The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-04-07
UNDERNEATH THE GROUND.

The Monarch OF the West" was a mine
which had attracted no small attention among
mining men. 1t had an able superintendent
in the person Of Mr.. James Clarke, who was
well known for his skill in managing large
mines such as the Monarch The main
shaft of the Monarch was two thousand
two hundred and fifty feet deep. On the
surface Of the ground near it were the great
hosting engines each with its enormous cyl
iCder, piston, and connecting rods. Gigantic
reels could be seen on the main shaft of the
engines upon which were wound the great
steel ropes which hoisted the cages up and
down in the shaft. Near the engine were
the enormous air pumps, used to force air
down into the mine so that the men could
breathe
If the view on the surface was somewhat
strange, that below was no less so. Going
down the great shaft in one OF the cages
something like the thing you get into when
you ride in an eleyatOr-and off at one of the
levels you see long narrow passage way cut
IN the rock. Along the floor are laid rails
side by side for the cars containing the ore to
be drawn. Walking along this level Won
come to wooden spouts, marking the places
which the ore is tumbled from the "breasts,,
ABOVE where 1t is cut out, into the cars on
the ievel-are situated. Crawling up one of
these you come to the breastits where the
men are working. Here are the miners. cI,d
In coarse shirts and trowsers drippinp with
perspiration-f0r the heat is very great-cut-
ting out the ore. In every direction Won see
enormous timbers, fitted together like soma
intricate puzzle, and filling up the place
where the ore has been taken ont. These
umoers are put in to prevent a "eave" of the
upper stratum of rock when it has nothing to
support il.
do not suppose that Mr.. James Clarke
thought very much about these things as be
stood on the edge Of the shaft. prsnaratorv
to going into the mine that Tuesday rnorpine,
As matter OF fact, he was THINKING about .
very different thing-the result of the last
assay made by the assaver Of tho s.oo-o,,
brought out by the diamond drill an asso,,
"hicE mad been so good that Mr.. Clarke was
considerably elated over it, As Mr. Clarke
stepped into the cage and gave the signal IN
lower, he concluded his last remark bv cav
ing:
wen, I'm going into that north drift and
VIII see the thing for myself" And az tbo
cage was going down at the time there yas
ridiculous di'ninuendo effort produced
Mr. Clarke reached the 1900 foot level tho
cage stopped, and he stepped out Asbad ala /
so ne was met by Evan Jones. the "minino /
ooss, or assistant superintendent. and the
TWO proceeded along the narrow level in the
or the north drift. AS they vvallra5 .
the light of the candles fastened lust over the
Vlzors OF their caps cast very queer shadows
on the dripping walls of stone. Stranga
masses OF white fungi could be seen in evarv
coTner-masses which had assumed the moot
fantastic shapes, and in the light of the can.
dies had weird effect of miniature mon a,,d
!, and trees and buildings, seeming as
though city OF dvarfs had been suddenly
'iausAorIneu by some magician and condemn
eu Forever TO remain mere memories. The
miners were working far off, and the place
was strangely still. AS the men walked the
sound Of their footsteps would go echoinq
along the level until lost in a confused mur-
mur
Passing the shoots on their way by seorss
The two men steadily tramped on. Reacbing
1t last the 'face" of the level, the pIace
where the cutting had been going ON and
rom which, aided by the diamond drill tbev
lad taken the core, the assay Of which had
10 much pleased Mr.. Clarke. they began 70
examine the rock
Seems to me, Jones, they haven't timber
ID this place up enough
well, sir, we ran out of timbers Just about
he time they got here, and the new lot
ladnt come. What there were l wanted
lown below"
All right. See that they put them in to-
morrow, will you? 1 don't like this enptv
'lace. By the way, isn't that little string
T OF ore see on the left? That bit there
y the pick mark"
wen soon see, sir, - and, so saying, Jones
'rasped pick and struck at the wall.
1t seemed as though the blow was a signal
scarcely had it been struck when noise
Ike nothing on earth, was heard throughout |
ne mine. At the same minute the walls of
he level in which they were seemed to bend
D. then out and then in again great blocks
70 frorr, Ffrcr,, I