Omaha daily bee., 1885-11-11

director Ot the mines ana lay before MN inc
demands of the mCn-thC abolition of the new
system of payment and an increase of nve
cpntiMCS per car Anton ability and SAGA
city made him at once the leader in the strike.
The interview of the miners with the mana
ger was without result, and the men, with
very little hope of ultimate success, settled
down to n long and bitter struggle-the Strug-
gle of poverty against unlimited wealth.
CHAPTER XXXvIu
On the night which followed the dcs-
truct on OF the Nulture, NJ. llennebeau
started for Paris, wishing to give person
al information to the managers before
the newspapers even could publish the
news. Nhen he returned the next day,
he was found to be very calm, very pale,
with the look OF an upright superintcnd-
cnt He had evidently relieved himself
from responsibility; his favor did not APP
pear to have diminished; on the contrary,
the decree naming him an officer of the
Legion OF Honor was signed twenty-four
hours after.
Denculn, appointed engineer of the
division had come into the Office in the
midst of the great disaster, and his first
care had been to force the canal back TO
its bed, for this torrent of water spread
ing over the bottom of the mine aggrava-
ted the damage every hour. Great labor
was requ red; he had Immediately placed
Il hundred workmcn at the construct on
vi al uiht. 1 Nltt bitt lllbtluOSlIh vi 'llt
stream had carried away the first dams.
Now, pumps had been fixed it was Il hard
fight, violent struggle for rcposseSsion,
step by step, OF this corner of earth
But the salvation of the buried miners
w@s still more engrossing, Megrcl was
again entrusted to make another supreme
effort and arms We're not wanting him;
all the coalmen rushed to offer them
selves IN burst of fraternity. They for
ypt the Gtvi l,ps thpv did not troullp than
selves about the pay; they asked for moth
ing, they only asked to risk their lives
when comrades were in peril. Try
were all there with their implements,
shivering, waiting to be told at what
point to begin. Many, i'll from fright
after the accident, agitatrd by nervous
trembling, bathed in cold perspiraton,
up Notwithstanding, and seemed among
the most courageous Of those battling
with the earth as if they had revenge
to take. Only there was some cmbar
assment when the utility of this work
was questiOned what WAS to be done?
how were they to get down? on what side
were they to attack the stones?
1t was Megral 8 opinion that not one of
the unfortunate men survived the fifteen
had certainly persisted, either drowned
or asphyXiated; but in these mining ca-
| tastrophes the rule was always to con
| slider the immurcd men at the bottom as
| living, and he reasoned on this principle
Before arriving at this logical conclu-
| sion, there had been much discussion of
Il number OF impracticable suggestions
| Megrel then shook the dust from the
archives, and, when he had found the old
plans of the two mines, studied them and
determined at what points the researches
should be made. Gradually, this hunt
excited him; he, in his turn, was seized
| with Il fever of self-devOtion. in spite of
his ironical indifference toward men and
things The first difficulties were en-
countered in descending at Requllart.
They had TO clear away the mouth of
the shaft, cut down the sorb tree, raAe
/ the plantains and hawthoms; and they
had besides to repair the ladders. Then
the cropping about commenced. The en-
| ginecr, having gone down with ten work
! men, made them knock with their picks
against certain rocks which he desig-
mated; and in profound silence, q ch
| holding his ear to the stone, listening to
see if no distant stroke responded. But
in vain a II the practicable galleries were
traversed; no echo came. The difficulty
increased. Where should they cut away
the bed: Toward whom should they 90
when nobody appeared to be there? But
| they persisted obstinately in the search,
with ever increasing anxiety.
At the end OF three days Megrel IN
despair had resolved to abandon every
thing that evening: AT noon, after
lunch when he had returned with his
men to undertake last effort, he was
surprised 20 see Iachare come from the
mine, very red, gestlculating, and cry
ing:
"She is there! she has answered me!
Come on, come on, now"
He had slipped upon the ladders, in
spite OF the guard, and he swore that
they had knocked, there below, in the
| first road OF the vein WillVm
But we have already passed twice
where you say" said Negrel, incred.
uIous. But ut any rate we will 90 and
| see "
Below, Mcgrel himself struck three
blows, wide apart; then he applied his
ear to the coal, commanding the work,
men to bc silent. Not sound did he
hear; he shook his head; evidently the
poor boy was dreaming. Furious, Zach
arc Knocked; and lie again heard, his
eyes shone, his limbs tremblad with ioy.