Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-05
"T. & N"

His little sister Cora stood on the 'front.'
stems as long as she could see her brother
and waved her plump hands after him.
He looked back occasionally and threw
kisses to her.
Tim was fifteen years old and was driver
in the coal mine; that is, he drove a mule
which drew the loaded coal cars from
where the miners worked to the mouth OF
the mine, where they were hoisted out at
shaft. then run down long incline to the
river, where the coal was loaded into
barges by means of tipple.
Tins father had worked in the mine
nearly all his life, and the boy had gone
down into the darkness and among the |
mysteries of the mine when just ola
enough to walk without assistance, and by |
the time he was twelve years old he was
familiar with all parts OF it.
At the age of thirteen he was anxious to
earn something to assist his father in sup
porting the family, and after much plead
ing his father permitted him to become a
driver
Tim was assigned to drive old Ned, do
cile mule, which had spent the most of his
daylight life underground. Ned was a
knowing animal and took kindly to his
new master. Tim always had a caress for
his four footed friend. A bit of apple or
some other dainty morsel was Ned's daily
reward from Tim. In time the two became
so friendly that there was no friction be-
| tween them, and the miners playfully
| called them "T. & N" Tim got hold of
some brass tacks one day and drove them
| into Ned's harness in such way as TO
make these characters appear in bright
| letters.
As Tim clattered along that morning
on his way to the mouth of the mine the
sun was Just rising. 1t was early in Octo
Der and the surrounding hills were re-
splendent in their fall attire. Now and
then a red leaf dropped from among its
fellows and fluttered to the ground in the
calm atmosphere. The sun was out in all
= its splendor that morning. the first time
for several days.
Tim did not notice the beauties of nature
as be hurried along, not that he was not a
lover of the beautiful, but his thoughts
were ON subject which more directly con
cerned his welfare.
His father had been killed in a mine &C
: cident a few months before, and Tim felt
the responsibility of the support of his
mother and sister resting on his young
shoulders He desired to attend school
and acquire an education which would fiji
! him for higher duties in life, but at that
] moment the outlook was decidedly gloomy
for our young friend. Hecould not see how
he could accomplish that which he desired
as the support of the family depended al
most solely on his labor.
When he reached the mouth Of the mine
Ned was backed into the cage and Tim fol
lowed and put up the bars While waitin
for the man in charge Of the machinery I
shove back the lever and lower the cage t
the bottom Of the shaft hundred feet bt
low, he heard some one inquire as to tn
stage of the water In the river, whic
flowed swiftly by 200 yards away. Til
glanced hastily riverward at the instar
=, the cage started downward and saw th'
- the water was almost TO the top of Il
- banks of the stream and was filled wit
~ floating driftwood. Heavy fall rains ha
~ set in a week before, and In consequence
=, the great rainfall the stream was extreme
40 high.
40 Without thought of serious DANCE
he however, Tim dropped foot after foot
ward the center of the earth, with NJ
or breathing softly on his neck as the tv
stood crowded into the cage.
Ia "Be quiet, Ned" commanded Tim, as q
H. animal manifested some uneasiness at d
sound of water dripping faster than usu
down the sides of the shaft. "You are n
:, getting skittish in your old days, trust
patting Ned on the nose. The amin
nc placed his head affectionately on Tin
OF shoulder and became quiet.
When the cage stopped at the bottom {
lid bars were lowered and Ned followed Ii
out Tim had lighted little tin lard {
ed lamp, which he carried at the front of
X. cap, before entering the cage. When
emerged from the cage he saw the lam
of many miners flashing about here a
there, like firefies before a storm in SUI
ISIS mer, as the men prepared to go to the va
IL GUS departments Of the mine. He had W
'n) messed similar scenes many times befC
me and paid no attention to them, but hitch
Ned to the train of empty cars that sto
waiting, and with a merry crack of
whip and a cheerful "G'long, Ned" we
,s. rafting away over the steel rail tra'
av Half a dozen miners had clambered il
al. the cars with their dinner pals and
tools which they had taken out Of
20. mine the night before to get re-point
en-: Tim was perched up on the head Of the [
ward car, and he had to frequently du
w his head to avoid colliding with "
VT known overhanging distractions.
~ After going a short distance Tom lool
az into the car next to him, and observed &
al it's occupants, two old miners, were
cussing something Of a serious matt
], Thomas jenkins, the one nearest Tim,
removed his lamp from his cap and '
an gently tapping the side Of 1t against the
Isl OF his shoe In order to expose more Of
:, wick so that the light would burn brigh
As the blaze fared up Tim could see
Ter. faces of the two men, and was alarmed
en-; their seriousness. He caught the W
water" as he strained hSs ears to
1t d what they were saying. The rumble Of
cars and the many echoes bounding b
,an, from the walls and the roof Of the II
- drowned the remainder OF the conversat
seL Tim had heard enough, however, to m
him uneasy. The part of the mine in wi
Ell, he worked was almost directly under
bed OF the river. There were many fee
rick apparently solid sandstone between
zen; water and the coal vein, but sometime
to,s was feared that with a high stage Of W
Inc. in the river and its consequent heavy !
sure, an opening assure might let
nell water into the mine and drown all
miners, besides running the property.
ne4 The owners of the mine, in order
,ot< guard against such catastrophe as m
as possible, had years before walled up
use. entrance to that part OF the mine, les'
only room enough for the cars to
lots through. A stout oaken door was
10 hung so that 1t closed from the ins
r. which made that part OF the mine air
an. water tight and separate from the o
marta ~ the NINA Z an arrapnq