Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-06-26

Nearly a week since, Louis
Banding, one Of the best-known
mining exp rts on the coast, pass
ed through this city on his way
from San Francisco to examine the
Santa Anita quariZ-mine, which
is situated near Washington,
twenty one miles above here.
Day before yesterday he returned
here, having accomplished his OBJ
ject. His experiences on the trip
were Of an Interesting character,
and i Is by mere chance that he
was enabled to live and relate
them. After a tedious journey
through the snow he reached the
home of one of the owners of the
claim, and together they forced
their way three miles further to
the mine. Lighting candles they
entered the tunnel, which has
been pushed toward the heart of
the mountain distance of one
hundred and thirty feet. Twen-
ty-five feet from the head of it
they came to Wine fifty-six feet
deep. Over this Wine is Wind
lass. Mr.. Banding examined
it carefully, and, observing no
weak spots in its construction,
had his companion let him to the
bottom. 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 cried.
"The windlass is broken" was
the reply.
Fix it and hoist away
81 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. away" was the startling re-
ply that came back. The candle at
the top had been extinguished.
Mr.. Banding recognized the ur-
gency Of having cool head in
such an emergency, and told the
other party to take things easy.
He dropped the candlestick. sack
of specimens and tae hammer to
the bottom of the Wine. 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 the slack of the rope with
one hand. Thus he assembled ten
foot phap tho c;dac of tho xuipyn
grew so far apart that this plan
could no longer be pursued. There
was but one salvation. The re-
manning 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 exploring it, it seemed
to him he had climed mile, and
stopping to rest, found by the
voice above that he had yet five
feet to go. With another super
human effort another start was
made. After what seemed an age
one of his hands struct the cover
ing 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 filled
his mind. With final effort he
reached up and found he could get
the end of one hands fingers over
the edge of the board that answer
ed for part of the covering. With
the despair OF man who faces a
fearful death and knows it, he let
60 the rope altogether. and raising
the other hand, obtained a precari-
Gus hold. His body swung back
and forth over the dark abyss an
instant, and as he felt that his
hands were losing their hold, he
cried, "Save me quick, Pm 60
, ing I"
J Just then his comparison, who is
man of great strength. dropped
the end of the drum, and grasping
his coat collar drew him out on
the floor of the tunnel. The min :
J ing expert was utterly Frustrated
as his rescde was effected. He was
, carried out of the tunnel, his
T clothes siping in perspiration, and
J laid in the snow. When partial
ly recovered he was assisted TO a
: house three miles away. His
whole frame was so racked with
, physical and mental torture that
/ for several hours he had no use OF
: some of his limbs. Two days af-
; ter he returned to the mine, and
J with an iron bar broke the wind
lass into thousand pieces, then
, fished the sack of specimens out of
/ the Wine. During whole life.
time of mining adventures in
, some ofthe deepest claims of the
, | ,unrld he SAWS he has never been