Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-05-26
vt. & NJ


were called, on their way to the works
his little sister Cora stood on the front
steps a. long as she could see her brother
and waved her plump hands after him.
He looked back occasionally and threw
kisses to her.
Tim was fifteen years old and was a driver
In the coal mine; that is, be drove a mule
which drew the loaded coal cars from
wnsre the miners worked to the mouth Of
the mine, where they were hoisted out at
SHAFT, then run down long incline to the
river, where the coal was loaded into
barges by means Of tipple.
Tins father had worked in the mine
nearly all bis life, and the boy had gone
down into the darkness and among the
mysteries OF the mine when Just old
enough to walk without assistance, and by
the time be was twelve years old he was
familiar with all parts of it.
At the age Of thirteen he was anxious to
earn something to assist his father in sup
porting the family, and after much plead
ing his father permitted him to become a
driver
Tim was assigned to drive old Ned, do
Gle mule, which had spent the most Of his
daylight life underground. Ned was a
knowing animal and took kindly to his
new master Tim always had a caress for
bis four footed friend. A bit OF apple or
some other dainty morsel was Ned's daily
reward from Tim. In time the two became
20 friendly that there was no friction be
tween them, and the miners playfulIy
called them 1T. & n" Tim got hold Of
some brass tacks one day and drove them
into Ned's harness in such way as to
make these characters appear in bright
letters
As Tim clattered along that morning
on his way to the mouth of the mine the
sun was just rising 1t was early in Octo
Der and the surrounding hills were re
| splendent In their fall attire Now and
then red leaf dropped from among its
fellows and futtered to the ground in the
calm atmosphere. The sun was out in all
Its splendor that morning, the first time
| for several days.
| Tim did not notice the beauties OF nature
a. he hurried along, not that be was not a
lover Of the beautiful, but bis thoughts
were on subject which more directly con
cerned his welfare.
His father had been killed in a mine &C
cident few months before. and Tim felt
the responsibility OF the support of his
mother and sister resting on his young
shoulders. He desired to attend school
and acquire an education which would fit
him for higher duties In life but at that
moment the outlook was decidedly gloomy
for our young friend. Hecould not see how
be could accomplish that which he desired,
as the support Of the family depended al
most solely on his labor.
When he reached the mouth of the mine,
Ned was backed into the cage and Tim fol
lowed and put up the bars. While waiting
for the man in charge OF the machinery tc
shove back the lever and lower the cage tc
the bottom of the shaft hundred feet be
low, be heard some one inquire as to the
stage of the water in the river, which
flowed swiftly by 200 yards away. Tin
glanced hastily riverward at the instant
the cage started downward and saw thai
the water was almost to the top of thu
banks of the stream and was filed will
floating driftwood Heavy fall rains bar
set in a week before, and in consequence o
the great rainfall the stream was extremel.
high
Without thought Of serious danger
however, Tim dropped foot after foot to
ward the center OF the earth, with Me-
breathing softly on his neck as the tw
stood crowded into the cage.
"Be quiet, Ned" commanded Tim, as tn
animal manifested some uneasiness at tn
sound of water dripping faster than usua
down the sides of the shaft. "You are no
getting skittish in your old days, trust,
batting Ned on the nose The anima
placed his head affectionately on Tim
shoulder and became quiet.
When the cage stopped at the bottom tn
r bars were lowered and Ned followed Til
out Tim had lighted little tin lard o.
llsmp. which he carried at the front of b
cap. before entering the cage When h
3 emerged from the cage he saw the lamp
Q of many miners flashing about here an
/ there. like frefies before storm In sun
e mer. As the men prepared to go to the var
o gu, departments OF the mine. He had wi
nessed similar scenes many times befol
and paid no attention to them, but hitche
a Ned to the train of empty cars that stoo
> waiting. and with merry crack OF b
vhip and a cheerful sc long, Ned, wei
rattlins away over the steel RAN trac
Half dozen miners had clambered IN
Y thu cars with their dinner pals and q
v tool. which they had taken out OF q
3 mine the night before to get re-polnte
e Tim was perched up on the head OF the &c
u ward car, and he had to frequently du'
" his head to avoid colliding with We
If known overhanging distractions
II After going a short distanc. Tom look'
4 into the car next to him, and observed tn
A it's occupants, two old miners, were u
ar cussing something OF serious haeu'
a Thomas jenkins, the one nearest I'm Ii
y removed his lamp from his cap ana
lie reutly tapping the side OF 1t against the
n Of his shoe in order to expose more OF
wick so that the light would burn oriSnt'
"A the blaze fared up Tim could see
faces of the two men, and was alarmed
Of their seriousness He caught the VIC
e Hv,tern a be strained his ears to hs
ee ~h.t they were saying. The rumble oil
II. cor, and the many echoes bounding oa
he from the wallAsnd the roof OF the mi
10 drowned the remainder Of the conversau'
he Tim had heard enough, however to ma
as him uneasy. The part of the mine IN wnl
ee n. worked was almost directly under
IL h.d Of the river. There were many feet
of srr.rsntly solid sandstone between
20 vatsr and the coal vein, but sometimes
rs. feared that with high stage OF wa
in the river and its consequent heavy pl
sure. an opening assure might let
as water into the mine and drown ali
he miners. besides running the property
in The owners of the mine III order
ed .nsrd against such catastrophe as IN
tn as possible, had years before walled up
ot Entrance to that part of the mine, leav
les onIy room enough for the cars to
in through. A stout oaken door was
Si HING 40 that 1t closed from the ms
MS which made that part of the mine ain
ST. water tight and separate from the OF
nsrts of the mine It was so arranged
he Greater the pressure against the q
ad - .sr,htar 4, fitted. A large well was