The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-12-02
TIE MINE BY THE SEA.

lanes and alleys, its unending corridors
and COUNTLESS chambers Of the dead
| The men there, with blackened faces ard
scanty attire, seem Of another race from
those above ground, and the feeble hgh1
cleaning in the midst OF the darkness
gave weird, unreal aspect TO the scene.
The only sounds heard are those Of
the coal wagons slowly pushed along by
boys towards the mouth Of the pit, ard
! in the narrow passages, where the men
are at work, the clang Of their pickaxes
- thsy cleaye their way through the
great rocks of coal Men sre not tie
only beings here. There arc horses that
have not seen the daylight for many
year, to draw the wagons In the broader
passages, and sometimes if the light f
the lamp is turned toward the ground,
the bright little eyes OF rats chow they
came to that underworld l don't know
may be econ peering odt OF hooks among
the walls. There is an almost fearful
sombreness about the place. Thoughts
| that the daylight would ut once disp,
seem to haunt the air, and the voices OF
the men as they ssnder shout, each one,
Gideon like, with his lamp and pickaxe,
have deeper, hollover tone than above
ground.
For two days a storm, long remember
ed on the coast, had been raging; but
| the men in the mine, accustomed IS they
we're to hearing the roar of the waves
above their heads, paid little heed TO tho
increased noise. George He;mers alone
had noticed it, and each day had spen.
more time than usual III examining tho
supports of the roof.
! 1t was nov night time, and he had been
| superintendipg some rather dangerous
| work in the lower levels, OF blasting with
| gunpowder, which, much against bis sc
vice, the owner had ordered. This being
done, leaving further orders for wori.
with the men, George trrned away an
walked alone IN the direction Of the pit
mouth. carrying in one hand large can
/ lister containing the guupovder; IN thn
| other his lamp and the heavy stick that,
on account OF his lsmeness, vas his COL
slant companion. Even in the impeFfecl
| light it might have been seen that grea.
/ change had passed over his face; it va
/ haggaTd and pinched looking; there we
a strange restless glitter in his eyes ano
now and then his lips parted ~ith inyol
untary, qaivering movements, quickl.y
pressed together again with that stern,
set expression chat was now hsbitual to
them.
Instead of leaving the mine, suddeI
| thought scanned to strike him half way,
and he Turned aside and entered par
/ of the mine long deserted on account o.
working too near the bottom of the sea
but which recently had been opened
again; and though George had many
times warned the owner Of the danger @
weakening the supports Of the roof, large
quantities of coal had been taken from
! it,
All was still as he advanced through thc
narrow passages, but soon these wideneG
into more open space, and as he enter
ed the noise of the tumultuous waters
overhead was fearfully loud. A colo
drsught of air smote on him and mad
/ him shiyer. The place was known to th,
colliers as the "Boggart's Hole" or the
"Gho.t's hole" 1t is an immense low
rooted hall, one Of those natural cavern
/ that exist beneath the sea and land; ano
in the centre was an abyss, into who's
depths no human being had ever pene
trsted. The workings bad been carried
on along the sides and rude pathway
led half way round, abruptly stoppinF
above the great chasm.
The poor light which George had il
lumined only narrow circle round him,
but he knew the place well, and cautious
ly stepping along, reached the part wher.
+ the last workings had been made, and
.
with his hand the black shiny roof, t.
which gigantic loathsome fungi cluug.
As he stood there wild fancios stole
over him. Loud above sounded tho
thunderous boom of the surf, and be
meath him lay, wrapped in eternal dark
ness, the great mine, stretching for mile
into the depths of the esrth. He seated
himself on projecting rock, the CAMS
ter of powder on the ground st his side,
and the lamp held between his kuses.
/ What were his thoughts Just then?
know not at all-but there was one, ferc
er than the clamor of the waves above.
more terrible than the abyss beneath
him-he had lost all, all He looked
back upon his life-all had gone wrong
from the beginning, and now, when a.
last the cup of sweetness had seemed t.
be so near his lips he had seen it dashea
away. He ground his teeth with rage
and then his passion took another form
his breast heaved, aud great sobbinc
cry rose to his lips.
"lf she only knew how / love her
He lOyei 4 moment Of the love could
give her would be more than s. lifetim.s
Of his. But know that never, never
let me make an end Of it.
I "Ah, and Jim Massey, too; light to
/ this powder, and there'd be no victory t.
any one-the sea would cover us too clos,
for that. But the othersi
"Poohl it's only dying little sooner:
and what is life to stupid, toiling drudge
like them?"
A terrible smile passed over his face;
he placed the lamp by his side and ben
over the canister. Only a light to the
powder, and the rocks above would b.