St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-08-26

Prank L. Stanton. in Washington Home Mag
Axine.
EXCITING EXPERIENCE.
Swaying In q Bucket Four Hun
dred Feet Above the Earth.
In Denver il was sreccntly reported
that the Smugglcr mine, of Telluride.
Col, would close down, owing to the low
price of silver. This being one of the
largest producing mines of the state.
the natural inference was that many
of the men employed therein would
leave the country. In behalf of my
company (the Rock Island) / started
for Telluride, on the Rio Grande South
ern railway, and arrived at my destina-
ton Wednesday evening. Mr.. n. T.
Mansfield, manager of the Smuggler,
in his cozy little Office that night, told
me the company had decided upon q re-
duction of wages instead of closing
down, and that word had been sent TO
the mine that day, but the mems answer
had not yet been received He further
told me that Mt this season of the year
there was but one way to get to the
mine, and that was by taking the buck
ct tramway, as the trail was covered
with snow and ice and practically inn
passiblc. The bucket tram. he added,
was itself far from q desirable method
of transportation and liable to try .
mans nerve pretty we'll, but If would
undertake the trip he would accompany
me.
What could a man say to proposition
of that kind but "Yes?' Accordingly,
bright and early the next morning,
which was one of the fairest and beauti-
full have ever seen in the mountains
horses were in readiness and, accompa-
nied by Mr.. w. c. Green. who is con-
nectcd with the San Miguel Mining
company Of Telluride, we started ont.
The ride of two miles to Pandora was
most enjoyable. by reason of the ford
ing of innumerablc streams which
crossed the road Our horses displayed
wonderful sagacity in picking their way
through many q trcacherous spot
Arriving at the foot OF the tram and
getting faint idea of what was ahead
of me. seeing the buckets coming down
hundreds Of feet above us and discharg-
ing their cargoes of ore into the inn
snense shutc, my courage almost failed
nae, but it required more nerve than
could muster to back out tried to
appear rs little disconnected as possible,
while Mr.. Mansfield, who was to start
first, curled up In his little bucket,
which was only large enough to hold
an ordinary-sized man in q most uncom-
Portable and cramped position. The
endless cable was then put in motion
and out swung the manager on his per
ilous journey. cannot help thinking
than either Mr.. Green or /, but he had
been over it before, and knew what was
ahead Of him. Three hundred feet be-
hind Mr.. Mans6cld's bucket came an
other. and into this climbed Mr.. Green.
As his bucket started up that incline
felt that had lost my last friend, rs
there was absolutely nothing left then
between me and comfort but disgrace.
The men in attendance ] saw were
watching me. ss was the first ''tender-
foot" who had ever undertaken the
trip Once more assuming . courage
felt not. awaited my bucket smiling
". When it came along was obliged
TO remove my overcoat in order to get
In. Crouching down in sitting pos
ture, tailor fashion, there was just
room to stay in and that was al. and
with parting injunction to keep my
tail up" the man in charge switched me
on to the main line and swung ont Of
the doorway fifty feet above the ground.
The rate of speed was about two and
! half miles per hour. and the total
length Of the tram five thousand four
hundred feet-a little over . mile. In
that mile, however, we had to rise one
thousand eight hundred and twenty
feet-a little more than one foot in
three. The endless cable to which the
buckets are attached passes over numer-
pus tall wooden trcstles, varying in
height from fifty feet to one hundred
md sixty, and placed at irregular in
kervals wherever the formations of the
mountain will permit The height Of
The cable above the ground increased
With every turn Of the wheel, and Is
at there with eyes glued upon the two
preceding buckets and not particularly
anxious in the first few minutes to look
1own or around or anywhere else ex-
,ept above me. began to realize that
The twenty minutes necessary for the
Journey were going to Be mighty long
oneA
On and on We went and up and mp until
here came in sight yawning under me
! terrible gorge. crossed by . single
,pan Of the cable over Loo feet in
ength and 600 feet above the ground
Even this would not be SO bad were It
not that the next tower in front Of me
vas $50 feet higher than the spot from
which was getting my iirst view.
There ahead Of me were the two
buckets containing Mansfield and
;rcen, and Is pulled myself togethcr.
70 take every sdsantage Of
- g.ossous view wAieA uow upesea