The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-20
LITTLE MARTIN CRAGHAN'S SACRI.
FICE.

| About six years ago, in one of the
Pennsylvania mines, several chambers
in the upper tier or vein were discov-
cred to be on fire. 1t was feared that
the flames, which were raging fiercely,
would reach the shaft before they could
be eXtinguished. 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 twelve
years, had been promoted to the posi-
ton of mule-driver the day before. He
had just taken his mule to her dark
stable, 900 feet under ground, when a
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, Mar
tin 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
distant part of the mine, and had not
been warned of their peril.
so Johnny" he exclaimed, eve
must go tell them ere men in No. 4, or
| they IL never get outn'
"There isn't time. The shaft will
be on fire in a minute, and 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.
If we run fast, we can get back before
they hoist the elevator"
You may 90 if yer SIGH a fool, but
I'll not risk it, replied his companion.
Almost before he had finished speak
ing, Martin had rushed away through
the dark galleries and chambers of the
mine, till he reached the imperied
miners, and in frightened, breathless
tones told his story. Then instantly
turning, he fled back to the shaft, hop
ing the elevator had not yet assembled.
But it had gone and his companion with
it. Martin looked up, 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 steps 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 a temporary protection
from the noXiOus gases and smoke that
were already 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 extin-
guished. Coming close to the wall, he
begged piteously for admission, but the
men persistently refused him.
"Bill! Bill Craghan!' he cried, "won't
you make them let me in? | would
have been safe at home now but for
you! Tom Reese, your brother Johnny
wouldn't come to tell you of the dan
ger, 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: emo, no, man. He's but one.
We are many. To make hole big
enough to pull him through would be
death to all"
"But he risked his life to save us.
viii we let him die but step away
from usP"
mot if we could help it, you well
know, Bill. But think of our wives
and children at home. Would We have
us all perish?"
Martin heard this conversation, and,
putting his lips close to the wall, said,
quietly: Never mind, Bill. | know
you would all have saved me if you
could. | amt sorry | 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"
Then, turning away, he went to the
stable where his mule was peacefully
feeding at her stall, unconscious of any
danger. Martins lamp was still burn
ing, and the smoke had not yet pene-
trated the wooden barriers between.
At first he felt in hopes he would be
safe there. But gradually the noxious
vapors forced their entrance. AS he
saw that suffocation must soon come
he found piece of board, and wrote
with chalk the names of those that were
dear to him.
AS he wrote memory brought their
presence before him--his tender moth
er, who had kissed him such a loving
good-by in the morning, and had looked
so proudly at him when he told of his
promotion, and the better wages he
would be able to earn. Then little baby
Eddie, how he crowed and shouted
whenever Martin appeared! Would
his father ever know that he had sacri
feed his life to save othersP 1t was
hard to die, so young, SO full of hope
all alone in the dark.
But creeping back to his dear ole
Rosa he lay down beside her, as he fell