The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-16
A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
The Miner Who Was Shut Up in
Nine for Ten Days.
From the San Francisco Call

Nine for Ten Days.
From the San Franoisoo Call
On Monday night, Dec. IA, David Fraser,
a miner, left his home in Georgetown, Fl
Dorado county, where his family resides
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 a fresh supply of bread and cooked
meats every week and having them left at
his cabin, near his mining claim, Mr..
Fraser being irregular in his time Of return
ing home. So week after his departure
the customary supply was prepared and car
ried by neighboring miner, who left it on
a table in bis cabin.
This neighbor, a Jacob Robson, having
occasion subsequently, TO visit Mr.. Fraser
called at the cabin on Wednesday, Jan. p,
and seeing the provisions which he mad
brought still lying on the table. naturally
concluded that something wrong had hap
pened to Fraser. A little further exami-
nation showed that tie provisions which
had been taken to the cabin the previous
week still renamed safe and untouched in
chest. Upon making inquiry it was
ascertained that no one had seen Fraser for
several days
Procuring the assistance of George
Cooley, q nicer who was working in the
neighborhood, Mr.. Robson proceeded with
his companion to make an investigation.
Taking with them a lantern they entered
the tunnel In which Fraser worked. This
tunnel has bedrock entrance extending
about 800 feet before the deposit, which
runs diagoDally across the hill. is met. From
this point drifts, crosscuts and tunnels run
in every direction. with occasional exca-
waited chambers Of twenty and thirty feet in
diameter till the full width Of the channel
is reached, making 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.
He had drilled two holes preparatory to
setting Off blasts, and started to go TO the
place, some twenty feet distant. 70 obtain
the powder to charge the holes, when he ac-
cideDtally knocked over his candle, ex-
tlnguishing the light. He had forgotten to
take his match box with him and upon en-
deavoring to ignite some loose matches
which were in his pocket he found them to
be wet, and his efforts to strike light were
in vain. He then started for the exit, and
after crawling on his hands and knees about
400 feet 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 filed 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 sump By this time he was
thoroughly chilled through, besides which
his strength deserted him, and in an ex-
hausted condition he crawled about aim
lessly. For ten days and nine nights the
poor fellow CROPPED about IN utter darkness
in this king Solomon's Nine" with moth
ing to eat except an occasional nibble of the
partly burned candles which he had placed
in his pocket. When found he was about
1900 feet from the entrance, In q byway,
and about 400 feet from where he had been
at work.
The first glimmer 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-
alton he INDUCED in the most vivid imags
inings. He appeared to be never alone, but
the companions who were working with
him were Frenchmen and he could not con-
verse with them. The moon and stars ap.
peared TO be shining brightly and he wan
dered through velvety lawns covered with
fragrant flowers and shaded by majestic
oaks, while a brass band discoursed sweet
music. He Is now rapidly recovering his
strength, and with ordinary good luck will
be at work again in few days. Mr.. Fraser
has been miner for thirty years