The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-06-07
BURIED IN A MINE.


mining region of Pennsylvania, and
was induced to pay them visit While
there | was asked to descend into one OF
the most famous mines and see how tho
hard, black fuel which affords us such
grateful sensations on cold winter night
is procured from the bowels of the earth.
Now have strong natural desire tC
see everything new and strange; but then
am also very cautious, and do not care
to put my life in peril merely to crafty
my curiosity, so | hesitated and reflected
o little before | answered:
Il should like to see the miners at
work, if it could be done without risk of
life"
A pretty, bright blue eyed young lady
who was present, and to whom | had
taken great fancy, burst out with a
ringing laugh.
Surely you are not afraid, Mr.. Ma
ples?" she exclaimed, with mischievous
twinkle of her blue eyes that did more to
urge me on than the arguments of all
her relations could have done in month,
for no man likes to be thought a coward
in the presence of beauty.
Il certainly would not like to be con-
sidered afraid, Miss Stuart. merely be-
cause | have repelling sense of dan
ger!" replied Surely you do not think
it necessary for man to be foo!hardy in
order to prove that he is not a poltroon?
believe every one is in some degree
afraid when he sees danger, but some
people are gifted with the faculty of see
ing danger where others do not"
"And sometimes where it does not
exist"
ut may be-"
"And you possess that gift largely. .
she laughed
NAY, Miss Stuart; you hardly do me
justice at least claim to be reason
able In the case of mining coal, neither
you ner any one else who is familiar
with past occurrences in the mines can
truthfully declare that there is not all
the time danger down in those dark and
awful depths, and that every one who
descends thither, be it for minute or a
month. carries his life in his hands,"
"Well. at least am not afraid" she
rejoined. somewhat boastingly; "and !
have been down there as many times as
am years Old
"A matter of nineteen?" observed.
Exactly nineteen" she smiled.
well. then. make it twenty and !
will accompany you," said
Agreed" was her proud response
The instant she said this experienced
a strange sensation, like presentiment
of evil. and | would gladly have had my
promise unspoken. But it was too late
for me to think Of changing my declara-
ton, even had the danger been a thou
sand times more apparent, for am one
of those stubbornly firm individuals who
always live up to my given word, let the
consequences be what they may; and so
we prepared ourselves, and went down
into the mine-a party of four of US
two gentlemen besides myself, and the
lady have mentioned.
The descent for the first two hundred
feet was in a large bucket, lowered by a
windlass: and do not think that any
one for the first time ever yet took that
plunge into the awful abyss of darkness
and mystery without an inward shrink
ing akin to horror, however careless and
Indifferent may have been his outward
assumption.
One of our party, who was connected
with the mines and was to act as our
guide on the present occasion, carried a
Davy lamp fastened to his cap, and by
this feeble light we could dimly see each
others faces and the black, damp walls
which surrounded us as down, down,
ever down. we kept sinking deeper and
deeper into the bowels of the black pit,
well knowing that the slightest accident
might land us, suddenly on the shores of
eternity.
The two gentlemen and myself looked
grave, as became the place and the &C.
casion; but pretty Sibyl Stuart was full
of talk and animation. rattling on from
one thing to another. never seeming to
care for reply. but apparently satisfied
to hear the sound of her own voice. Was
she really needless of any possible dan
ger. or was this light chatter done to
cover serious fancies and misgivings? !.
could not believe the words came from a
heart as light and free as they seemed to
represent.
Reaching our first landing, we began
our exploration through long, dark gal
ieries. where every here and there a
heavy prop supported the rocky roof,
with the thin layer of foundation sup
ported in turn in the same manner, still
below us. tier on tier, so that the yield
ing of any weak spot far down in those
awful depths might precipitate thousands
Of square feet into one shapeless mass
and bury us forever from human sight.
Still as there was no more danger ap-
parently of this occurring now than at
any time within the past twenty years,
there was no good reason for my taking
the subject into consideration, except
that of my being still haunted by that
presentiment of evil. of which ] have
spoken.
Our guide led the way to some NOV
ing lights which we could see sparkling
in the profound darkness. and we soon
found ourselves at the top Of another
shaft, where another descent of a hum
dred and fifty feet was made in bucket;
after which followed some rough climb
ing over rocks and assures, with here
and there descent by ladders. which
proved both precarious and tiresome.
till at last we stood upon a ledge from
which. hundred Saet 'still below Va we