Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1892-09-23
A SUPERIN IENDENT WHO
WAS FATHERLY AND
"SNOOTH.n
Dan De Quille in Denver Mining In
dustry.

Dan De guile in Denver Mining In
dustry
In after times, when all was
deep mining on the Comstoek, the
rowing, tricky fellows of the earlier
days were noted for soldering
They carried their tricks into the
drifts OF the lower levels and
managed to loaf four hours out OF
the shift of eight.
We had one mining superinteni--
ent, however, who was IA match for
them. On one occasion this
superintendent came upon a party
OF the soldiers" in an QUITO the
way drift IN his mine so unex-
pectedly that all were caught
sitting and lying about Being
always "fair," he said: Taking a
rest, my sons. Well, the rock
looks very hard" Taking a candle
he then pretended to be examing
the rock in the face OF the drift.
While he was thus engaged he
managed to smoke line across the
roof Of the drift, just at the face.
Yes, yes, the rock is terribly
hard" said he, as he replaced the
candle, "and it Is too bad, for we
can't expect to make much head
way, in such rock. Well it can't
be helped we must take things
as we find them in mining" and
he turned and marched back along
the drift.
What pieasant-spoken, good,
easy going superintendent be
seemed. When he popped in upon
them the soldiers" had been a
good deal alarmed, but az he took
his departure they fe,t quite at
ease.
The next day the superintendent
again made his appearance in the
drift, but the men had been on the
watch ior him aud were not caught
mapping. Taking a candle the
superintendent again examined the
face OF the drift and in doing noted
that it had not been advanced more
than a foot beyond the mark he
had made the day before.
"Well, well, SAID he, "the rock
is as bard rs ever, my children.
1t must be very hard work to make
any progress in such rock?'
40, yes. il is indeed" cried all
the soldiers.
Pm afraid it is almost too hard
for you," said the superintendent
-"I hardly know how we are to
get ahead with this drift"
80, we'll worry through with it,
sirl" cried all the soldiers"
"At easy going and fatherly as l
ever saw" said one of the men
when the superintendent left.
"Yes, we've got soft snap here"
SAID another and all hands became
very merry as they softly said to
one another-"The rock is hard as
ever, my children"
After leaving the drift, the super
intendent went at once to the sur
face in search of his foreman. As
soon as that officer was found he
said to him: "Do you know the
men who are at work in the old
drift north on the 1 200 level?"
"Yes, SIR"
"Well, they are not worth their
salt. Discharge every son of a-of
a gun Of ttem the moment they
come off this shift"
"Yes, SIR"
A day or two after the superin-
tendent saw one OF the discharged
men loafng on c street. Going
up to him he said in his soft kind
ly way. "How is this my son
how is it that l see you here? /
thought you were at work In drift
on the 200 level-the one where
the rock is 80 hard?"
rWell, Sir, l was at work there
until your foreman discharged me-"
WHAT Did my foreman dis
charge your Well, well, that is
just bis way. l don't know what
l am to do with foremen of mine.
II ! ever get q good honest, hard
man in the mine nv fore
man is sure to discharge HIM. Il
ain getting to be mere figure.
head about the mine," and scowl-
ing at the thought OF the way IN
which he was over-ridden by his
subordinate, the millionaire super
turned and strode away,
leaving the soldier" a good deal
coMsTocKER ON THE MINES OF
MAINE.
Some years ago they had min
ing excitement down In Maine, in .
copper and silver. Professor w. |,
Frank Stewart and a number of
)ther Comstook man went haok tn .