The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-25
CHAPTER X.
THE OLD PIT BOTTOM,


Hugh Eastwood was leaning against
the wall OF the high archway of brick,
which gave entrance to the Wood Pit
Seam. Suspended on hooks, at differ
ent points in the walls, were great
torches, which gave out flaring red
flames, and lit up somewhat dimly the
huge cayernous tnnnel called the pit
! eye,
The hour OF six a, IN. had just arrived,
tho golfers and their drawers were all
away to their working places the da-
tallers were standing in groups at the
nit bottom awaiting orders, the hook
er-on" was busy with the lads who as.
sisted him in arranging the rows OF full
and empty wagons, and the last eagelgll
of men had just reached the landing
plates.
Out Of the cage stepped Luke Benion
the underlooker, and Dick Graham, one
OF the fireneR. With them were two
others, and as they made their way to-
wards the cabin, Benion's eyes fell upon
Hugh Eastwood as he lounged there
against the brlckwork OF the archway.
"HulIo, Hugh, is that theeT the
underlooker cried, genially "What art
doin' here so late%
"Ah'm waiting 10 so up" Eastwood
made answer.
"How's that? somethin' wrong with
your place? Fallen up, suppose"
"Its not that, My drawer hasn't
come an ! couldn't get anybody to
draw for me-"
Hugh, II yo' want to work ah dersay
ah con manage to find yo' q days
detallin'."
"A'reet, ah'll wait" said Eastwood,
and he followed the underIooker to-
wards tho cabin before mentioned.
In the course OF five or ten minutes,
the day-wage men were sent to their
work in different portions OF the mine,
and then Luke Benton told Hugh East
wood to come into the cabin.
"We'ye just started, Hugh" said the
manager, addressing the stalwart col
ler, who stood at the other side OF the
table, "to clear up the bottom OF the
ovid Dingle Pit, and that's where ali
want yo to 60. Some o the datallers
are off work, and ali want yo' to take
charge of the job to-day. All suppose
yo'll go?'
Certainly" was Hugh's answer
"Ah'd rayther do anything than go
back this monin'."
"Thats rect, then. Some OF these
datallers will go with thee to draw and
pack dirt. Dick, here"-turning to abe
tireman-"will show yo' the way
through the ovid Always"
Ten minutes afterwards Eastwood
| and two other miners, accompanied by
the fireman, Dick Graham, were pro.
ceeding along the disused galleries in
the direction OF the old Dingle Pit,
which lay in the valley on the other
side Of Gale Wood. II
Although the Wood Pit and the Din
gle Pit were only hall mile or therea-
bouts apart on the surface, the distance
one was compelled to travel under
ground in order to get from one pit 10
the other was over twice as lengthy,
owing to the tortuous character OF the
passage.
Only those who are familiar with old
diaused mining galleries can thorough
" comprehend how difficult it is to
travel along them. They are usually
very low-so low indeed that one has to
crawl on the hands and knees FREE
quently; they wind in and out like q
maze, and the broken roof, "rating"
sides, and heaps OF debris render the
passage, not only arduous, but often ex-
ceedingly dangerous.
II took the miners close upon an hour
to reach the scene of their days labor,
and after indicating the work to be
done the fireman went away, promising
to return for them when it was time
for them 10 cease toiling in the alter
noon. low ls
There is no need to dwell on the de.
tails OF that days work underground.
Hugh had been placed in charge OF the
other two men, and his work consisted
OF filling the small dirt carts with the
loose rocks and rubbish OF all kinds
which had been permitted to collect at
the bottom OF the old pit in the course
OF five and twenty years.
Hugh and his comrades worked away
until MONDAY, without anything OF an
unusual nature transporting. But i'm
mediately after the dinner hour had
elapsed and the three men had resumed
work, Eastwood made most remarka-
Bile discovery. t.i
Withdrawing his spade from out of a
heap OF loose dirt into which he had
thrust it, he noticed peculiar shaped
mass upon it which, upon examination,
proved to be handbag OF stout brown
leather.
With a low exclamation Of surprise
he threw down his spade and took the
bag into his hands. 1t WIS in good
condition still, although it was evident
from the position in which he had un.
earthed 1t that it must have hpen
buried for long period.
The porLmanteau was locked, and its
weight testified that 1t was we'll filled
with something or other. What its
contents might be he could not even
conjecture. Placing the bag on the
ground he looked around for some i'm.
PIGMENT which would enable him TO
force it open, and his eyes fell upon the
heavy double.headed mining hammer
which rested against tho side Of the
road.
lie seized the tool and was raising it
to burst asunder the lock when tho
sound Of wheels running upon rails
caught his ears, and turning instinct
lively no saw that one Of his workmdtes
was approaching with the empty dirt
cart.
He hurriedly placed tho. handbag
aside and cast his cont over IL. and then
he turned to his co-worker with an i'm
passive face. They exchanged few
words, rested n minute or two, one sit
ting on the full cart tho other on the
empty one; then the man went nlong
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