The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-09-14
HERolsM an A MINE.
How william Hardy Saved the Lives
Thlrty-Fivo Mon.


How william Hardy saved the Lives Of
Thlrty-Five Mon.
Mr.. Scott. the district superinteud-
emit. decided to drive an air-hole and
passage way for the Elmwood colliery.
which is near Mahanoy City, begin
ming at an old breast, No. go. and
reaching surface about one-half mile
from the colliery. They expected the
opening to be in swamp near branch
of the railroad. They began in the
breast and dug upward for about
seventy-fve feet, when they struck q
layer of fiat rock overlapping each
other, which the workmen thought
was an old drift. They stopped work
and reported to the superintendent,
who sent Mr.. William Hardy, fire-boss
at that time, and two men to sec what
was the real cause OF the block.
They stopped in small digging and
began removing the fiat stones which
fell down the old gangway. They then
came to another layer, which looked as
if worn round by the action OF the
water, and water began to percolate
through. They had barely time to get
to place Of safety when the water OF
a branch of the North Mahanoy Creek
broke through and rushed down the
air-hole, carrying with it rocks and
stones and all the loose debris to be
found on the way.
Hardy and his two men who were In
another old breast to the east of No.
60 started for the main gangway. the
rotten props giving way to their
grasps and their feet slipping on the
broken steps. When they reached the
bottom they found that the water had
rushed down with such force that II
had nearly blocked up the gangway.
The men had their choice to go on and
try to save the men working east Of
them or to save themselves. Mr.. Hardy
sent one man up to the colliery to In
form the inside boss of their danger,
while he and the other man clambered
over the blockade in order to save the
men.
They found themselves in deep water
and. stumbling, fell, putting out their
lights, but they picked themselves vi
and hurried on. When they reached
the first turnout Mr.. Hardy called
MEN, run for your lives to the head
ing, the water has broken inr' He or
dered them all to stay in the heading
until he warned the rest
They kept ON wading through thu
black water and warning the men a
fast as they could reach them. Whel
within one hundred yards of the fence
the water climbing higher and higher
Mr.. Hardy's companion, thinking i
useless to go farther, sought the head
ing fifty feet above. and Mr.. Hard!
was left alone in darkness with thu
water up to his waist. but he struggled
on till he had warned the last man ant
gotten all together Ia the heading
above, where they found the stream
blocked their way. He then counsele,
the men to make themselves as com
Portable as they could. and II the mine
were flooded and the water began +
reach the breast, they would try. b,
joining hands to leap across the stream
But before that was necessary tn
water was turned of from above b
men sent from the colliery. Rope
were lowered and the men hauled u
through the hole that the torrent ha'
made, every man, thirty-five in mum
Der, owing their lives to the courage Q
Mr.. Hardy.-Cor Philadelphia Press
So rl:~L CL:.~nS Aus..~os