River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-04-15

phere. All Nature appeared smiling
and happy. The very beauty of the
scene made her sick at heart and she
wept bitterly. Away to the west she
could see the smoke still rising from
the ruins, and YEARLY longed for news
from the mine that would end the ter
rible suspense. Love eagerly en-
braeed every probability of hope. but
the inward misgivings of her heart
Overcame even the promptings of love.
Luckily, in one sense. the fire occur
ed on Saturday afternoon, as many
left the mine earlier than usual that
day and the number below was known
TO be considerably less than other DAYS
at the same hour. Nevertheless, the
number was large, and many were
made widows and orphans by the West
PittstOn disaster. now counted among
the saddest in the mining annals of the
town. Brave, noble-hearted men,
anxious and willing to risk their lives
in the attempt to succor their fellow
miners, eagerly offered their services
for the dangerous task of entering the
mine Many bodies were brought to
the surface that mournful Sunday, and
towards evening two We're rescued
alive, but in such a low condition as to
be- unable to give any account of the
doings or the whereabouts of the en-
tOmbed. The day closed without bring
ing to Katie Young any relief or cessa-
ton of the dreadful anguish caused bv
the terrible uncertainty as to the fate
of her lover. Ii was not until Monday
morning that party of miners were
rescued who were able to throw some
light on the subject.
When the news was sent down the
shaft that the breaker was on fire. Bill
Jones was only a short distance from
the foot and might have easily escaped
with the first carriage load hOisted,
but when the foOtman called TO him to
come on he replied: I'm run along
the main road and give the men warn
ing. That was the last known of
him until these rescued men told how
he had come TO them with the news.
Eve had already begun to build the
'bradish, (" one of them said, land
urged him to enter the chamber with
US, for there ain t soul of us here as
wouldn't do anything we could to keep
was afraid some of the others didn t
know of it, and it was his duty to tell
them. If the 'bradish' wasn't up when
he got back he'd be glad to get in with
us, but if he didn't come he'd pack
himself in the feed-room in the sta
BILE. y
When they entered the stable it was
noticed that hay had been packed in
to all the crevices. but all to no avail.
In one of the stalls a driver-boy was
found. his stillened arms encircled the
dead mule neck. When they reach
ed the feed-room it was at once APP
parent that great precautions had been
taken to exclude the smoke, but all in
vain.
There lay honest Bill Jones, stretched
on the floor with a sprinkling of hay
spread over his upturned face. 1t was
calm and peaceful, as though he were
asleep. His Dayy lamp stood on one
of the feed-chests, still more than half
full of oil, showing he had puTposely
eXtinguished it to save the air it might
consume. Clasped in his left hand was
his open notebook, upon one page of
which were written instructions how
to reach those in the mine, and on the
opposite page was the following
Dear Matte am afraid our next meeting
will be in Heaven. God bless you Fare
we'll
He is buried in quiet, sweet nook
of graveyard near by, and on the
simple stone that marks the spot are
inscribed the words:
Died at Duty's Post