The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-12-21
Local News.
[From Tuesdays Daily.
MIRACLE.
Falls Down a Shaft Two Hundred Feet
and Escapes Alive.

week we chronicled a most remarka-
cspe-that of a man who, while de-
iur the Colusa shaft, was caught on the
Eown and left suspended 100 feet from
dtom, supported in that perilous posi-
only one heel. This week we have
ord a still more miraculous escape.
sunday evening about 8 o'clock VIM.
foreman of the Alice mine, had occa-
descend the shaft of The Magma Char
bich has recently been sold to the Alice
INV, During the day a new engineer
hen employed to III the engine, and in
inning and afternoon he wasin the shaft
making himself familiar with the OPP
\ of the machinery. He handled the
in what appeared to be a sklllful man
pd his evident knowledge OF the business
satisfactory that he was directed to
sork on the night shift, which he did.
time stated Mr.. Shovel was instructed
p%erintendent Hall to put some new men
4. and undertook to descend the shaft
purpo e. No sooner had he lighted
ndle, put one foot in the bucket and
he engineer to Ego ahead" than he be-
descend with a rapidity beyond all
|ent. What followed is best related in
nsuage of Mr.. Shovel himself, whom a
er Interviewed last evening:
first IMPRESSION" he said, twas that
be had broken, and l never exp. cted o
Wight again. The speed with which |
down increased every foot, until l felt
vas going with lightning rapidly. l
3bont half way down, perhaps, when l
Fored to draw my other foot up so as to
in the bucket, but in this attempt |
a timber and came very nearly being
ID out. The next instant | struck the
!, and found myself about six feet in
birth crosscut. l retained presence of
knough to know that l wasn't dead, but
bat every bone in my body vas broken
p%linters. In a very few minutes some
boys who heard the crash came to the
and in a short time l was hoisted to
|rface, but l didn't so up so fast as l
town."
Erintendent Hall says that from what
alton he can obtain in regard to the
BIT the new engineer got nervous and
presence of mind when Mr.. Shove
into the bucket, and that after start
bucket on its descent he was too OK
b put on the brake and was petrified
Error when he saw with what amazing
the rope was uncoiling. Whether
bee, careleSsness or excitement was
lse Of the mishap, it is certain that the
fell down the shaft and that Mr.
had a most Providential escape from
tantaneous and horrible death. Sucl
)e force with which the bucket descend
h 1t smashed to splinters the truck
was i'll the bottom of the shaft, break
hon axles and scattering the wheel!
~ direction. About % feet of wir,
$50 descended, falling on the body o
ured man.
Shovel's injuries are painful, but W.
(ased to say not dangerous. The bone;
left ankle are painfully confused ant
ID is much discolored, but no bones are
ed to be broken, though the member
nuch swollen to permit of a thorough
nation. Some injury vas also sus.
in the loins, but no serious interna
5 seem to be Inflicted. A tWo-incl
b not a deep one, was made on the side
head, but with these exceptions Mr.
iSa well man.
Fas resting easy last highland cali con
te himself on having had M Of the
PR breadtE escapes on record. The
ways stands insw{th the miners.