St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-01


1t was. when described in words. to
begin at the left-hand branch of the
t. and cut a straight tunnel out to
daylight. 1t would be no longer than
the other, and if we met with no great
obstruction it would be two or three
feet shorter. 1t was long past noon be-
fore we reached this decision, but be-
fore going to work we took solemn
VOW to share and share alike as to work,
rest and the provisions. There were
two wheelbarTowS in the mine. and we
had plenty of room behind US to store
the dirt. L was TO have charge of the
provisions, and l made an estimate
based upon an Imprisonment of ten
days. The only articles that could come
under the head of provisions were the
butter and the milk. There were two
pounds of the former and two quarts of
the latter. We hadn't an iota OF biscuit
or -four, and, like all other miners, were
hearty eaters. Every man i'll our camp
had at least two pounds of meat a day,
TO say nothing of bread. butter, pOta-
toes, beans. coffee, rice and other things.
We were thankful, however, that it was
no worse, and about 4 O'Clock in the
afternoon we began work. The tunnel
was not to be so high or wide as the
other. but only large enough for US to
squeeze through.
To follow US through each hour of
the next several days would be tire
some. When we had cut into the bank
two feet we found big bOwlder and
had to turn it. Then we found a solid
ledge and were brought to a standstill.
For the first four days we worked
twelve hours day. Then, as we be-
gan to grow weaker, we decreased the
hours to ten. We are not as sharp-Set
for food as might have been expected.
This was probably owing to the con-
finement. If we had had powder. fuse
and drills. we could have made fair
progress through the rock, but as 1t
was we had to use the chiSel. Ratchet
and the picks. On the fifth day of our
Imprisonment we had progressed only
four feet, while [ had estimated at the
outset that we would be halfway out
For a meal each man had dab of the
butter aud about teaSpOOnful of the
milk. but after the fifth day we had to
reduce these rauons. Believing that
we would be reduced to eXtremities we
them into strips. washed and scraped
the fragments, and then buttered them
and laid them away.
The eleventh day we had progressed
only nine feet, ana each one of US had
become SO weakened that no one could
handle the pick about quarter of an
hour before being obliged to rest. Our
lights had gone out the second day, and
we had worked in darkness most OF the
time since. By untwisting rope and
using a little of the butter we had made
toy torch, but this we lighted only at
rare intervals. For the first three days
we were ali unusually talkatiye; after
that each one grew Sullen and mOrOSe.
| had no fault 10 find with either of my
companions, but l simply didn't care to
speak TO them. After supper each
one bunked down where he pleased
without good night" and at next
morning we came together without
word.
1t was on the fourteenth day that we
had recourse to the leather, and for dill
uer each man had piece about an inch
square. We chewed it as one does
Quid of gum, and it tasted as good to me
as the best of beefsteak | ever ate.
When we knocked off that night we had
progressed thirteen feet, and now had a
put US in good spirits. and, after sup
per, l heard Deans voice for the first
time in four days. He suddenly said:
"The Lords ways are full of mystery.
If He SO elects we will be saved. l am
going to ask him to restore US to the
world"
He prayed aloud for five minutes,
and as he prayed felt my heart grow
lighter and the feeling of moroseness
go away. We began to talk in cheer
full strain, asking how each other stood
1t, and | have always believed that
that prayer was the turning point in our
situation. [ had resolved that very
afternoon not to do another stroke OF
work, being clear discouraged; but now
| would have been willing to labor half
the night. To show you how queer
human nature IS under certain cireum-
Stances,l will relate that all of a sudden
Hart broke out with:
Say, boys. l want you to promis me
something"
''Well?''
when we get out [ am to have six
big crackers and four slices of pork
fried brOwnp'
As true as 1 live we refuse to promise
him! The idea that he was to have
such meal as that, or even the thought
L
agree to it.
We had gone down 10 the block three
or four times day, always hoping to
hear something from our friends out
side, but the report has always been the
same-nothing new. We felt sure they
would try to reach US, and, as they had
everything TO work with. we couldn't
understand the delay. We were all
pretty cheerful on the fifteenth day, but
after that we relapSed into the old mood,
and had nothing TO say. On the nine
teenth day our tunnel measured twenty
five feet in length, but we had then be-
come so weak that we could hardly lift
the tools to strike a blow. That night
| served out the last of the leather, and
l told them il was the last as l handed
each man his bit in the darkness.
Heaven help us now" groaned Hart
as he fell to weeping.
Man! Mani We are in the Lords
handS.' ended Dean. I'VE can surely
keep up for three or four days yet, for
we have the rubber boots left.''
Next morning we did not go to work.
l was so weak that l fell down as | got
on nay feet, and the others did not even
attempt to rise. On this morning mono
of us felt hungry. and 1 reasoned then 1
that the end was near. So did Dean, and
he said:
Comrades. help will come, butt will
come too late. We shall be dead by to-
morrow. Let us make our peace with
God"
I seemed tc fall asleep again after
that, and when [ next opened my eyes
| saw lights and strange men. and heard
strange voices. Help had come, and it
had come in time. Our rescuers had not
come in through the block, nor had they
connected with our tunnel. They had
tuuneied in to strike the right-hand end
of the IT. and. though working night
and day, had met with many Obstruc-
tons to delay them. We we're at once
carried out, but it was a full month be-
fore any of the trio could. again lift a
pick. Dean lost twenty -eight pounds
in weight, Hart lost tWentv-siX, and