River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-04-25
Little Martin Craghan's Sacriiices
A Tr,.e 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. 1t ives feared that the flames,
which We're raging fiercely, 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 tweIeve
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 a 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, ewe must
go tell them ere men in No 4. or they'll
never get outn "There isn't time. The
shaft will be on fire in minute, then all
the smoke and gas will rush down here
and suffocate us"
"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 go if yer SIGH 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 Imperfect 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 i'll 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 ore i'm.
periled shaft, had RAPIDLY employed thu
time in building barricade OF rock ano
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 Craghanl !" 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 danger, and he
was saved Now are you going to let me
die out hereg"
The men inside trembled as they listened
to the poor boys sobs, and many rough
black hand was drawn across their eyes
and at last tender-hearted bill rushed tC
the barricade to make an entrance for the
little fellow.
But strong arms pulled him away
while in hoarse, broken voices they said
stNo, 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 mis- life to save us
Will We let him die but step away from
u.s."
Mot if we could help it, you well
know, Bill. But think of our wives and
children at home. Would We have us all
perish9"
Martin heard this conversations. and
putting mis- lips close to the wall, said,
quietly, (" Never mind, Bill. know you
would all have saved me if you could
I 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"