The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-02-16

steadied in its course by two grooves, |
which fit in two wooden ''guides" ex-
tending the whole depth, and fixed to |
the sides of the shaft 1 must also ex-
plain that the ''sump" is the very bot !
tom of the shaft. The shaft is sunk
few fathoms lower than the lowest seam |
of coal that is being worked. Into this
lowest part of the shaft, euphoniously
termed the ''sump," the water which
oozes from the sides of the shaft finds
its way, and is constantly being
pumped out, to prevent the flooding OF
the pit
How man could be let down into the
stump and escape alive, seemed mys-
terry to me.
"How on earth did you get out2"
asked. 81 suppose they drew the cage
up at oncep"
"Never," said the shaftman. "The
englne-man, by mistake or accident, ran
her right down into the stump, and she
stuck, while the other cage Yves right
up at the pulleys. The engine-power
was lost, and he couldn't get her up"
Then how did you escape2" asked
breathlessly.
"Why," he answered with a grim
smile, 81 had to get out the way they
catch sparTows at Gateshead."
"How's thai?"
""rhe best way l could. I managed
to get out of the cage. There was only
just room to squeeze up between the
cage and the side of the stump, and
climbed up by the timbers to the Top OF
the water. ! had to travel round about
and get out by staple. 1t was two
hours before got home. The engine
man was nearly off his head. They
were all sure l was killed, and were
seeking about how to get the cage up
again"
"Wasn't it awful going DOWN."
said. Didn't you lose your head?'
81 can tell you it was. The cage came
down with run, and FLASHED into the
water like clap of thunder"
SWELL" he said, 81 knew what was
going to happen, when felt her going
The water CAME in on me, and | knew
there was eight feet above me; and ]
thought, We'll, il a queer thing If I've
come down here to be drowned | had
my thick leather jacket on; and l swal.
lowed lot of water; but scrambled
out somehow. But it was near thing,
eau tell you.
sob" he continued, there are queel
things happen. Once, another man anC
1 were drawn up over the pulley. That
not the big pulleys, you know, sir; bu
the little wheel with tine small rope,
few feet above the shaft. which we us
for shaft work. This other man and
had been at work, sitting in the loop
hanging on the rope; and v hen the en-
glne drew us up again, she ran away,
and drew us right over the pulley. A
least l went over; and the other ma,
hung on the other side. balancing, M
hands were cut with the wheel; but
held on till they got us down. But
was roughish ride, was that We'll
good night, sir"
l wondered how many lives this ma
had, and how he could go away so cheer
fully to meet day by day the perils {
his toll.
l was talking the other day to ma
about emigration. "Ill tell you" b
said. "When 1 was one and-twenty,
settled to leave the pits and go to Anne
lea. When the time came, l said
mother, We'll, mother, I'll make tn
the last days work here, and be off {
America Mother, she was sore CT
up, and she says, Bill, I'd as soon 81
you In your grave in our churcbyard,
that you should go to America. Wei
sir, it's gospel truth I'm telling you.
went down the pit at 10 O'Clock tht
day, and before II l was carried hon
smashed all to pieces. l never left n
bed for II weeks. A full tub of Goa
caught me on the incline, by the negle
of the man working with me. The Il
ran away. There was no room to pas
l ran for my life; but the wheels we
over me and smashed me up. Al
that's all I've ever thought about goii
to America. l thought it strange, 81
mothers having said that, and me beil
nigh killed the very day I'd settled
CO."
Can we call these brave men heartlt
or unteeling because they speak of su
things as trihes, or indeed rarely spe
of them at alp No; their lives ma
them familiar with danger, but none {
less is their silence that of a noble co,
age.
The following may show that gri
tude to q higher pow er is oftener
than expressed to the outer world. z
don little preliminary detail. Squ
tubs, ca four wheels. running on ira
lines along the workings of the pit,
used for drawing the Goals TO the shf
On some occasions, as when going t
distant part OF the workings, one
two tubs will be drawn by pony, e,
tub carrying, perhaps, four men. Wi
the seams are low, there viii be SD
OF only a few inches between the e
OF the tub and the "balks" of tim
placed crossWise to support the rooI
the coal.seam; thus, the men must k
their heads down to the level Of the e.
of the tub.
"On one occasion, said my info
ant, "three Of us were cruuehed Dc
in tub. The pony was going
walk up slight rise. l cant tell
how 1t happened, but / must have IA
my head uuconsciously above the |,
OF the tub. felt my forehead tOuD
cross beam in the roof. and, befu
had time TO reflect, ! knew that
In fatal peril. The forward moven
OF the tub iammed my head betv
the beam and the edge OF the tub
gave myself wrench trying to
free; but L conldnt, All this. Of COZ
passed in fraction OF q second, a
gave myself up as dead. Now CO
the most wonderful part. At the
tine my head touched the roof, ii
very crisis Of my agunv OF mind, '
the whole situation flashed on me
pony stopped. No one had touch
or spoken to it. 1 had uttered no
The pony stopped. drew down
head, aud crouched almost faintil
the tub. My life was saved. l 1
told my companions until we came
when they remarked how pale loo
For weeks, whenever vent dow