The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-09-08
UNDER TWENTY FEET OF
BAND.
The Horrible Death OF a Brave
Man Who Died that Others
Gould be Saved.

The tragic death Of poor, noble
hearted Ralph Gore, Of Erie, ha
been made the more narrowing by
knowledge of the details. Gore wa
a contractor, and although poor, ant
uneducated, he was a fine specimen
of the true hearted, whole souleC
Irishman. On the morning that HI
went to the Poplar street excavation
for the last time he was heard to r :
mark that his orders for additional
boarding up the sides of the cutting
had not been complied wlth,an thai
this neglect mus he repaired imme'
diateIy. There were about thirty
laborers working at the bottom when
he decended, and as he issued some
orders he noticed the fall Of some
gravel and sand from above. Look
ing up he turned pale and shouted:
make for the ladders men, there
will be q cave inW Rush took place
for the ladders, and men scrambled
and climbed over each other in the
effort to reach the top before the
treachous wall caved in. "Quick,
boys, or you are lost" exclaimed
Gore, disdaining to take advantage
of the means of escape until his men
were safe. They were all up but enc,
Jim Reilly, who was rheumatic and
unable to move fast. "FOr Gods
sake come up, Go-e!" cried they on
the summit of the firm bank. mot
to leave this poor fellow" replied the
contractor, pointing to the decrepit
old laborer. The sand and stones
wera now sliding down tester and
faster, aud the western wall appeared
to De Oh the poi.t of bursting.
At last the old man reached the
top and Gore made a bound for the
ladder, but as he grasped the rung,
the bank broke, and fifty tons of
sand descended with a crash. Stu
ated as he was, Gore was only struck
by the slightest end of the mass, and
was buried in the sand up TO his
neck. A stone had struck him on
the head, but not with sufficient force
to kill him. He recovered himself in
a few minutes, but was unable to ex
tricate himself from the earth around
him, the pressure of which was be-
coming greater every minute.
Boys" he shouted, Il guess I'll
have to trouble you to dig me out, if
you can, and if you can't, I'll he all
the same obliged to you" A hum
dred willing hands went to work to
effect his deliverance.I 1t was tedious
process, for the only way to avoid an
additional fall of earth was to make
a traverse cutting. A sponge satur-
ated with wine, was lowered, and he
managed to get it with his teeth.
Hour after hour passed, and yet the
hour of rescue was not half accOmp-
lished. "Boys, is it any good?" he
cried, and they told him they would
work all night for his sake. The
ground was covered with people,
many of whom were weeping and
praying for the poor fellow. Word
was silently passed to the rescuers to
in the name of heaven, as an
other slide of earth Immediately
above Gore was threatening. 1t was
now getting to be dark, and an aw-
full Stiffness fell upon all. Courage, |
Ralph; they will soon have you,"
called out a reporter, but the words
had scarcely passed his lips when the
dreadful slide began. The doomed
man saw it coming, and over anxious
for the safety of others before his
own called to them to keep lack
from the edge for their lives sake.
His upturned face was a sight that
made strong men weep like children.
Good bye, lads; remember me to
TO whom Ralph Gore
wished to be remembered will never
known this side of the grave. The
of earth that followed buried his
brave, sunburned face twenty feet
lnder the sand, killing him instant
y.-COr. Cleveland Leader.