The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-04-25
Little Martin Craghan's Sacrifice.
4 True 1t0Pv.

About six years ago, in one of the Pen,
sylvania mines, several chambers in thu
upper tear or vein were discovered to bt
on fire. 1t was feared that the flames
which were raging fercely, would reach
me shaft before they could be exiting
ulshed. Word was hastily sent to The
men in the workings beneath to come
up before all means of escape was cut
Martin Craghan, a hoy Of twelevt
years, had been promoted to the position
OF mule-driver the day before. He had
lust taken his mule to her dark stable
900 feet under ground, when a comrade
called to him and told HIM of thei,
danger, urging him to hurry to the shaft
Tor oil the men were gone.
With q 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
number Of men were working in a dis.
tant part of the mine, and had not been
warned Of their peril.
"Oh, Johnny" he exclaimed, "wc must
go tell them ere men in No 4. or they'll
never get OUT" ''Thcre isn't time. The
shaft will be on fire in minute, then all
the smoke and gas will rush down here
and sutfocate 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 lit:le children. If we
run fast, we can get back before they
hoist the elevator"
"You may 60 if yer sich fool, but I'll
not risk it." replied his companion.
Almost be1ore.Ee 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 ascended. 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 off.
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 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 on
that depended their only chance to live
till the burning shaft was extinguished.
Coming close to the wall, he begged
piteously for admission, but the men per-
sistently refused him.
bill, Bill Craghan!" he cried, won't
you make them let me in2 Iwould have
been safe at home now but for you! Tom
Reese, your brother Johnny wouldn' t
come to tell you Of the danger, and he
was saved. Now are you going to let me
die out here?"
The men inside trembled as they listened
to the poor boys sobs, and many a rough
black hand was drawn across their eyes
and at last tender hearted bill rushed to
the barricade to make an entrance for the
little fellow.
But strong arms pulled him away,
while in hoarse, broken voices they said,
"No, no, man. He's but one. We are
many. To make hole big enough to
pull him through wsuld be death to all.'
"But he risked mis- life to save US.
Will yc let him die but step away from
us?'
"Not if we could help it, you we'll
know, Bill. But think Of our wives and
children at home. Would ye have us all
perish?:'
Martin heard this conversation, and,
putting his lips close to the wall, said,
quietly, Never mind, Bill. l know you
would all have saved me if you could.
l amt sorry I brought you the warning.
I'm going back to poor old Rosa. If you
get out safely, bid good by for me to
father and mother and little Eddie"