The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-02-15


that when four such segments were
placed togetherlengthwisc, secured with
pins Mt the edges, which We're first
squared and then made parallel, they
formed II long, hollow trunk or barrel,
four squares within, but outside cylin-
drical, aud tapering slightly from one end
TO the other.
Upon this were driven hoops or bands
Of iron, which forced the Joints close
like those Of cask, and thus we had
pumps or pipes of considerable length
and sOlidity. II was easy to lit to them
valves and pistons, and TO work them
with n wooden walking beam, moved by
the crank of water wheel. This crank
was n master piece. II had an arm or
leverage Of two feet, aud was forged
from the iron axle OF one Of Our wagons,
andits dungeons or bearings werctumcd
III lathe OF orr own contriyiug. This
was a heavy job for orr own resources,
but it was finished after an age Gt
seemed to us) Of toll, pu22ling and per.
spiration, aud We had produced machine.
ry that was capable OF raising TO a
height Of nearly thirty feet many tons
oil water per day, and which answered
all Our requirements for drainage, 80
that We were able to reach that long,
sought "hcd rock ut n depth ol uim,ty
feet below the present bed OF the creek.
i will mention here that our pump vas
twelve inches square inside, aud hal
stroke of four feet, RAISING the water
twenty.nine feet into our drain tunnel.
whence it flowed out to the surface / ,0l0
yards down the canon.
We hnd reached "bed rock, hut hui
not "struck it very rich, and were run
ming drift or tunnel on bed rock across
and up the gulch in search OF the cray
streak" which We were hoping every lay
to find, when the announcement n II
startling accident was made. Here was
the ruin Of our hopes and the death Of
our iricrd for there was little room 10
hope for my other result
1t must not be supposed that much
time was wasted i'll such reflections for.
telling Bill to rouse the entire camp,
rushed of to the mine. Such OF the
men n. had heard OF the occurrence
hurried from their work, bringing with
them their picks and shOycls Us likely to
he needed, and the miners from wet
diggings came clad in coats, high boots
aud hclmet-shaped caps Of iniia.rubbrr,
and looking like knights III amor.
knights they were, too, for that matter,
for, though armed only with shoyels ard
picks, they We're MS daring and as gem
erous as ever bcltcd Prince who rode
with lance nj rest to right imaginary
wrongs; and they We're ready now to
risk every danger TO save the poor fellow
buried in the mine beneath.
On reaching tho scene | found or
machinery apparently nminjurCd, but
looking more closely | discovered that
the pump was raising NOT Il drop of
water, and il would not be long before
the entire mine would be flooded. The
pump must be relieved at once or We
could not hope to save the NINE much
less to rescuc our friend. Calling Bob
Piper. tall, back bearded miner, who
had worked ut his trade in every mining
country from the English channel to the
Pacific ocean, and who, in skill, courage
and experience, was the mining oracle
of our camp--l pointed him TO the
pump, which was wearing itself ont in
vain, Tor it lifted no water
"Bob," said ], "we must iix that.
pump! 1t is our only hope TO save
Little Jimmy"
Gwen fix it," replied Bob, quietly.
"Thc pump is stnryed-choked up at
the bottom. Wen fix it; and as for the
poor lad we'll git I'M out"
Bob was West of England man, and
his dialect stuck 10 him.
DWELL get IN out, Benny; | think ne
bean't dead. I've helped dig men out
in the old country and this, too; an God
will help us we'll get IN out now; won't
us, Benny"
Benny: thus appealed to, answered
with an emphatic "You bet," and tho
next moment he and Bob, followed by
two others, were clambering down the
steep aud slippery flight of ladders that
led into the mine, until their candies,
gilnmcring like stars, were one By one
swallowed up in the black shaft, Axes
had lccn sent down III the bucket, and
in few moments were heard blows
ringing on the mass OF wood and iron
that composed the barrel Of the pump.
They we've cutting holcsto let water into
the pump below 1t had already risen
above their waists, and the mouth OF the
lowest drift was nearly submerged.
The machinery WIS creaking and
grooming, and the wheel dashing round,
and it was idle show, and the mine was
filling up, and soon the men would be
driven out; but meantime we could
hear the blows of the axes. Presently
tho clumsy walking beam quit groaning,
stood still and began TO tremblc. Tho
wheel had stopped for moment, then
began to move slowly, and went rouno
with q surge. There was great rusl
of water through the pump, and it was
oil right. Our old wooden pump wa'
equal to the occasion. The flood gates
were opened to tho great ovorsho
wheel. and it was required to do IT'D
best. 1t rushed round steadily, and II
mn hour the mine was freed from watel
so that men could press into the drift.
1t was arranged that if Little Jimmy
was found alive the fact should be tele
graphed aloft by two strokes of the sig
nal bell but il dead, one tap shoult
announce it. Men were working under
ground as only such men would work
They had been told of into gangs OF lou
each, which spelled or relieved eacl
other every fifteen minutes; and, as the.
advanced into the avalanche of rocl
aud earth that filed the drift, every incl
had to be propped with heavy timbers
for the vast mass above them had beef
shaken and had lost its cohesion, ant
at every moment might crash down hk
@ mountain.
Presently, to those who waited above
there came sharp peal OF the bell
then another. He was alive What
shout went up from the men assemblies
there. Out of the depths of that canon
above its cliffs and crags, and over tn
trees that waved on their submits, AM
above the mountains that towere
beyond-iar above them all it rose ik