Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-11-29
FROSTBURG, MD, NOVEMBER 29 1884.

this looks serious. Luckily, the dam
will stand the pressure of q common
floodv
He laid his cor close to one Of the
projecting timbsrs of the dam.
"The immense weight of water
doesn't even jar itw he murmured.
Picking his way over the rocky
river-bed was no easy matter in that
thick obscurity; but his familiarity
with every foot of the locality helped
him, and in short time he stood be-
side the fums.
An, here was uprosr enough The
fiums was full to the very topmost
plank. A hiss Of flying spray struck
him sharply in the face but he gave
no heed to tho ice-cold drops that
clung to his forehead.
That strange premonitory, haunt
ing feeling had unrappsd his every
aense.
Upton felt, rather thsn thought,
that somewhere out in this cool dark
ness lurked danger, and he knew not
how or in what shape it was to come.
He had walked = long distance
down by the side of the hums, when
he heard sharp clattsr among the
rocks of the dry river-bed, as ofsoms
one stumbling heavily, followed by
muttsrsd curse.
That voice! He knew it, end he
shut his teeth sharply to keep back
an exclamation of horror.
Sam Lomax, the road-agsnt, tho
terror of the honest, hard-working
miner, in Whatsoever nine togethsr
with his mercilsss band of rsnsgades
and Indians, was creeping up this
river-bed, and this midnight raid
meant death to the four partners Of
the Clear river mine.
Rsllying every energy, he turned
and fled up the rivsr-bed ~ for dear
life. Not Of his own danger was he
thinking, but rather Of the peril of
the unwarned men in tho little cabin
yonder-his "pards" had bs-
como 80 endeared to him through the
many months Of weary privation and
toll, so cheerily shared together; his
comrades, unto whom his soul Glove
with a love as strong n that Of
brother.
Why did the objects beside him, BE-
fore him, become so distinct? He
threw up his head as he ran.
The clouds were parting, and he
perceived that in q few moments
their friendly aid would bo with
drawn. The moon would burn like
some great watch-fire in the
heavens, and his flight would be re-
yealed to those merciless eyes not .
plstol-shot away.
The odds were all against him,
strain every energy, every nerve a. he
might, to-morrow's sun would look
down on four victims to Loms1 and
his band, and the dear folks st home
would lock in vain for those whose
bones were whitening by rotting
dam in the western wilds.
The dam! An inspiration born of
dire necessity, lesped forth into his
mind, and light famed forth in his
eyes The strength of hope sprang
up in his heart and strung every
nsrvs, and on he sped.
The dam loomed up before him.
He sprang to little locker, built for
convenience sake, close by the end Of
the dam, threw up the cover, seized q
keg of blasting-powder, lighted 3
short fuse, thrust one end into the
keg, and then turned and fed.
And the moon burst forth from BE-
hind the clouds, her calm, pale light
falling softly over all that the dark
ness had hid.
"Ha! ha! hs!" laughed the happy
trio, sitting round the cabin table as
one of the number finished relating
some anecdote of his rollicking COL
lege days, and the laugh was echoing,
when the door wss burst violently
open, and Upton, with face as white
as death mark, stood on the thrssh-
hold. He made beckoning motion
and then disappeared.
The miners sprang to their feet,
but even as they did so loud ex-
plosion deafened their ears and ter
rible thrill rocked the little cabin
like a cradle. With one impulse
they leaped to the door.
They saw the whole front of the
dam mOvA ont in ono maos oos IL.