The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-04
GHOSTS In COAL MINES.
DARK GALLERIES AND PASSAGES
WHERE SPOOkS WANDER.


supersiitious Miners-Ph"ntoms "hicn
Haunt .Disuscd Workings and Give
warning Of Impending Catastrophies.
The bituminous coal mines in the central
portion OF Pennsylvania differ radically
from the collicries ofthe anthracite regions,
for whereas the latter mines as rule con-
sist of deep shafts, from the sides and bot
toms Of which diyerge the tunnels or work
ngs. the former, on account OF the mour.
famous country and the nearness Of the coal
TO the surface, are rarely other than slopes,
"drifis" or '.banks," that Is. simply exca-
vatiOns in the hillside. extending under the
ground some times for miles.
After n mine has been worked for a few
years the earth becomes veritably honey
combed with galleries and passages, which,
being abandoned, are left open and I'M
marked, the operators relying upon the
miners knowledge OF the plans 10 prevent
their going astray. or even If workman
should get into an old drift his light would
soon show hun his error. Ii Is extremely
dangerous, however, even for an experienced
miner 10 attempt to grope his way into or out
of a mine without lamp, for he may UNI
consciously wander into side gallery, and
be led directly away from the desired point.
Happily for him If losing his way il attended
bv no serious consequences, for II Is by no
means unknown for persons straying into
disused galleries TO fall into shafts sunk for
testing the thickness Of the vein, and there.
far distant from human aid, perish from
| wounds or hunger. Another, and more
uncanny danger which encompasses the
wanderer i'm abandoned workings are these
galleries where the vein dips" that is, de-
scends in an Qblique direction into the earth.
| When the miners reach dip the down
ward course Of the vein il followed until II
again assumes horizontal position or 1t Is
demonstrated the dip is too deep to warrant
| further working. In the latter event tne
| excavation very quickly fills up with water,
and an eerie sensation steals over one VINO
gazes on one of these underground lakes OF
unknown deepness lying quiet and black,
| under the pickering tOrchllght.
| Working alone in the depths OF the earth,
| miners are Oftentimes extremely superstl-
| tiOus, and the recurrence of anything when
| they have learned to regard as an omen Is
| sufficient TO cause them to quit work.
| Strange sights and sounds are claimed to be
heard and seen by these toilers. lew
wears since an old trustworthy miner came
| from his working in one of the principal
collieries at noon and announced his inten-
| tion OF quitting work for the day. When
pressed for a reason he demurred at giving
| one. but finally stated that when hard at
work in new room, far distant from any
other chamber, he had heard the measured
tolling of a church bell. He was laughed
at. but persisted in going home, and subse-
quent events proved his good fortune IN so
| doing. for before night the entire gallery IN
| which he had been working caVed in. ana
q. Iv ,.ba thnf "a LARGO INN DgF
| of miners were not buried under the DIRT
and clay.
| Other mines nave the reputation OF being
| haunted, and there are disused workings
| into which the men could not be tempted 10
enter. Sometimes the phantom takes the
| shape Of an uncOuth beast, of which large
| fiery ewes cleaning through the darkness
| form the chief component part; IN DINERS
| the spirit OF some cOmrade miner, whose
| life has been crushed out IN one OF the ne
| duent casualties. stalks through the gale
ries pick i'm hand and lamp burning in hi,
can. Not sound does he make, but slowly
trayersing the main gallery he goes to the
point at which his body was found and dis
| appears. The news spreads through the
mine that old Jenny has been seen, and
with one accord the miners throw down
their tools and flock hOmeward TO escape
| the disaster the spectacle Is SAID 10
| betOken.
Sometimes these tales assume darker
| hue. It is related that in an old mine which
| had been worked for many years and which
was network Of tunnels, certain miner
met his death under heavy fall Of earth,
while his companion laborer was unhurt.
| At the time there was considerable talk OF
| the affair, and some limited darkly that per-
| haps poor Tins death was not accidental
after all. Nothing was done. however,
and the subject lost interest and died out.
| Tins fellow-miner, Jack. t0iled as of
yOre, but il was noticed he never
approached the spot where he had
| 80 narrowly escaped death, nor would
he traverse the galleries alone. One day
when he and n number Of others were work
ing together in "A new drift as yet not opened
far from the branch gallery connecting
| with the main tunnel their one large torch
| went out and they were left in darkness.
one of the oldest and most experienced
miners volunteered to 90 10 the nearest
working and relight the lamp, and the 9th
ers ceased toll and took the opportunity for
a few minutes rest. For a few seconds
after the footsteps Of their cOmrade died
| away none spoke. Then voice which all
recognized as Jacks broke the silence.
| There boys, there goes some one with "A
lamp. I'll catch him and get light" All
eyes were turned toward the gallery, but
nothing met their gaze. "lOu had better
come back Jack" one Of the men shouted
/ after him, but thinking that possibly he n al
seen miner pass the mouth of the room, no
further attention was given the matter.
A few seconds passed and suddenly a
hoarse yell Of terror burst upon the ears Of
the waiting men. Tim oh, God, Tim -
then silence, then another yell Of horror and
a sound as of "A heavy body falling into deep
water. Heavens, boys, Jacks tumbled into
the test hole" calculated one Of the men.
| Well knowing the uselessness Of starting In
quest Of the poor victim in the darkened
and indeed, quaking with inward terror. the
miners awaited the cOmingOi a light, which.
after what seemed to them an age, finally
appeared. The party FASTENED to the test
hole. pit sunk years ago in chamber lOng
dlsused, and there. floating on the surface OF
the wafer, twenty feet below. was the body
Of Jack. When brought TO the light Of day
"A sharp, deep wound on the miners fore
head showed death had been instantaneous.
| Orders were at once given 10 wall up the
entrance 10 the fatal chamber, and now its
very existence is unknown 10 the miners
| wnrEinu in the cOlliprY. - Plilaiel DlIl