The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-15

their yigils upon thesurface, near the new
entrance to the mine. The Herald repor.
ter passed around the camp fires at about
three o'clock, an hour before daylight.
The numbers present were not great at
that hour, but there were hearts burdened
with great sorrow. .
WATCHING RELATIVES.
The sire bowed down with years, sat
close to q few half-burned faggots, whose
dying embers cast a sickly glow upon the
silver. head. His chin rested upon his
breast and his hands were clasped about
his knees. From his tremblinglips came
now and then low moan, deep drawn
sigh. He paid no heed to his surround.
ings. The forms that lay stretched out
rpon'th green sward about him had no
interest for him. Now and then he
would cast glance toward the mouth of
the pit, where S;wearied but hopeful
watchers kept an ear open for tidings of
cheer. But he slept not. He had two
sons in the underground dungeon. His
heart was bursting with unutterable emo
tions. Near him was the father of an only
son and he also was entombed. Reason
threatened to vacate its throne. Barney
where are ye, Barney? My God, spare
my childw The bosses were anathema-
tized for what he felt was an unpardona-
bic sin in letting men enter mine that
had been pronounced SO dangerous.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
A sister and some companions were
huddled together at short distance in
the back ground. The tearstained
cheeks and swollen eyelids told story
more impressive than the pen of the most
gifted writer could describe. A brother
sat silently at the Threshold of what to
even him seemed to be sepulchre.
They might be found, but the fearful
impression that they had met and sue
cumbed to the overpowering influence of
the angel of death was burning into his
very heart.
DEATH DEFERRED.
The nightshift was down. They had
expected To make the breach into the
lower tgangway which was being driven
by the men previous to their imprison-
ment by midnight, but that hour came
and passed, and the knells of receding
hours were repeated. and still no joyous
messenger came. The gray streaks Of
dawn fred the eastern sky and the sun
came ever the hilltops and gilded the
western horizon, but it brought no cheer
to the hearts of the mourners. At length
at halfpast seven o'clock the shift came
up with the news that but few more
inches of the coal block remained to be
pierced. The crowd was growing now.
A hundred warm hearts throbbed quickly
at this information. An hour passed.
People were coming on foot and by every
vehicle that could be pressed into oservice.
Representatives of the best society, gen.
tlemen with their families and miners
and laborers in their dusky suits. The
throng was very large, but orderly.
Conversation was conducted in a low
tone Of voice.
"THEY ARE ALL ALIVE"
1t was Just four minutes to nine o'clock
when strong knocks in rapid succession
were heard upon the trap door that leads
to the dismal abyss. The utmost silence
prevailed. Men with bated breath
awaited the opening OF the mouth of the
messenger. It might be voice freigh-
ted with excessive Joy; it might be
weighted down with the bitterest woe.
The familiar head garb of miner ap-
peared at the hole. 1t was Daniel Lewis,
aud he cried out, "They are all aliye!"
Never have the rock-ribbed hills of Sugar
Notch echoed with joy as they did in
response to this intelligence. Huzzah
after huzzah was waited out on the at
mosphere, and the people in the valley
came out of their houses and gazed up 10
the place where the devoted men had
been laboring upward of six days in sue
cession without stoppage for the rescue
of their fellow men. Speedy messengers
were despatched to Ashley for physicians
and restoratives. Miss Riley, sister of one
of the rescued men, tainted. While men
raised their voices in exultation, women
cried with joy and thanked God for the
blessing. Old Mr.. Green, upward of
seventy years of age, started off at once
for his home with the glad tidings.
Despite his old age and in6rmities he
bounded over the hills with step as
light as youths. There was rejoicing
all around, and all gave expression to
their feelings and congratulated one an.
other upon the result of their protracted
search.
"HERE THEY COME"
Hardly had the cheers died away be-
fore another rap was heard at the trap
door, and another miner came out with
the shout upon his tongue, "Here they
Gomez Twas true, one after another OF
the imprisoned men was helped through
the trap. As fast SIS they came up they
fell into the hands of friends with unal-
loved pleasure. The meeting was one of
those scenes that cannot be faithfully
portrayed. To the friends who had wait
ed so long for their return it seemed as
if the dead mad risen. The rescued felt
then, If never before, the blessings of
friends and the gloriousness of Gods
sunlight. They were all strong and
healthy Notwithstanding their long i'm
prisonment. They had heard the efforts
of their comrades on Thursday while
blasting the block of coal, and on that
day killed the mule, and prepared some
of it To be eaten. The air in the mine
was good, and the men were enabled to
cook their mule meat by fire. When
they came up they brought some pieces
of the meat and the stones upon which it
WAS cooked.
In my last dispatch to the Herald
fnreshadowed q probability of the finding
of the entombed miners as early as Mon
day. They were actually reached this
morning, about eight o'clock. The sto-
ries of their trials are most interesting.
This afternoon the Herald correspondent
\ 80, D,tr;ot ond 5nhn Green