Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-11-06

nesh and bones there-only shadow, as it
were. He tusued round, and his face was
half gone ami his shoulder torn away
from a blast Blood was streaming from
the wounds. He then walked down the
incline, and melted into the vapors that
rise from the waters of the stump. The
next day John Owens slipped at that very
spot unable to hold on to the Shiny tim
bers and fell into the boiling water. ne
was cooked like a lobster.
"At times one hears strange voices. /
| Ghostly voices call to each other from DRIFT |
to drift; there are whisperings in the rocks
and terrible groans in the sides of the cross
cuts. In the Belcher once heard fear
full shrek come from the Wine 1t echoed
from drift to drift and startled everybody.
rushed to where the sound was, but there
was nothing. Bill Sharon don't dare to go
down the Yellow Jacket The last time
he did troop of miners sheeted IN naine
followed him along the drifts to the loot
of the shaft. He rushed to the cage IKE
mailman and rang for the quick hoist
When the cage reached the top he lay ON
the floor insensible. He never told what
it was, but know"
Thus the poor fellow would spend hours
he had encountered in the depths of the
great lode. Sometimes he worked under
ground. but he always seemed discomfort
ed. even morose, because it was no Longer
permitted to him TO grasp the lever OF an
engine. He felt a stain upon his reputa
ton. and looked hopefully forward TO the
2 fine when he could wipe t out.
The opportunity came. one night ne
r came into the South Consolidated works
{ and sat watching tbs machinery. sud
= denly he turned to the engineer and sad
~ hear the death moan on the wheels
Tom"
/. Had the engineer looked at Marks face
g masked in a horrible pallor, he would have
II indeed thought the man had heard a SOD
n from the grave. Mark bent his head a
futile lower and waited. Out OF the roar
Ii and rumble he heard only the death
moan. as he called IT, Suddenly the bell
re rang out so quick and sharp that ooth
% men were startled II WAS the signal OF
a danger and the quick hoist The Wheel
It began to whirl until the spokes mingled III
IL a maze. 4 moment later pun oil SMOKE
We drifted from the shafts mouth, ana then
ia shower of sparks The mine was on lire'
d. The cage came whizzing to the surface
he and crowd Of half naked men reeled on
ed bistercQ ana idi 9ViVe'tNtt
III dressipr rooms. The whistle Of the mini
ye sent forth a cry for help ana IA 4 leN ~
or onds more other whistles took up the or.
= ana beloved forth their hoarse notes, iron
on tbe North Consolidated 70 the BelcheI
n Scarcely was the cage emptied when thos
ia below signaled sharply for Il TO com
ia down II shot back into the depths Amos
I'd ~ fast as II il had been dropped 2
il cable touched piece of iron near th
he shelves. aud from the point Of conta'
he etreaued a line OF sparks. Another ohr'
mt ~ smoke came up the shaft, and a she'
I'd ~ aame followed for an instant. The TIN
hers became mass of fire. The holstlh
as works went like a finder box
,ed q,ba engineer must not only bring u
ned cage TO the surface, but must stop il Their
the The machinery was growing hot TO =
,ad touch The cage reached the bottom; th'
nd. came the signal to hoist. just as he !
.ap. versed the lever a falling timber knock
i'm him senseless.
the a dozen men spraug to the unmahh
one engine; but Mark was there irst ana pc
I. ing up the body AZ his feet he handed u
inc. the nearest two men as # II had neeh
the child and merely said, Take him away.
r is man close at his side leaned iorWa
He "a eyrasp the lever but he flung him ba
the into the crown = iittiN ~ p,
the them AN staggering away. Mark laid
his hand upon the lever, the first time IN 4
on years and grasped it with bis old ener!
The breath or hell was in his lace
cred world he Il long minute and hali peu
his tba CAGE reached the surface, where
md. ,,,,st nrevent its dreadful ascent into
bout asheayes His hand held the hles
lerv. dozen men He faced the fire like y
hing mnnder A cheer went up, and the 10
,cca- ~ red smoke covered him from sight.
+ the The cage reached the shaft s NOUN
ding ~ mon most of them insensibe as q
eath were dragged out. As Mark threw
little lever back TO its place and stopped the
cine the flames closed about HIM
nver- superintendent called ont;
dnot zone thousand dollars 10 the man
I've saves himf ,..a-
Ibove 4 dozen brave men had already star
write II was too late; the flames had o
very. yybelmed him Three days later he
ngine whose lives he had saved dug among
this ruius. Lying by the engine they ioGnu
mate J,.rr.3 remains. and stood BY thel
in ali y-bile with uncovered heads. Ihey
. and away the remains Of Mark Hayerly
S and box. and the next day 3OOO mouf
over ,,alsed behind the coffin. AS they pre-
and do,rn the earth over his grave ami q
: and tbe last sprig OF green down upon IT.
as we If the pall bearers remarked lhere
ogged pood leather in that man sam -
i that Collected Sketches.