The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-03-04
A Mining Experts Terrible Expert

Nearly week since Louis Banding,
one of the best known miring experts
on the coast, passed through this city
on his way from San Francisco to ex-
anime the Santa Anita quartz mine,
which is situated near Washington,
twenty one miles above here. Day be-
fore yesterday lie returned here, hav-
ing accomplished his object. His ex-
periences on the trip were Of an inter-
esting nature, and it is by mere chance
that he was enabled to live and relate
them. After tedious journey through
the snow he reached the home of one
of the owners of the claim, and together
they forced their way for three miles
further to the mine. Lighting candles
they entered the tunnel, which has been
pushed toward the heart of the noun
tain distance of 1870 feet. Twenty-Five
feet from the head of it they came to a
winze fifty-six feet deep. Over this
winze is windlass. Mr.. Blanding ex-
amined it carefully, and observing no
weak spots in its construction, had his
companion let him to the bottom. He
inspected the ledge, made measure
ments, secured a sack of specimens, and,
putting one foot in the blight of the
rope, shouted to the man above to hoist
away. After ascending thirty feet he
ceased to rise.
"What's the matterp" he asked.
"The windlass is broken" was the
Fix it and hoist away"
Il can't. The support at one side is
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 extinguished. Mr.. Blanding
recognized the urgency of having a cool
head in such an emergency, and told
the other party to take things easy. He
dropped the candlesticB, sack of speci-
mems 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, worked
his way up inch by inch, the owner
taking in the slack of the rope with one
hand. Thus he ascended ten feet. Then
the sides of the winZe grew so far apart
that this plan could no longer be pur-
sued. There was but one salvation.
The remaining ten feet must be climbed
"hand over hand" Releasing his feet
from the knot, he put the idea into
practice. Exhausted by his previous
efforts in walking to the mine and ex:
ploring it, it seemed to him he had
climbed mile, and stopping to rest,
found by the voice that he had yet five
feet to go. With another superhuman
effort, another start was made. Alter
what seemed an age, one of his hands
struck the edge of the covering on one
side of the mouth. His body and limbs
! were suffering the agonies of cramps
and soreness, and his brain began to
reel. All sorts of frightful phantoms
6 filled his mind. With final effort he
reached up and found he could get the
ends of one hands fingers over the edge
of a board that answered for part o.
8 the covering With the despair of a mar
who faces a fearful death and know!
. it, he let go the rope altogether, ano
raising the other hand obtained pre-
!, carious hold. His body swung back ant
J forth over the dark abyss an instant
. and as he felt that his hands were los
:. : ing their hold. he cried, "Save M
: quick, / am goingW
: Just then his companion, who is
> man of great strength, dropped the en'
i of the drum, and grasping his Goa
- collar, drew him out on the floor o
. the tunnel.
!, The mining expert was utterly pros
!, trated as his rescue was effected. Ii
e e was carried out of the tunnel, his clotht
: wet with .perspiration, and laid in II
= snow. When partially recovered h
~ ~ was assisted to a house three mill
:" away. His whole frame was so racke
with the physical and mental tortur
that for several hours he had no use
some of his limbs. Two days after
n returned to the mine and withsan irC
,il bar broke the windlass into |, 200 piece
to then fished the sack of specimens out
he the winze. During a whole lifetime
ut mining adventures in some of the dee
lis est claims of the world, he says he h
ot never been so near the door OF death
"A lie was at the Santa Anita, ana ne EoI
ior never TO pass through the hike again
Nevdda Transcript.