Telegram-herald., 1889-04-21

An Experience Which Proved
Nearly Fatal

An Experience Which Proved
Nearly Fatal
Some years ago business led me 70 visit
and examine number Of the silver mines
Of Peru, and at one OF these ! met with
strange and thrilling adventure.
had obtained the usual permission tode-
scend through tie narrow shaft down into
the dark bowels OF the earth, and miner
named Pedro had been sent 10 ue as L
guide.
merely glanced at tho fellow, IN his
coarse. close httng. dirty costume, with the
lighted lamp depeDdins from his skul-cap,
and then told him 10 lead the way.
l had visited 50 many mines ia my time
that looked for no novelty In the descent
WAS now about 10 make. The mouth of the
present mine was only some six or eight
feet Ia diameter, and the excavation was
3ut few degrees from the perpendicular.
For tho first two hundred feet our descent
was by cart hern stairs-or rather by a sue
cessiOn OF uOtchcs for our heels, cut Ia tho
soft, moist earth. Great care had TO be ex-
ercised 10 prevent our feet from slipping
for, If the foothold were once lost. it might
not be reganed, and the death IF the un-
fortunate Individual would probably be the
result, II not the destruction Of al before
nim.
On reaching the bottom Of the first shaft
my guide, who had not spoken since enter
ng the pit, silently m0ii0ned me 10 follow
him, and led the way through a broad,
winding tunnel, from which many others
branched Of IN different directions. These
were old veins, that had been first worked
and were now deserted, and presented moth
ing worthy Of my attention. AT length we
came 10 another shaft, more perpendicular
even than the first, and tho descent OF
which was by means OF ladders. but with
rounds so Old, worn and rotten that / was
fearful every stepwould give way under ne.
In tins manner. by easy stages, for we
found u resting level at every fiffy or
seveatv-five feet, we descended 10 "a depth
If perhaps five hundred feet below the sur
face Of the earth, and came upon the miners
actively engaged ia getting out the ore.
The scene thus presented, when witnessed
for the first time, has a strange effect upon
the beholder. aud if he Is not reminded Of
certain regions that shall be nameless, then
may we truly pronounce him deficient IN
hat species Of Imagination which Is the
most fed by superstition. Strange, hollow,
:rcaxing, groaning, rumbling noises come
rolling ia upon his ear from every quarter,
while ms vision is limited 10 walls and
gulfs Of biackncss, with here and there
small. mysterious light, ike an fglis fatlug,
moving slowly about, and perhaps family
revealing what seems 4 ghost. or human
shadow. with pale. Ebastly face, played
upon by the changing rays OF the swinging
lamp before IL, so as 10 make il appear dis
tOrted and hidcous.
Having spent some three hours in explor-
ing and examining the mine. and thus com
petod the business which took me down. |
set out with my guide 10 return TO the
word above During all the time he had
been showing me about from point 20 point
the fellow had been very quiet and polite,
speaking only when addressed. aud then
answering i'm br.ef. civil. pointed and IN
tellCeut manner. On our way up the lad
dcrs he cautioned me more than once 10 be
I careful o. my hold. and pointed out two or
three places where the rounds were more
than usually weak and rotten. l mention
4 these things 10 show how little | could
/ have been prepared Tor what followed
On reaching tho great tunnel. which
wound around 10 the base ~ the first shaft,
/ Pedro SAID. with polite bow:
III your worship VIII spare nc few
minutes OF your time. have something ]
would Ike 20 show you
"W nat Is iti'
Come and sec. -
"Is IT far"
Nothing OF vast importance should be
/ thought far was the cquivocal reply. 1t
is th sway pray follow mei'
Nv curiosity being little excited, re
/ joined IS went after him.
MAKE haste tnen. Pedro. Tor 7 am anx
,ous TO get io the fresh. pure ar above
Pedro quickened his pace. aul kept close
behind hun Turning here aad turning
there, ogt q one passage into another, th'
fellow continued walking rapidly for a.
+ least FIVE minutes hy wlIcA time had g.
completely beWll8ered. and feared he has
or would get So. At length. "a J was about
% remanstrsfe. he suddenly came 50 hal
upon the BRINK q what appeared 20 10
dry well. the mouth Of Which was sbru
fa.r feet iu diameter. and tho sides ln
oau.ag outs ward from the perpeujicslsr g.
tratfhe bottom ras hroaier tnan the fon
and toe entire excavation slightly conlca
IN form
sD1 vru =ae thisfT exc med Pedro
t.rri-r his black eyes FIJI upcn zee. " "a
q peculiar. s-uerng sort Il loes O
fr upa
t ser it yes we.A
nOf silver Seror ef silver IA hs
Fsrfare of e3i8. too. rr WHO knows
ANA taaa eteaz of tas dauas
ut sper. rs f-.s1s. Jess ths wzls Shouts
have ears
-If5u-t arfrrsfan8 rcr Pedro ssH
7. v-asr esf she fe. rF c-i mean.
War. a. gol nct sesl / a. nonar1l
1--.ff