Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-03-11
BETWEEN LIFE AID
DEATH.
A Miners Experience in q Shaft---A
Narrow Escape.

way from San Francisco to ex
anime the Santa Anita quartz.
mine, which is situated neal
Washington, twenty-one mile.
above here. Day before yester-
day he returned here, having ac-
complished his object. His ex-
periences on the trip were of ar
interesting nature, and it is by
mere chance that he was ena-
bled to live to relate them. At
ter a tedious journey through
the snow, he reached the home
lof one of the owners of the
claim, and together they forced
their way for three miles farther
to the mines. Lighting candles,
they entered the mine, which
has been pushed toward the
heart of the mountain a distance
of 130 feet. Twenty-Five feet
from the head Of 1T they came
to a winze fifty-six feet deep.
Over this winze is a windlass.
Mr.. Blanding examined it care
fully, and, observing no weak
spots in its construction, had his
companion let him 10 the bot
tom. He inspected the ledge,
made measurements, 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 matter?" he ask
ed.
"The windlass is broken, twas
the reply.
"Fix it and hoist away"
81 can't. The support at one
side has broken down. One end
of the drum has dropped to the
My shoulder is under
it, and if ] stir the whole thing
will give way" was the start
ling reply that came back.
The candle at the top had
been extinguished. Mr.. Bland
ing 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, sack
Of specimens and the hammer
20 the bottom of the wlnze.
Then, bracing one of his should
IRA against one side Of the hole
md his feet against the other,
other, he worked his way up
nch by inch, the owner taking
n the slack rope with one hand.
Ten feet We're thus ascended.
Then the sides of the winze
grew so far apart that this plan
could no longer be pursued.
There was but one salvation-
he remaining ten feet must be
climbed "hand over hand" Re-
easing his feet from the knot,
le put the idea into practice.
Exhausted by his previous eff
orts in walking to the mine and
it, it seemed he had
;limbed a mile, and, stopping to
est, found by the voice above
here were yet five feet to go.
With another uperhumaneffort,
mother start was made. After
What seemed an age one of his
ands struck the edge Of the
overing on one side of the
Mouth. His body and limbs
Tere suffering the agonies of
ramps and soreness, and his
rain began to reel. All sorts of
rightful phantoms filed his
hind. With a final effort, be
cached up, and found he could
ct the ends of one hands fin
ers over the edge of a board
hat answered for part of the
overing. With the despair
f a man who faces a fearful
cath and knows it, he let go the
Ope altogether, and raising the
ther hand obtaineda precarious
old. His body swung back
nd forth over the dark abyss
II instant, and as he felt that
is hands were losing their hold,
C cried, "Saye me quick, I'm
DING -
Just then his companion, who
a man of great strength, drop
ed the end of the drum, and,
his coat-collar drew
i'm out ON the floor of the tun-
ell.
The miniEg expert was utter
7 prostrated as his rescue was
fected. He was carried out
{ the tunnel, his clothes drip
ing in perspiration, and laid il
lie snow. Whel partially re-
OVered he was assisted to q
ouse three miles away. His
hole frame was so racked
18th the physical and mental
)rture that for several hours
e had no use of some of his
mbs. Two days after he re-
armed to the mine, and with an
'on bar broke the windlass m-
D thousand pieces, then fished
no 1aaIx Of o,No..,no,,s ox,,4 of