies edge
wise. All about lis the timbers were
working and grooming, but still stood
some distance apart. At the end of the
drift we came into large open space
what seemed long and broad chamber
and turning westward across this we
were soon as near the edge of the cave
as it was thought safe to venture.
Holding our lanterns above our heads,
we saw before us black and yawning
pit OF chasm. The light of the lanterns
failed to show us either the top or bottom
of the pit, nor couli we see across to
the further side. 1t seemed to have
neither top nor bottom-seemel but
shapeless, boundless region of darkness.
Into this frightful pit there fell every
half minute, from somewhere in the dark
ness, high above, great masses of earth
and rocks. At times, Judging from the
thunderous sounds, hundreds Of tons at
once trlmbled from the roof and the
sides of the chasm. Smaller masses
were almost constantly dropping in some
direction, while the splintering, snap
ping and groaning of timbers in all
was something frightful.
Suddenly, as We stood quaking in the
midst of the tremendous commotion, a
great mass of rock and earth fell from
some place high up on the wall of our