Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-05-25

that it was in good working order He
had become imbued with the fear Of i'm
7 pending danger and Ned, too, glanced
from side 10 side as he hurried along. He
also occasionally snorted his disapnroval
All the forenoon the empty cars were
| drawn in and the loaded ones taken out
/ with the regularity Of clockwork. Tim
and Ned had been ut that work so long
that each knew exactly what to do
| Overhead the river rumbled and roared
/ Inch by inch the water climbed the banks
and carried away the newly fallen leaves
or whirled them off into little eddies, but
/ Tim knew nothing of what was going on
outside. The owners Of the mine watched
/ the rapidly rising waters with apprehen
sion. The river was higher than it had
been for some time and they feared for the
safety Of the men hard at work beneath the
raging waters. A consultation was held
and it was resolved to call out all the
miners and laborers at l2 o'clock. AT II
O'Clock an order was sent down for every
man in the mine TO come out at noon and
bring their tools with them. The order
was obeyed with alacrity. A few minutes
( to II the tools were piled into empty cars
and the men filed from the river division
and went toward the bottom of the shaft
to be hoisted into the bright sunshine and
safety.
Tim was the last, and was about to 60
| with the train partly loaded with tools
when he thought of his dinner pail, which
he had left behind. He jumped down and
ran back fifty yards to get it, When he re
turned Ned was paving the ground impa
tiently. The lights of the departing miners
danced about in the distance as Tim sprang
to his place behind Ned
Suddenly there was a deafening roar
Everything seemed to tremble for a second
Ned reared and plunged forward. Just
then large fiat stone fell from the roof,
filling the cars with broken stones and
knocking Tim to the ground, where he was
held fast by something across his lower
limbs, His light was dashed out by the
fall. AT the same instant Ned tore loose
from his fastenings and plunged away in
the awful darkness
Tim screamed for help but the sound of
his voice was drowned by great noise
which seemed to fill the cavity about him
At first small stream of water poured
down on hlm. 1t grew in volume every
second. Tim tugged and twisted to get
out from under the weight that held him
fast. His most violent efforts were fruit
|
he did not succeed in getting out, for he
realized that the long dreaded moment had
arrived when the river was breaking into
the mine, He raised his voice again and
again for help, but the only answer he
heard was millions of echoes.
Just as he was about to resign himself to
his fate he felt warm breath on his face;
Ned had come back Tim reached up and
clasped his faithful friend tightly about
the neck and cried out, Back, Ned, back"
For second he thought his arms would
be pulled from his body and at the shoul
ders, Then he felt himself drawn slowly
forward, and it seemed that his legs would
be broken as they slipped from among the
stones that held him to the ground The
instant he was free Ned bounded away be
tween the rails with Tim still hanging to
his neck and his body swinging back above
the animals hoofs
BY this time the water was coming down
In a stream foot in diameter and growing
larger every moment.
AT the door to the department Ned stun
bled and threw Tim to one side, which
caused the animal to swerve near the wall
In some way one trace chain caught In the
handle OF the door and closed Ii with
bang which wedged IL between the door
posts as Ned dashed on with his human
burden toward the bottom OF the shaft.
All was confusion there. The most able.
bodied were hurrying up the ladders, as
general alarm had been sounded when the
roar of water was first heard. Ned stopped
with snort and with his eyes cleaning
In the darkness with excitement Tim
dropped Imply to the ground, but was
hastily picked up and carried to the cage
Ned backed into his accustomed place, and
the signal was given to hoist away. The
machinery was started and few seconds
later Tim and Ned were safely on top OF
the ground. All the miners were out in
short time.
Tim was unconscious when he reached
the surface and was carried out into the
fresh air, Ned followed closely and watch
ed the movements OF the men with as great
anxiety as a dumb brute could express.
In short time Tim opened his eyes, and
In turning his head to one side he saw Ned
The animal crowded up at n signal from
Tim and received the caresses lavished on
him In way that would lead one TO be
lieve that he knew all about what had
happened and realized that they had had
very narrow escape
Tim and Ned never went into the mine
again. The accidental closing Of the door
had prevented the greater part OF the mine
from being flooded, and thereby great
deal Of valuable property was saved.
As mark Of gratitude the mine owners
provided for the Seasongood family and
sent little Tim to school lie acquired
good education, aud reaching manhood
he embarked in business for himself
He is now one OF the honored and pros
porous citizens OF that locality.
Ned was given the best OF care, and
passed his remaining days in frolicsome
idleness. He was frequently visited by
Tim, and II was no uncommon sight to see
the two standing out In pasture, with
Ned resting his head on Tins shoulders
and eating dainties from the hand Of his
best human friend When Ned finally
went to his last reward he was carefully
buried by Tim
At the head Of the green mound was
erected headstone, on which was cbiseled
the words
:'''''''''''''''''''..'.'''
NED.
KINDNESS TO DUNN BRUTEs Is ALWAYS
REWARDED.