The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-10
i.ctwGen Life and Death.

Not long ago Louis Bland.ng, ono Of the
hest known mining experts on the coast,
passed through Nevada city on his way
from San Francisco to examine the Santa
Anita quartz-minc, which is situated near
Washington. Recently he returned, having
accomplished his object. His experiences
on the trip were Of All interesting nature, aud
it is by melc chance that he was enabled to
live to relate them. After a tedious Journey
through the snow, he reached the home of
one of the owners of the claim, and to-
gcthcr they forced their way for three
miles farther to the mine. lightning
candles, they entered the mine, which has
been pushed toward the heart of the noun
tain a distance Of 130 feet. twenty-five
feet from the head of it they came to n
winzc tifty-si feet deep. Over this wrze
is n windlass. Mr.. Blanding examined it
carefully, and, observing no weak spots in
its construction, had his companion let him
to the bottom. lie inspected the ledge
made measurements, secured n sack of spc-
cimcns, and, putting one foot in the blight
Of the rope, shouted to the nan above to
hoist away. After ascending thirty feet
he ceased to rise.
'Wha:'s the mattcr?' he asked
''Thc windlass is broken" was the re-
ply.
''Fix it and hoist away"
81 can't. The support Mt one side has
broken down. One end of the drum has
dropped to the ground. My shoulder is
under it, and if | stir the whole thing will
give way,' was the startling reply that
came back.
The candle at the top had been extin-
guishcd. MI. Blanding recognized the
urgency of having a cool head in such an
emergency, and told the other party to take
things easy. lie dropped the candlcsick,
sack of specimens and the hammer to the
bottom of the winZe. Then, bracing one
of his shoulders against one side of the hole
and his feet against the other he worked
his way up inch by inch, the owner taking
in the slack of the rope with one hand.
Ten feet were thus assembled. Then the
sides Of the winZe grew so far apart that
this plan could no longer be pursued.
There was. but one salvation the remain
ing ten feet must be climbed "hand over
hand" Releasing his feet from the knot,
he put the idea into practice. Exhausted
by hs previous efforts In walking to the
mine and exploring 1t, it seemed to him he
had climbed mile, and, stopping to rest,
found by the voice above there were yet
five feet to 60. With another super
human effort, another start was made.
After what seemed an age one of his hands
struck The edge Of the mouth His body
and limbs were suffering the agonics of
cramps and soreness and his brain began to
reel. All sorsts of frigltful phantoms filled
his mind. With a final effort, he reached
up, and found he could get the onds of
one hands fingers over the edge Of q board
that answered for part of tho covering.
With the despair Of man who faces a
fearful death and knows 1t, he let 60 the
rope altogether and raising the other hand,
obtained precarious hold. His body
swung back and forth over tho dark abyss
an instant, and as he felt that his hands
were losing their hold, he cried, ''savo me
quick, Pm goingl" f
just then Ills companion, who ia a man
of great strength, dropped the end of the
drum, and, grasping his coat collar, drew
him out on the floor of the tunnel
Tho mine expert was utterly prostrated
as his rescue was effected. He was car
ricd out of tho tunnel. his clothes dripping
In perspiration; and laid in the snow. When
partially recovered he was assisted to q
house three miles away. His whole frame
was SO racked with the physical and men.
tai torture that for several hours lie had no
usc of his limbs. Two days after
he returned to tho mine, and with all iron
bar broke the windless into a thousand
pieces, then flshed tho sack of specimens
out Of the winzc. During whole lifetime
Of adventures In some of the deepest claims
In the world, ho says he has never been 30
near the door OF death as he was at the
Santa Anita, and lie hopes never to pass
through tho iko again.