Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-21
Little Marti,, Cra01.a,.,s Story.
a True story.

About six years ago, in one of the PEN
sylvania mines, several chambers in the
upper tear or vein were discovered to be
on fire. It was feared that the flames.
which were raging fercely, would reach
the shaft before they could be exiting
uished. Word was hastily sent to the
men in the workings beneath to come
up before all means Of escape was cut
off.
Martin Craghan, boy of tweleve
years, had been promoted to the position
of mule-driver the day before. He had
just taken his mule to her dark stable,
900 feet under ground, when comrade
called to him and told HIM of their
danger, urging him to hurry to the shaft,
| for all the men were gone.
With sorrowful look at his mule
which he knew he could not save, Martin
ran with his companion, till they stood
on carriage waiting to be hoisted up.
Then suddenly it flashed upon him that
a number of men were working in dis
tant part of the mine, and had not been
warned Of their peril.
''Oh, Johnny" he exclaimed, 1--WE must
go tell them ERE men in No A. or they'll
never get out!" ''There isn't time. The
shaft will be on fire in minute, then all
the smoke and gas will rush down here
and suffocate u.s."
"But it will kill those men. too, and
they've families to support. There's poor
Bill Craghan, my cousin, with an old
mother and seven little children. II we
run fast, we can. get back before they
hoist the elevator
"You may go if yer SIGH fool but I'll
not risk it," replied his companion.
Almost before Re had finished speak
ing, Martin had rushed away through the
dark galleries and chambers of the mine,
till he reached the imperiled miners, and
in frightened, breathless tones told his
story. Then instantly turning, he fed
| back to the shaft, hoping the elevator had
not yet assembled But it had gone and
his comrades with it. AS Martin looked
up, he saw the glare of the fire and
that the wire rope had melted, and he
knew! all hope Of escape in that way was
cut of.
With fleet step he once more threaded
the deserted tunnels, back to the men
for whom he had risked so much. But
they, taught by experience of the utter
hopelessness Of escape by that one i'm
periled shaft, had rapidly employed the
time in building a barricade OF rock and
coal, as temporary protection from the
noxious gases and smoke that were al
ready beginning to fill the mine.
!, By the time little Martin reached the
: barrier it was solidly constructed, for or
that depended their only chance to live
: TIL the burning shaft was extinguished
l Coming close to the wall, he begged
: piteously for admission, but the men per.
= sistently refused him.
> , "Bill, Bill Craghan !" he cried, s:won'
g you make them let me in2 would hav,
been safe at home now but for you! Ton
= Reese, your brother Johnny wouldn'
come to tell you Of the danger, and b
+ was saved. Now are you going to let m
7 die out here?"
q The men inside trembled as they listene,
: to the poor boys sobs, and many roug
black hand was drawn across their eyes
and at last tender-hearted bill rushed t
the barricade to make an entrance for tn
h little fellow.
! But strong arms pulled him away
; while in hoarse, broken voices they sale
. "No, no, man. He's but one. We ar
many. To make hole big enough t
. pull him through would be death to all.
: "But he risked mis- life to save u
n Will We let him die but a step away tror
- us?"
IL "Not if we could help it, you wei
know, Bill. But think of our wives an
T children at home. Would ye have US a
y perish2''
y Martin heard this conversation, AM
: putting mis- lips close to the wall, sale
- quietly, Never mind, Bill. know 20
y would all have saved me if you coult
n | amt sorry I brought you the warnin.
# I'm going back to poor old Rosa. If 20
. get out safely, bid good by for me |
7 father and mother and little Eddie.o