Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-06-02
Gales a1to Skitfbts.
Confined from Yesterday

ter Is down. and nothing can be DONE
Look there! - and he pointed to light
smoke wreathing up from the shaft !;
''she's a-fire now, and she may blow any
moment. II would be madness to do any,
thing
The men standing around murmured an
assent. Anything that men can do. min
ers will dare TO rescue comrades; but this
was too much. At this r0ment there was
stir, and the men drew back TO let Laura
pass. Her face was as pale as death. and
her hair had broken from its bands in the
speed with which she had run.
Il hear my father il in the pit, she
gasped out; lis it true? ''
A dead silence answered her. She
sank down In despair, and then rising she
exclaimed wildly:
HE may be alive still a thousand
five thousand dollars to him who goes
down and brings him up
ut is impossible. Miss Laura said the
overseer: 1.-THE pit is on fire; she will
blow again in minute or two"
20 men, she said frantically; '.if you
be men. go down and see If any live.
Five thousand dollars to him who goest"
The men drew back. but one or two
spoke together, and were coming forward
when the women rushed upon them.
mo, Jamie-no. Willie you don't 60.
Our two boys are down now; you shan't
60; will not let you; what is money,
now?" and clInging to the men they
dragged them b..ck.
Laura sank back in despair; she could
not press the point. During the colloquy,
Mr.. Heath had earnestly questioned the
boy. and now whispered to the ovefseer.
The latter gave start Of surprise, and
made a gesture of refusal. Then Mr..
Heath spoke aloud:
IL shall have my way. | am Gods
minister have no one in the world to
lament me. 1t is my duty to try, at least.
Get the rope ready ut once, and lend me
a thick cap to protect my head. and a
flannel jacket"
Laura Haines had started up and ex-
claimed. mo! No!' then she had been
silent. Without word, she stood mo-
tioDless while the minister put the miners
clothes over his own amid dead silence
from all around. Mr.. Heath was very
pale. but perfectly calm. When he was
eady. and W lie the men were busy
hosting up the rope, which they had low
cred after the explosion, Laura went up
to him and said, 81 must speak to YOU be-
fore you go, Mr. Heath" and led the wav
nto small Office close by.
The clergyman followed She took both
his hands, and stood for a moment still
and silent. Then she said:
MAY God in heaven bless YOU and pro-
tect you You need no earthly strength.
bu. II it can cheer you in this fearful dan
ger, think that |. who wait here to pray
for you, have two lives | love Mt stake:
that If you come not back. I shall be for
life widow as well rs orphan. God bless
you. my own dear love! Now, kiss me.
and go!'
He drew her to him. kissed her once,
and then opening the door of the shed,
said to the women outside:
Look to Miss Haines; she has tainted.
Now. men. let me down as quickly as on
can. l know what have to do.'
Mr.. Heath was outwardly rs quiet and
calm rs when he entered the hut; but the
men noticed that he had a bright. steady
light in his eye; that while before he
might look like martyr walking firmly
to the stake. now he might have been
soldier leading forlorn hope.
As he was lowered down into utter
darkness. the clergyman might truly be
said to have no fear. He knew his fear
ful danger. he knew that every instant
threatened death. but he knew too that
Laura loved him and was praving for him.
He too prayed that he might be spared
to enjoy his great happiness.
Descending toward the bottom. the
smoke was almost sitting. and would have
been quite so but for the wet cloth pressed
against his mouth and nostrils. The safe
ty lamp which he carried by the sharp,
haring explosions within the wirework,
rs well rs bis difficulty Of breathing. told
the inhammable nature of the atmosphere
about him. The bottom reached. to his
great joy he found the entrance to the
workings clear OF debris. So Sitting did
he feel the air. that he lay down and
crawled along on his breast. But few
PAGES and he felt door. He gave a low.
muftied cry. which was answered by dull
knocking within.
Thank God Mr.. Haines was alive,
sheltered in the small room from the vio-
lence oil the first blast. The thought of
Laura's delight gave him rev strength
and revived consciousness which but a
moment before seemed fast deserving him.
Feeling upon the ground. for he had
extinguished his lamp for greater safety,
he found that some pieces of the roof had
fallen and blocked the door. The thought
of Laura gave him strength to remove
them. and as he removed the last he felt
the door push open from within. life
seemed to leave him. and he became un-
conscious.
Terrible was the suspense upon the sur
face alter the clergyman had disappeared.
The men let the rope slip through their
fingers rapidly. Every moment was worth
life. for ut any instant they might hear
the low, rumbIing sound followed by
a rush of flame. of stone and all
that remained of the brave man
who had ventured down. No one
spoke. Presently the rope stopped. Now
was the question, was he insensible al
readyP The men stood by the rope ready
TO run It over the sheaf as quickly as pos
sible, and all stood GREATNESS. In a mo.
ment there was faint but decided Jerk of
the rope.
Thank God ~ broke from all the by
ISLANDERS, and the rope was Stacked to al
low the adventurer to proceed into the
workings. And now Laura, recovered
from her fainting. joined the group about
the shaft. She dropped upon her knees.
and with her face pale as marble. her lips
-ss~s~ to- l..e