The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-30
IN THE SHADOW"
BY L. B. WILSON,

"Some time, Lizzie, will tell you
why work and why study so hard
Nothing more than this had evel
passed between us. From children
to the age of man and woman, Lizzie
Mason and l had been very, very
good friends. Her father had risen
from working miner to be resident
proprietor at the Etony Mine, and
now there was wide social gulf be-
tween US, for l and my brothers were
only miners who toiled in the pit;
Ned, the eldest, because he was too
old and steady for change; Dick, be-
cause he was reckless, didn't care, /"
but l only worked while had to, to
gain money for support while stud
led my chosen profession-civil en-
cheering.
Lizzie Mason was the prize hoped
to win. She knew it too, though
had never told her, and she was very
kind to me. All herlife long she had
entertained such a horror ofthe mine,
in sight of which she had been born
and lived her life that no persuasion
could ever induce her to descend.
One day, however, as I entered the
engine room to go below, found
Lizzie and her father standing there,
he with a note in hand.
"Here's David, said Mr.. Mason,
che can take you as we'll as l." and
then it was explained that the lady
expected friends to visit her who
would certainly desire to go into the
mine, and she wished to conquer her
repugnance and gain some knowl-
edge of it before accompanying
them.
Her father had proposed to take
her down in the pit that morning,
but at the last moment note re-
ceived called him away IN business.
gladly, eagerly accepted the pleas
ing task of conductor and instructor.
In a few minutes the rough overgar-
ments were donned, we stepped upon
the floor of the cage, and down the
black shaft into the darkness we
went; but caught at the last mo-
ment the words of some one calling
to the engineer that there was '1ots
fgas" too much last night in Har-
veysHole-a name given to a spot
where Harvey had been killed years
before. Hooked closely at my COM
panion and was delighted to see that
inexcitement and strangeness she had
not heard the remark.
Upon reaching the bottom of the
shaft I took lamp and together we
slowly made our way towards the
part of the mine where my brothers
were working, this was near the head
OF the gangway, point turthest
from the shaft.
We had just reached the 'sbreast"
and surprised Ned and Dick by our '
appearance when we heard smoth- !
cred roar. =
Every man of them knew what it |
meant, and the sight of our blanched I
faces told Lizzie that it signaled dan
ger, and that of no trifling character. I
Without word grasped [ ;zzie by
the arm and joined in the rush for the !
shaft. Before we ran far an old miner t
met and stopped us with news that
the shaft was furnace of fame and i
all the workings on the north side /
were on fire. s
Drawing as near to the shaft as we v
could, we found the blaze rushing up @
with the roar of whirlwind; great t
logs Of burning timber already were c
down and came bounding t
out of the fire towards us. k
Following my brothers, knowing "
well that escape was impossible until F
the fire had burned out or was sub 81
dued, I led the trembling girl back to
The spot from which we had started, fe
and there we men discussed, in whis- 81
pers, our chances for life, and how t.
quickly the fire could be extinguished, 81
To remain inactive was almost i'm e.
oossible and again we approach the W
'haft, only to find that the fire had
'pread several feet in our direction,
out still we hoped that when they be- az
ran to throw water into the shaft, it II
night be effective. The upward ey
lraught towards us was very slow, he
,ut the air became so heated that we bs
we're force to draw further and fur W
her back into the mine, the hot air in
the gas to ooze out of the +,
oal. ~
Again we turned to by brothers ~
Torking place. The food they had m
AIKEN down with them was, there, wi
nd Dicks whiskey bottle: the air al te
o was cool and fresh still, in COM hc
arison with that we had just been les
reathing near the shaft. to
With our coats we made cushion as
or Lizzie. Withdrew some feet from fo,
er. Ned and Dick lay down and
ept, and in silence and darkness we No
at there, / know not how long. Ht
Then Ned woke. I heard him NUT far
IT, "Eh! water!" and scramble to his at,
et. He called to Dick to wait and !
nd the lamp: they lighted it, for, ON
lough against rules, they had hr,
lenty of matches, and rushed off to 5 1a'
'e what was doing. Lizzie did not NC, ue'
love, and l remained at my post to "I
1ard her. ~
Soon they returned. The bosses - =
a top had stopped the pumps so as VIII wi
} allow the water to accumulate in IL
lie workings. Unfortunately. the ~
Dor of the pit below the shaft was "
CHER than the surrounding parts, ,nn
} that the water ran of, and was - -
st helping to food the mine, while ms, o1
e place whereon it was wanted re- ny
aimed uncovered.
Dick became restless and reckless can
Id, spite of our protests end en- mes
eaties, started off to find some was
her miners that we could make son
ar by shouting to them. Ned and put
hen set to work and made such a Ias'
Irrier with Jumps and and coal dust SUI
would, we thought, keep the tn e1
tier from reaching directly to US. VI
Every minute of idleness was an low