The morning call., 1891-12-29
A THRILLING STORY,
Experience of a Miner Shut Tn
in a Mine for Ten Days.

Editor Morning CAL: On Monday night,
December 14th, David Fraser, miner, left
his home in Georgetown, FL Dorado County,
where his family reside. taking with him
provisions sufficient TO last several days,
and started for his mining claim at what is
known as Cement Hill, about two and a
half miles north of the town. His wife was
in the habit Of sending him fresh supply
of bread and cooked meats every week and
having them left at his cabin, near his min
ing claim, Mr.. Fraser being irregular in his
time of returning home. So a week after
his departure the customary supply was
prepared, and carried by a neighboring
miner, who left it on table in his cabin.
This neighbor. n Nr. Jacob Robson, hav-
ing occasion subsequently to visit Mr.
Fraser, called at the cabin on Wednesday,
the 23d inst. and seeing the provisions
which he had brought still lying on the
table, naturally concluded that something
wrong had happened to Fraser, A little
further examination showed that the pro-
visions which had been taken to the cabin
the previous week still remained safe and
untouched in chest. Upon making in
curry II was ascertained that no one had
seen Fraser for several days.
Procuring the assistance of George Cooley,
miner who was working iii the neighbour
hood, Mr.. Robson proceeded with his COM
panlon to make an investigation. Taking
with them lantern they entered the tunnel
in which Fraser worked. This tunnel has
bedrock entrance extending about 800
ieet before the deposit, which runs diagon-
ally across the hill, is met. From this
point drifts. croSscuts and tunnels run in
every direction, with occasional eXcavated
chambers Of twenty and thirty feet in
diameter till the full width of the channel
IS reached, making a main tunnel from the
entrance to the extreme end in a compare
lively straight line of over 1000 feet. 1t
was at the extreme END of this tunnel that
Fraser worked with a rocker.
lie had drilled two holes preparatory to
setting off blasts, and started to 20 TO the
place, some twenty feet distant to obtain
the powder to charge the holes, when he
accidentally knocked over his candle ex-
tlnguishlng the light He had forgotten to
take his matchbox with him, and upon
endeavoring to ignite some loose matches
which were IN his pocket he found them to
be wet and his efforts to strike a light were
in vain. He then started for the exit, and
after crawling on his hands and knees
about 400 leet over masses of fallen cement
and stone which had fallen from the roof of
the tunnel and chambers, he reached spot
from which the main tunnel, if properly
followed, would have taken him TO the en-
trance. Missing his way, however. he fell
into a stump about three feet deep, which
was partly filled with water.
Crawling out OF this he again started
for the exit, but, In his bewildered state Of
mind, he wandered around until he again
fell into the stump. BY this time he was thor
ouEhly chilled through, besides which his
strength deserted him aud in an exhausted
condition lie crawled about aimlessly. For
ten days and nine nights the poor fellow
CROPPED about in utter darkne in this king
Soiomon'S Nine" with nothing to eat exec;
an occasional nbble of the partly burned
candles which he had placed in his pocket.
When found he was about 1900 feet
from the entrance, in a byway, and about
400 feet from where he had been at work.
The first giimmer of the lantern, Fraser
alleges, was TO him like the Christmas Star
Of Bethlehem, and made his heart swell with
joy that he was saved. His mind was
wandering, and during its temporary aber-
ration, he INDUCED in the most vivid imagin-
ingS. He APPEARED to be never alone, but
the companions who were working with him
were Frenchmen and he could not converse
with them. The moon and stars appeared
TO be shining brightly, and he wandered
through velvetv lawns, covered with fra
grant flowers and shaded by majestic oaks,
while brass band discussed sweet mu-
sic. He IS now rapidly recovering his
strength, and with ordinarily good luck Will
be at work again in few days. Mr.. Fraser
has been miner for thirty years.
G. w u