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

gate in front of their cottage in a western
coal mining town one morning and Joined
the Tin Bucket Brigade" as the miners
were called, on their way to the works
His little sister Cora stood on the front
steps as 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 driver
in the coal mine; that is, he drove a mule
which drew the loaded coal cars from
where the miners worked to the mouth Of
the mine, where they were hoisted out at a
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 his life, and the boy had gone
down into the darkness and among the
mysteries OF the mine when lust old
enough to walk without assistance, and by
the time he 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
driver.
Tim was assigned to drive old Ned, n do
cile mule, which had spent the most of his
daylight life underground Ned was .
knowing animal and took kindly to his
new master Tim always had caress for
his four footed friend. A bit OF apple or
some other dainty morsel was Ned's daily
reward from Tim. In time the two became
SO friendly that there was no friction be
tween them, and the miners playfully
called them "T. & 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 fluttered 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
as he hurried along, not that he was not
lover of the beautiful, but his thoughts
were on subject which more directly con
cerned his welfare.
His father had been killed in a mine ac
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
he 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 to
shove back the lever and lower the cage to
the bottom Of the shaft hundred feet be
low, he heard some one inquire as to the
stage of the water in the river, which
flowed swiftly by 200 yards away Tim
glanced hastily riverward at the instant
the cage started downward and saw that
the water was almost to the top of the
banks Of the stream and was filled with
floating driftwood. Heavy fall rains had
set in a week before, and in consequence of
the great rainfall the stream was extremely
high.
| Without thought OF serious danger
however, Tim dropped foot after foot to
ward the center of the earth, with Ned
breathing softly on his neck as the two
stood crowded into the cage.
"Be quiet, Ned" commanded Tim, as the
animal manifested some uneasiness at the
sound of water dripping faster than usual
down the sides OF the shaft you are not
getting skittish in your old days, | trust" "
patting Ned on the nose. The animal
placed his head affectionately on Tins
shoulder and became quiet.
When the cage stopped at the bottom the
bars were lowered and Ned followed Tim
out. Tim had lighted a little tin lard oil
lamp, which he carried at the front of his
cap, before entering the cage When he
emerged from the cage he saw the lamps
Of many miners flashing about here and
there, like frefies before storm in sum
mer, as the men prepared to 20 to the vari
Gus departments Of the mine. He had wit
messed similar scenes many times before
and paid no attention TO them, but hitched
Ned to the train OF empty cars that stood
waiting, and with merry crack OF his
whip and a cheerful "G'long, Ned" went
rattling away over the steel rail track
Half dozen miners had clambered into
the cars with their dinner pals and the
tools which they had taken out Of the
mine the night before to get re-pointed
Tim was perched up on the head Of the for
ward car, and he had to frequently duck
bis head to avoid colliding with vel
known overhanging distractions.
After going a short distance Tom looked
into the car next to him, and observed that
It's occupants, two old miners, were dis
cussing something Of a serious nature
Thomas jenkins, the one nearest Tim, hat
removed his lamp from his cap and wa,
gently tapping the side Of 1t against the 10,
OF his shoe In order TO expose more OF tn,
wick 30 that the light would burn brighter
As the blaze aared up Tim could zee th,
faces Of the two men, and was alarmed Al
their seriousness He caught the wore
water" As be strained his ears 10 hea
what they were saying The rumble Of th,
cars and the many echoes bounding bacl
from the walls and the roof Of the min,
drowned the remainder Of the conversation
Tim had heard enough, however, TO max
him uneasy. The part Of the mine In whicl
he worked was almost directly under tn
bed Of the river There were many feet o
apparently solid sandstone between tn
water and the coal vein, but sometimes {
was feared that with high stage Of wate
in the river aud its consequent heavy pres
sure, an opening hssure might let th
water into the mine and drown all In
miners. besides running the property
The owners Of the mine. ~ order I
guard against such a catastrophe as muc
a. possible, had years before walled up th
entrance To that part Of the mine. leayin
only room enough for the cars 10 pa.
through. stout oaken door was the
hung 30 that 1t closed from the inside
which made that part Of the mine almo,
water tight and separate from the oth'