Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-08-06

4 SSA uAy wv Woh otbSitSf "hN tS y
companions washing yet, strange to
say, did not become discouraged.
They said nothing abont the bag of
gold dust, and asked them nothing a
bout the result of their washing the ex-
cavated soil.
We had worked about three weeks,
, and had formed u tunnel extending IL
bout. fifteen feet into the hill, when, on
one afternoon, completely tired out,
sat down to rest in the cave. had
only intended to sit little while, but
five minutes had not elapsed before !
was fast asleep. I was awakened by a
crash, aud jouad my feet and legs COM
pletely covered by mass of dirt and
stones. The front part OF the tunnel
had fallen in, aud / was in manner
buried alive. About ten feet of the
tunnel remained firm, and from my ob.
seryations or It's structure prior to the
accident, I was convinced that had no
reason to apprehend any danger in that
quarter. My partners had carried
dirt enough to the river to keep them
busy for the rest of the day, SD l had
nothing to hope from their assistance.
The question that first presented itself
to my mind was. How long can life he
sustained in this confined state had
read dozen times statistics in relation
to the amount Of air consumed hourly
by human beings lungs, but, like al
most everybody else, had merely won
derei at the time and then forgot the
figures.
How much would I have gwen then
to have been able to recall them The
next thought was. How can / proceed
to extricate myself ? This question
was difficult of solution. If went to
work with shovel and pick to clear
away the dirt that had fallen,i was ex.
tremely likely that all which could be
able to remove would be Immediately
replaced by that which would fall from
above. This was pleasant. racked
my brains to devise some means OF lib
Grating myself, but with out effect.
Leaning against the wall in utter de-
spondency, I was about to throw my
self on the ground and await my fate,
when observed quite current of wa.
ter, on small scale, was making its
way down the side of the cave. AT
first / was alarmed, as I thought It
might loosen the earth above, and
bring another mass down on my head.
The next moment the thought struck
me that it might be turned TO my ad-
vantage. Why could not so direct it
that it would wash away sufficient
earth in It's progress to the outlet of
the cave to make an opening large @.
nough to allow me to crawl through it?
IL it only succeeded in making an air.
hole, it would enable me to exist till my
partners could come to my rescue.
Carefully examining the course OF the
water, 1 succeeded in finding the spot
where it entered the cave, and to my
great joy ascertained that could easi-
lily direct it by cutting channel out of
the side of my prison to the mass of
earth that blocked up the entrance to
th, tunnel. The air at this time was
quite hot and stihing, and became a.
ware that whatever was done must
be done quickly, or I should perish
for want of oxygen. After had
cut channel for the water to flow
towards the entrance, enlarged the
opening by which the stream entered
the cave, and was delighted to observe
that it flowed with redoubled force.
Taking my shovel, I forced it through
the moistened earth as far as | was a
BILE, ,and then awaited the further action
Of the water. In few minutes was
enable to push it still further, till at
last it was out of my reach. Then,
placing my pick-handle against it, 1
pushed both as far as 1 could. With
what eagerness did / watch to see the
FIRST opening made by the water, and I
was soon glatified by observing that IL
flowed in steady stream in the direc
tion in which I had pushed the pick
and shovel.
In few minutes discovered faint
glimmering in the distance, which
might be an opening or the effect OF
an excited Imagination, 1 scarcely knew
which. But the doubt sool resolved
itself into certainty, and an opening
some five inches In diameter speedily
disclosed itself. Larger and larger the
opening grew lump upon lump was
washed away by the stream until tht
channel became large enough for me to
place my head in and halloa Justify fol
assistance. Just as was drawing my
my head back caught sight of a buck
skin bag. Hastily seizing it, I found
1t was the one we were in. search of,
and which, but for the accident,
would never have found. Wishing Il
surprise my companions, l concealed it
opd radouh1od r,u arioo Tn fou