Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-12

- O>~~O S-~S ~~~>>O~S
chose that the boys should go in their
place some sank to the ground nutter-
ing prayers that they had never spoken
since childhood, and others listened to
George Heimers as he told them there
was still hope if they would obey him.
Jim Massey had been in one Of the
most distant workings, and was one Of
the last to reach the pits mouth, and
now he stood by the wall apart, with
eyes bent down on something he held IN
his hand-a lock of Agnes hair that she
had given him the night before.
More than half the number OF men
were now safe, and the basket. whirled
up by those who knew just how much
depended upon their work, had just left,
when George, in the calm voice with
which he had spoken before, said:
"Men, who's to go next?" There were
only about twenty left, men and boys,
whom George had many time helped
by words and deeds; they remembe red
this, and all cried at once: next
turns thine, master-we'n come after!'
Thank you, my lads, he answered,
quietly; "Tm not going this time, but
want to send some one in my place.
VIII you let me?''
Not SO eagerly this time-but still the
answer, cay, master p was given
Jim, come here" George shouted.
You take my place when it comes
again. Nay, lad, you mustl Renem-
Der, Agnes wants you; Jim, you'll be
good to her, won't you? And tell her
sometimes the last words tried to say
were, God bless both Of you 7"
Once more the basket descended, the
few that were chosen leaped into it, the
rope was shaken as the signal to hoist
up, and with one tight hand grip George
sent Jim on his way. And, as they
parted, Jim looked at the others. face,
and never to his dying day did he for
get what he saw there-the bitterness of
death had passed away, and a strange
peace was shining forth from his eyes.
It was the last freight. George had
already heard the distant thunder Of the
waters bursting in full food into the
mine. He knew the end was come, and
when the basket was ascending he
turned away down side passage that
he might not see the agony Of the poor
men when they found it was too late.
just as the basket reached the level
of the upper ground, where hundreds
were waiting anxiously to watch the az
rival of each company that was saved,
tremendous black cloud rolled up the
pits mouth, bursting up with a fearful
roar high into midair, and when it had
cleared away the men peered down the
shaft. Far away in the darkness be-
meath they could hear the dash of the
waves, and sometimes they thought they
could discern their white CLEAN as they
leaped up the sides of the shaft. jim
Massey and several others volunteered
to go down and seek for any who might
be still struggling IN the water. 1t was
too late when they reached the place.
and only few Of the dead bodies were
ever recovered.
4
The mine is now deserted, and its
buildings are in ruins.
Some time after the disaster a part Of
the cliff above it, probably undermined
by the action Of the waves, fell down
one stormy night, and now there is a
great cavern wandering away in dark
passages under the cliff where part of
the coal mine had been.
It is easy to penetrate beneath these
gloomy arches in a boat during fine
weather, and many times in after days,
Agnes happy wife and mother
would come there with her children on
summer days, and tell them the story of
how their fathers life had been saved.
And when she had ended and leaned
back in the boat, as they foated on
through that silent gloom as of twilight,
the large tears would gather in her eyes
for him who lay in that unknown tomb
of his far below, in some dark cavern
OF the sea- Zenaple Bar.
THEATRICAL AUDIENCES.
John Mccullough, in an interview
with reporter Of the Cleveland Herald,
81. follo.,.r olon,,4 4lo o,.l: