The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-06

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was feared that with high stage of water
in the river and its consequent heavy pres
sure, an opening assure might let the
water into the mine and drown all the
miners, besides running the property.
The owners of the mine, in order tt
guard against such a catastrophe as much
as possible, had years before walled up the
entrance to that part Of the mine, leaving
only room enough for the cars to pass
through. A stout oaken door was ther
hung so that it closed from the inside
which made that part of the mine almost
water tight and separate from the Other
parts of the mine. It was so arranged thai
the greater the pressure against the door
the tighter it fitted. A large well was the1
drilled into that department from the sur
face, which was carefully eased, so that
the air might escape in case the water eve,
broke in without breaking down the pro
tecting wall. This proved to be a wise
precaution.
AS Tim with his train rumbled past thi:
door he involuntarily glanced at it to see
that it was IN good working order. He
had become imbued with the fear Of i'm
pending danger. and Ned, too, glanced
from side to side as he hurried along. He
also occasionally snorted his disapproval.
All the forenoon the empty cars were
drawn in and the loaded ones taken out
with the regularity Of clockwork. Tin
and Ned had been at that work 80 long
that each knew exactly what to do.
Overhead the river rum bled and roared
Inch by inch the water elm bed the banks
aud carried away the newly fallen leaves
or whirled them off into little eddies, but
Tim knew nothing Of what was going on
outside. The owners of the mine watched
the rapidly rising waters with apprehen-
sion. The river was higher than it had
been for some time and they feared for the
safety of the men hard at work beneath the
raging waters. A consultation was held
and 1t was resolved to call out all the
miners and laborers at IL o'clock. At II
o'clock an order was sent down for every
man in the mine to come out at noon and
bring their tools with them. The order
was obeyed with alacrity. A few minutes
to IL the tools were piled into empty cars
and the men filed from the river division
and went toward the bottom of the shaft
to be hoisted into the bright sunshine and
safety
Tim was the last. and was about to go
with the train partly loaded with tools.
when he thought of his dinner pail. which
he had left behind. He jumped down and
ran back fifty yards to get it. When he re-
turned Ned was paving the ground imps
tiently. The lights of the departing miners
danced about in the distance as Tim sprang
to his place behind Ned.
Suddenly there was a deafening roar
Everything seemed to tremble for second.
Ned reared and plunged forward. Just
then large fat stone fell from the roof,
filing the cars with broken stones and
knocking Tim to the ground, where he was
held fast by something across his lower
limbs His light was dashed out by the
fall. At the same instant Ned tore loose
from his fastenings and plunged away in
the awful darkness
Tim screamed for help but the sound Of
his voice was drowned by great noise
which seemed to FIJI the cavity about him.
At first a small stream of water poured
down on him. 1t grew in volume every
second. Tim tugged and twisted to get
out from under the weight that held him
fast. His most violent efforts were fruit
less. He knew that his time was short if
he did not succeed in getting out for he
realized that the long dreaded moment had
arrived when the river was breaking into
the mine He raised his voice again and
again for help, but the only answer he
heard was millions of echoes.
Just as be was about to resign himself to
his fate he felt a warm breath on his face;
Ned had come back. Tim reached up and
clasped his faithful friend tightly about
the neck and cried out, "Back, Ned, back "
For a second he thought his arms would
be pulled from his body and at the shout
ders. Then he felt himself drawn slowly
forward, and it seemed that his legs would
be broken as they slipped from among the
stones that held him to the ground. The
instant he was free Ned bounded away be-
tween the rails with Tim still hanging TO
his neck and his body swinging back above
the animals hoofs.
By this time the water was coming down
in a stream foot in diameter and growing
larger every moment.
At the door TO the department Ned STUN
bled and threw Tim to one side, which
caused the animal to swerve near the wall
In some way one trace chain caught in the
handle of the door and closed it with a
bang which wedged it between the door
posts as Ned dashed on with his human
burden toward the bottom of the shaft
All was confusion there. The most able
bodied were hurrying up the ladders, as a
general alarm had been sounded when the
roar of water was first heard. Ned stopped
with a snort and with his eyes cleaning
in the darkness with excitement Tim
dropped Imply to the ground, but was
hastily picked up and carried to the cage
Ned backed into his accustomed place, and
the signal was given to hoist away. The
machinery was started and few seconds
later Tim and Ned were safely on top Of
the ground All the miners were out II a
short time.
Tim was unconscious when he reached
the surface and was carried out into the
fresh air. Ned followed closely and watch
ed the movements of the men with as great
anxiety as a dumb brute could express.
In short time Tim opened his eyes and
IN turning bis head TO one side he saw Ned
The animal crowded up at a signal from
Tim and received the caresses iavished %
him in way that would lead one 70 De-
lieve that he knew all about what had
happened and realized that they had had
very narrow escape.
Tim and Ned never went into the mine
again. the accidental closing of the door
had prevented the greater part Of the mine
from being flooded, and thereby a great
deal OF valuable property was saved.
AS a mark Of gratitude the mine owners
provided for the Seasongood family and
sent little Tim TO school. He acquired q