Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-03-07
A MINE JUMPED BY A SKUNK.


and | went to our Fairy Belle mining
claim to do our assessment work for the
year. We had to do it by the 3lst or the
claim would be jumpable. We had found
silver in this claim, also gold, and ON that
morning discovered something else in it.
We found skunk.
vein and upon the hillside had sunk p
shaft which, at the depth of twenty feet,
connected with the end of the tunnel On
reaching the tunnel Ben went in first, and
returned as if he had been shot out /
thought perhaps he had found grizzly
inside. He said it was something worse.
We consulted as to what we should do.
Neither one of us had ever had a hand-to-
hand encounter with skunk We felt
our inexperience. We considered the
Fairy Belle valuable, and were anxious to
do the assessment work. We thought if we
threw stones into tho tunnel he would re-
sent it with all his might. We concluded
to fire our pistols in his direction. Though
he was not in sight, a shot might kill him
with such suddenness that he could not
return the fire. Twelve shots were fired.
Nervously We feard a sally from the
enemy. Silence. Immense volumes Of
dense quiet hung about the place. He
must have fallen. | suggested to Ben thai
he 90 in, as he knew where the skunk was
to be found He suggested that | go in,
as didn't know where the skunk was to
be found. We deliberated. We waver-
ed. Ben said if would clasp my hand
in his, and go in. he would. We started
in thus, like twin brothers. My heart
was not full of that clinging affection for
Ben that one should feel for twin BROTH
or. felt that | might at any moment
desert him. He, too, doubtless felt an
absence of that undying broherly love
which brooks no parting. He was ready
to sunder family ties. We advanced.
The suspense was burdensome. The
situation was grave. Turning point, we
suddenly came upon the enemy. His bat
tie flag was flung to the breeze. Ben fed.
l chided him for his cowardice. / stayed
moment. Had fallen down over some
rocks. Chided him while l was getting
up. | reached the mouth of the tunnel
but a moment after Ben, but could not
see him at first. He was in the top of a
tree. 1 was angry, and cried
Coward! What did you desert for?"
Elbow could help you fight stink
My nose couldn't have helped yours"
But there was no order yet. The skunk
was reserving his fire until the fight grew
close until we clinched. Our side didn't
want to clinoh.
We consulted for the remainder Of that
day. On the goth proposed that one of
us should let the other down the shaft with
rope, and the one let down could start
the skunk toward the mouth OF the tunnel.
| told Ben that, being heavier and strong
err than he, / would let him down He
said he would rather let me down; that he
felt quite strong that day, and unusually
heavy. | twitted him with running out of,
the tunnel prematurely on the day before.
Spoke of my daring In lingering after his
fight. He didn't know had fallen down
in the tunnel. He concluded to descend
the shaft. ASH lowered him his face was
pale and anxious. He disappeared in the
tunnel. l could hear, 'shoo, shoo,"
spoken in hesitating way. Then timid
'scat, scat" tied my end OF the rope
to tree and went toward the mouth of
the tunnel to see the skunk go out. In a
moment heard a shrek of terror, and
rushed back to the shaft. Ben was half
way up the snaft. climbing the rope fran
tically. Something else had got all the
way up the shaft. 1t was an odor, tough
and thick, overbearing and disgustingly
familiar on a short acquaintance. The
top of my head felt as if it was being
gradually but powerfully priced off. 1
spoke to Ben, who had scrambled out of
the shaft: did it hit youY' He did not
answer Immediately. He was holding his
nose with one hand, while he waved the
other in front of his face as If parting
something. He answered:
''Not-not specially" He was gasp
ing "But--you see-generally--he hit
everything about here"
Holding our noses we walked off about
quarter of mile to consult. Ben. re-
marked as he let loose his nose;
"He thunderin' hig'-
We went quarter Of mile further,
when Ben continued:
Hes thunderin' big one."
How large"
" Bout the size Of a Newfoundland
dog He must have barrel Of it; he amt
stingy either"
we camped that night a half mile away
from the FAIRY Belle. On the 3lst Bon
said:
Lets try it again; he must be dead
now"
dead! Did you hit himY'
mo; but do you think he could stand all
that2'
"All what2"