Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
A FRIGHTFUL AFFAIR.

do not recall whether the conflict
that | am going to describe occurred
in the mine of La Gaia or in that of
Rayas. Both are situated in the
Mexican mineral district of GUIANA
juato, and with the readers permits
sion | will assume that it happened in
the latter.
The main shaft Of the Rayas mine
has the vertical depth of nine hundred
yards, and sixteen yards of diameter.
For its dimensions, it is ranked as the
first mining shaft of the world.
In the epoch to which | refer, eight
windlasses, operated by mules, were
constantly employed in raising water
from this enormous hole in the planet.
The administrator at that time was
Don Rafael H, so years of age,
pale, slender, feeble in appearance;
but in whose gaze shone the flame of
haughtiness and energy, and the radi-
ant spark of intelligence.
The cyopero, or person charged with
the operation of the windlasses, was
called Jose. He was an athletic fellow,
sinewy and vigorous; but with the
hungry, apprehensive, and unquiet look
of the iackal. Under his orders and
immediate direction were the cables by
which the miners descended, the
stream-cables for hosting water, and
all that related to the various services
of the shaft.
Among the properties" of the adj
ministratOr was young woman gilmore
beauty than chastity, whose yoluptu-
Gus form had turned the head of
the cajonero, who had long time en-
deavored vainly to ingratiate himself
in her favor. The jade treated his adj
vances with arrogant disdain, and this
is easily explained when it is known
that from the administrator % to the
caj0aera CD the distance is the same
as between the housekeeper and the
scrubwoman.
Jose laid siege to this strong fortress
of virtue, but finding that the garrison
was not likely to accept terms of capt.
tulation. he one day made an assault
that cost him a superb whipping by
order of the administrator.
Jose endured the chastisement but
swore in the teeth of his master that
he would have his revenge. Don
Rafael treated the menace with con-
tempt, and the cajonero continued to
occupy his post.
Sometime afterward, the damsel, in
order to give a further proof of her
constancy, ran away with a cavalry
officer; whereat Don Rafael manifested
| neither indignation nor surprise.
One morning Jose entered precipit-
ately into the apartments of the admin
istrator, before the latter was awake,
and said to him that, to Judge from
the unusual singing and hurrahing of
the miners at the bottom of the shaft,
they surely must have found a bonanza
This word bonanza produces a
more wonderful effect on the cere-
Drum of a miner than all the cata-
clysms and earthquakes Joined to-
gether. Don Rafael sprang out of bed.
leaped into his garments, and, with
out waiting to make inquiries, ran to
the shaft, harnessed himself to cable
of descent, and so suspending himself
| over the enormous abyss, said to the
| caionero: Let her 60"
| The horses of one of the windlasses
| began to move. the cable to unwind,
and Don Rafael, holding 4 torch
in one hand and with the other
steadying himself in his hanging
saddle. slowly descended into that i'm
mense black hole without observing
| that no sound whatever came from be-
low, nor that the face of the caionero be-
| trayed sinister smile when he saw him
going down.
Peril not only awakens instinct. but
enhghtens it. When Don Rafael found
himself suspended in that frightful
abyss, he suddenly remembered the
menace of Jose, comprehended that he
had acted inconsiderately. and that his
life was suspended by Il thread which
his enemy could cut at his pleasure and
dispatch him TO eternity without notice
and also without passport.
BY the reflection of the torch might
have been seen great drops of cold per-
spiration upon his brow, the convul-
sive tremor that agitated his members,