The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-04-02
THE BURNING MINE.
A Story of the Famous Com.
stock Lode.

In the bonanza days of the Comstock
Lode, Virginia City, New, harbored
two populations, in many ways distinct
from one another. During the week
the steep streets of the little town, be-
ing on the mountain side, were thronged
with crowds of eager spectators, mine
owners brokers and business men. who
watched the bulletin board for the
latest quotations of the San Francisco
stock exchange, and in offices, saloons
and hotel lobbies discussed the mar
ket, and exchanged reports and ru-
mors concerning the condition of this
or that mine. On Saturday evening
the scene changed. Thousands OF
brawny miners then came up from the
deep workings for their one breath of
fresh air and day of leisure; and as the
greater number of these were Cornish
men, they gave quite new and for
eign aspect to the place.
Miners, whatever their nationality,
are superstitous. They live close to
nature in her mysterious moods, and
they acquire a peculiar tendency to
belief in the supernatural. Mines are,
at best, uucanny places, full of deep
shadows and corners of impenetra ble
obscurity: full also of queer echoes,
and the crealling and cracking of heavy
tim bers, and the rush or trip of water;
while in the deep workings, from one
to three thousand feet beneath the
surface of the earth, there is an ever
present sense of danger-danger from
the immense pressure of the superin-
cumbent mass of rock, and from fire,
which, once started in those labyrinths
of wood-lined passages, spreads with
such appalling rapidity as to battle
and defeat even the utmost precau-
tion and preparation. So it is that the
Comstock miners were given to super
stition. They had many legends and
traditions of fearful things seen in the
deep workings of spectral appear
ances, of mysterious voices, and, more
than all else, of supernatural warnings
and premonitions prefacing disasters
in the mines An interesting volume
could have been compiled by anyone
frequenting the favorite saloons of
these honest, old-fashioned miners, for
'on Saturday nights they were in the
habit of swapping yarns" and the
story to be told here is one which was
many Il time told over pipes and
glasses, on these festal occasions.
John Treloar and James Pennart
were employed in the Yellow Jacket
mine, and being close friends, they
had arranged SO as to be in the same
shift-a term nearly equivalent to the
sailors watch at sea. Treloar was
IL. II. \ e L.
full, handsome man OF thirty, known
and liked for his constant readiness to
befriend his comrades. He was brave
and gentle, modest yet resolute; man
of action, yet at the same time a man
of sentiment. His chum, Jim Pennart,
was FIVE years his junior, and con-
trasted with Treloar in many ways
He was physically robust, but of lighter
frame, good looking honest, frank, but
possessing less decision and timidity
that was almost morbid Pennart had
an intellect above the merely bodily
toll by which he gained a living. He
had managed to educate himself par
TALLY, and knew enough to be dissatis-
fled with his position in life. He was
not considered selfish, but his was one
of the natures which are formed to
absorb rather than to dispense trust
and affection. John Trcloar's loving
friendship was poured out upon him,
and he accepted it as IA perfect matter
of-course manifestation. Had the OPP
portunity occurred he might have
proved capable of self-sacrifice; as it
was he seemed merely to let himself
be loved.
Now these two friends did what has
severed many friendships; they fell in
love with the same woman. Alice Min
ton was not Cornish girl but of
American parentage and born in Cali
fornia. Left an orphan without means
in her sixteenth year, she had quite
naturally taken to teaching, and had
presently obtained position in one of
the public schools of Virginia City,
through the interest of au old mining
friend of her father. She had met the
comrades, Trcoar and pennart. at o.
bali where both had danced with her.