Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-05-15
IN A TUNNEL.

"You'll get caught some day, said
Job Davis, shaking his head wisely as he
rolled some powder into "squib y
"and then you'll have lively run to es-
cape. When you've had as much expe-
rience in mining as I have, you won't
take any chances"
Dennis laughed softly, but continued
shoveling coal into the car, his lamp,
hung in his hat, throwing fantastic
shadows across the chamber against the
black walls on either side as he worked.
cts no laughing matter, boy" con-
tinued Job 81 learned to be careful in
just the same way you'll have to. After
you have had one or two pinches, you'll
listen to me. worked seven years in
the old country in vein only three feet
thick, and had to lie on my side all day
TO mine the coal. That's the kind Of ex-
perience you want These Pennsylvania
veins are thick enough for giant to
stand up in, and there's some kind of a
show for man when there's an explo-
sion or accident; but there" and Job
shook his head dismally at the recollec-
ton.
g We're you ever in a tight placer
asked Dennis, leaning on his shovel and
looking attentiyely at his friend
Lots of times, boy, Job growled, fix
ing the squib in blasting barrel " that
led to the powder tamped in the hole.
"More'n once I've had to crawl on my
hands and knees for my life! You can't
run there as you can here, and if miner
was as reckless as you are, it'd be all up
with him in week. Look out now
I'm goin' to light it,"
Dennis dropped his shovel and started
down the chamber; and Job, after
knocking the crust from the wick of the
lamp, applied it to the squib. There was
faint sputter, he cried ''Firer' for a
warning. and turned and ran toward the
shelter, his heavy boots waking the dis
NAL echoes of the place
'1t'll be good shot, hope" he said,
very much out of breath, as he joined
Dennis behind a large prop. 1T ought
to blow down enough coal TO last till
quitting time
HYou were long enough getting it
ready" Dennis remarked, dryly.
''Yes, boy" Job said, scraping hand
full of tobacco from his pocket and put
ting it in a short, black pipe. 81 learned
to take time when l was about your age
I've seen many man carried home on a
stretcher because he didn't take time !;
and some day I'm afraid you'll have to
be taken out Of the tunnel in the same
way"
''Don't worry about it, job"
'But I will, F" putting loudly to clear
the stem. s'You know as well as 1 do
that the tunnel isn't safe, and yet you
60 out that way every night in spite Of
my warnings"
Dennis laughed again, at which Job
shook his head sadly. $50 your own
gait, " he said; ''and if you don't lose
your life, you'll lose your job, and then
You'll remember what l said"
'1n do nothing Of the kind, for have
my life and my job, and intend to keep
them BOTH
q hope so, boy, | hope so,n he said,
but his countenance plainly belied his
words. I've seen so many men run risks
and get beaten that I know it's only a
matter of time for your turn to come"
May the day be far distant, " said
Dennis, gravely, disturbed by Jobs
words. Il always try to be-
The explosion at that moment inter
rupted him. There was a rush Of air, a
dull roar, and the sound Of fragments of
coal falling around them.
s.That was good one, I'll bet" ex-
claimed job, gleefully. There's five
cars of coal in that shot if there's a
pound"
Waiting few minutes longer until
the smoke had cleared away, they
walked back to where the yellow
glare from their lamps showed the devas-
tation the powder had made. Large
blocks of coal had been thrown several
feet from the q face Of the chamber,
and many smaller pieces lay scattered
around job began to split up the large
chunks, and Dennis, after looking at the
hole made by the explosion, seized his
shovel and began filing the car, singing
a wild song in minor key as he
worked.
The song continued most Of the day
with few interruptions. Occasionally
Job had something 70 say, Or a story u
tell, to cheer up the solitude Of the place,
while through the darkness came the rel