The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-03-25
HANGING 'TWIXT LIFE d DEATH.
a MINING EXPERTS TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE
IN A NEVADA ORE SHAFT

~ a y ENADA OR< SHAFT.
Nearly week since, Louis Banding,
one of the best known mining experts on
the coast, passed through this city on his
way from San Francisco to examine the
Santa Anita quartz mine, which is stu
ated near Washington, twenty-one miles
above here. Day before yesterday he
| returned here, having accomplished his
object. His experiences on the trip were
| OF an interesting 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 farther to the mine. Lighting can
dies they entered the tunnel, which has
been pushed toward the heart of the
mountain, distance of 100 feet. Twen-
ty-five feet from the head of it they came
to winze hfty-six feet deep. Over this
winze is a windlass Mr.. Blanding ex-
amined it carefully, and observed no
weak spots in its construction, had his
companion let him to the bottom. He
inspected the ledge, made measurements,
secured sack of specimens, and, put
ting one foot IN the blight of the rope,
shouted to the man above to hoist away.
After ascending thirty feet he ceased to
rise any higher.
"What's the matter 7" he asked.
''The windlass is broken" was the re-
ply.
elk it and hoist away"
81 can't. The support at one side has
broken down. One end of the drum has
dropped to the ground. Ny shoulder is
under it, and if l stir the whole thing
will give way" The candle at the top
had been extinguished Mr.. Blauding
recognized the urgency of having a cool
head IN such an emergency, and told the
other party to take things easy. He
dropped the candlestick, 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, worked his way up inch by
inch, the other taking in the slack of the !
rope with his hand Thus he assembled |
grew so far apart that this plan could no
longer be pursued. There was but one |
salvation. The remaining ten feet must I
be climbed ''hand over hand" Releas |
ing his feet from the knot, he put the |
idea into practice, exhausted by his prev
ious efforts in walking to the mine and
exploring it, it seemed to him he had
climbed a mile, and stopped to rest, found
by the voice above that he had yet five
feet to go. With another superhuman
effort another start was made. After
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 filed his
mind. With final effort he reached up
and found he could get the ends of one
hands flyers oyer the edge OF a bOas,L
that answered for part of the covering.
With the dispalr of man who faces q
fearful death and knows it, he let 90 the
rope altogether, and raising the other
hand obtained a precarious hold. His
body swung back aud forth over the dark
abyss an instant. and as he felt that his
hands were losing their hold, he cried.
"Save me quick, l an going"
Just then his companion. who is a man !
OF great strength, dropped the end of the !
drum, and grasped his coat collar, drew !
him ont on the floor of the tunnel.
The mining expert was utterly pros
trtted rs his rescue was effected. He |
was carried out of the tunnel, his clothes
dripping in perspiration. and laid on the |
snow. When partially recovered he was
assisted to house three miles away
His whole frame was so rackRd with the |
physical and mental torture, that for sew
eral hours he had no use of some Of his /
limbs. Two days after he returned to
the mine and with an iron bar broke the
windlass into a thousand pieces, then
fished the sack of specimens out Of the |
winze. During whole life time OF
mining adventures in some of the deepest
claims in the world, he says he has never
been so near the door of death as he wss
at the Santa Anita, and he hopes neyi !
to pass through the like again.