Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-04-04
AT THE MINES.


you go With tnem DoHl Ndlt' Sh'
/ must cut the barricade."
Like flash the whole situation burst
upon me, and my cheek paled at the
thought. Every life in the mine de-
pended upon that. Impulsively step
ped forward and clapped my hands
upon his shoulders.
81 had forgotten" said. eve will
60 together, my lad"
Hand-in-hand, to steady our steps
over the wet rocks, we went down into
the main gallery ; feeling our way in
the intense blackness, hearing the
gurgle Of the water, already sweeping
to my waist.
We could distinguish some cries far
off in the mine, and hear the frighten-
ed bats fitting about our heads, as we
finally struggled up to the heavy tim
bers, and I hacked at them with an
ak.
They would not start! The lives of
every man in the stables hung with
that barricade, yet still it chung there,
and as we toiled, the water kept creep
ing up, until it had reached the boys
throat. Like rain I showered my
heavy blows, scarcely able to keep my
own feet in the sweep of the current.
"For Gods sake, lad !" groaned in
despair and agony, "what can we
do?"
81 know, SIR" he cried, for | could
not see him in the darkness, "and may
God help me to do " And catching
the lower timbers he clambered up.
What he succeeding in cutting l can
only guess, but heard cry and a
crash, then down came that great mass,
completely blocking the passage and
sending an immense black wave over
my head, and clear to top of the
tunnel.
Oh, heaven, what night of horror
that was l have wondered since that
it did not turn my hair to snow. Back
Of me the black, gloomy, silent mine
yawning like a grave; before me the
barricade and on every side the eddy
ing currents Of water.
In vain l called for Phil, and felt
my way back and forth along the wet
rocks. Nothing answered but the
fitting of the hats and the gurgling of
waves.
Sobbing, crying, praying, half crazed
the long night wore away ; sometimes
dreaming that l saw the boys face in
the Misunderstanding to him only to
have the echoes of my own voice come
back in mockery. l think | was truly
mad when the party Of rescuers came
at last, guided down the tunnel by my
cries.
In the Pickering rays of their lights,
the first my eyes saw was poor Phil,
lying crushed under the timbers. AT
the sight, and before they could reach
me, l tainted dead away.
1t was up in the pit-house, with a
crowd Of rough, sympathetic faces
about me, that l came back to life once
more and looked eagerly around.
"The girl ?" l asked, for she was the
first thought, "where is the girl ?"
They drew back silently, and Their
saw her kneeling over shroudeC
body in the corner. For her own sake
she must be taken away, while the
men did all they could with the poor
battered figure. The lads helped me
to her tenderly.
MARY" I whispered, taking hel
cold hand in mine, you cannot help
Phil any more, now. Come, let us sc
home"
She looked up at me, her face like
death, but without tear in the clear
eyes.
'.It is so hard to leave him here" she
said, piteously; SIS it right p
eyes my girl" my own voice trem-
bling. 81 think so, and you must
trust me, Mary"
eyes"
l led her out of the sad place, down
the hill toward their little cabin. AT
the bottom she stopped and looked
wistfully back, and as she did so, the
tears broke forth at last.
sob, Phil" she sobbed. you We're
all had in the world -
The heart came up into my throat at
the pitiful loneliness Of that cvy and !
knew loved her.
"Not ali, Mary" whispered, ten
derby, mot all, if you will turn to me-
She looked up into my face, bending
over her, and | think read there my
earnestness.
"You were good to him." she said
simply, "and love YOU"
The early morning sun came out
above the crags, and showered a gltam
Of gold across the brown hair, rs | led
her into the little house alone.
4
That is Pills grave out yonder, by
the trail, with the white cross and the