The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-08-04
THRII.IINse ADVENTURE N 4 CoAL NINE.

THRILLING ADVENTURE IN \ Coal NINE.
The experience of two miners IN Hooded
coal mine is thus related by the Scranton Re
publican OF last week:
The most thrilling occurrence that has happened
in this vicinity q long time took place recently
at oxford shaft HYDE Park, two men having had
a rnost marvellous escaue from death Mr. Thomas
Richards is what is called the donkey runner at
that mine Every two OF three days il ts his Gus
tom to enter the shaft to what there Is in
the mine, as well as to keep the engine in good
working order At o'clock in the morning he in
tended to make the trip, and asked 1Ir. James
Lewis. another workman. to accompany him. The
oxford 1fue il sbouI1 he reuernhered is now idle
and no men are inside the works. AIr. Lewis con
sented. and .hey took their positions ON the car
and yvere lowered ro the Rock vein at which work
ing another carriage is taken to descend the CLARK
vein. where the engine TO be visited was. The
change was safely made. the signal given. and
they were lowered When within thirty-fve feet
Of the bottom Of the shaft. water appeared upon
the esrri,ge noticfug which Lewis said that their
feet would get wet. but not thinking there any
danger. Richards. however. was better RcQuafnt-
cd with the mine. and knew that the shaft was
flooded which was only too true. the water having
overfovved 2 dam at the Rock vein above and filled
. the mine to the depth Of eighty-fiye feet When
Richards saw the water with spring from the
side Of the carriage he reached the side of the shaft
and clung to a water pipe that passed down the
shaft He called to Lewis TO DO the same. but the
latter. realizing the danger now, was too excited
The engineer at the top OF the SHAFT was not
aware Of the matter and kept letting the car down
When 1t began to enter the water it was little
tight Il always is in passing that point and the
man at the engine gave additional steam. which
DIunped tie car containing Lewis into the water
His foot became fastened in way, and before
he lOoseued himself. which he finally did by pull
ing his foot from the boot. he had gone under the
! water some twenty-eight feet As soon freed
his body doated to the surface. where he g-rnsped
the rope which attaches to the root OF the carriage
and fOundered about. The engineer stood at his
post entirely unaware Of the exciting time below.
I Nothing appeared wrong. and be waited for a sig
nal. In the meantime Richards. who had jumped
from the car, was undergoing a severe struggle.
As he clung to the pipe the top OF the carriage
going by rubbed him closely that 10 stripped hts
overalls and pants from his legs. and in some un-
. accountable way he also lost his boots. One hun
/ dred and hfty feet separated him from the Rock
vein the only place now left 70 signal the engineer
4 and TO save Lewis this asccnt~must be made as
t quickly as possible. Hand over hand ne Chamber
. ed mp the pipe, resting now and then on the large
4 beams that secured the sides Of the shaft. Every
. lew moments he would cal! upon Lewis 10 hang 10
the r0pe-that he would soon be 10 tho tor and M
/ would be right Lewis was swallowing the foul
: water all the time. His strength was fast waning.
and unless assistance came before long he would
perish Bravely Richards Dlodded. though the
strain upon him was intense. At last he gained
the Rock vein, but the time consumed was three.
quarters Of an hour and ali that time Lewis was
I clinging for life TO the rope Richards Curcklv
T gave the signal and the engineer hOisted the car
riage from the water. As the carriage gained the
top Of the water Lewis slid down therupe 10 which
I ne had held and sat upon the root Of the car. In
this position he was raised 30 the Rock vein. Sew.
eral workmen had come there lter the signal and
thcY helped Lewis FROM his place bur ft was dome
. with the greatest difficulty. his hands seemed
glued fast 70 the rope They then changed car
rages as in going down and we're hosted % the top