The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1893-07-07
EXCITING EXPERIENCE.
Sweying in Bucket -Four. Hun
dred Feet Above the Earth.

In Denver it was recently reported
that the Smuggler 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) l 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 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 at 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
passible. The bucket tram, he added,
was itself far from desirable method
of transportation and liable to try a
mans nerve pretty well, but if I would
undertake the trip he would accompany
me.
What could 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-
MED by Mr.. w. c. Green, who is con-
nected with the San Miguel Mining
company of Telluride, we started out.
The ride of two miles to Pandora was
most enjoyable, by reason of the ford
ing of innumerable streams which
crossed the road. Our horses displayed
wonderful sagacity in picking their way
through many treacherous 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
mense shute, my courage almost failed
me, but it required more nerve than
could muster to back out. | tried tC
appear as little disconnected as possible
while Mr.. Mansfield, who was to star
first, curled up in his little bucket
which was only large enoughSto holC
an ordinary-sized man in most uncom
Portable and cramped position. Th,
endless cable was then put in motion
and out swung the manager on his per
ilous journey, 1 cannot help thinlin,
how much more nerve he displayet
than either Mr. Green or /, but he hat
been over it before, and knew what wa
ahead of him. Three hundred feet be
hind Mr.. Mansfield's bucket came an
other, and into this climbed Mr.. Green
AS his bucket started up that incline
felt that l had lost my last friend, a
there was absolutely nothing left the
between me and comfort but disgrace
The men in attendance / saw wer
watching me, as was the first "tendeI
foot" who had ever undertaken tn
trip. Once more assuming courage
felt not, awaited my bucket smiling
ly When it came along was oblige
to remove my overcoat in order TO ge
in. Crouching down in a sitting pos
ture, tailor fashion, there was jus
room to stay in and that was all, an
with parting injunction to keep m
tail up the man in charge switched m
I on to the main line and / swung out c
the doorway fifty feet above the grount
The rate of speed was about two an
a half miles per hour, and the tots
length of the tram five thousand fou
hundred feet--a little over a mile. !
that mile, however, we had to rise or
thousand eight hundred and twent
feet--a little more than one foot
three. The endless cable TO which Il
buckets are attached passes overnume
I GUS tall wooden trestles, varying
height from fifty feet to one hundrg