The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-30

long as he could. ard then WITH a lossx
inspiration DE- plunged into that wall ~
smooth ana CLASSY woter and began his
slrussie for hfe- 10 was an awful walk
The water entered his ears and sang ugferd
songs. gorgeous fireworks flashed before
his eyes. and h. was dazed and staggered.
but be- kept on steadily. Al FIRST the boy
90 his back struggled madlv but soon
became stun and hung limp and appar-
entlN llelcss. To him that desperate
struggle seemed journey OF years. but
just as be was giving up the night his head
emerged from the inky water and hs
preathed again a minute more and ha
stood upon comparatively dry ground The
Boy. after the proper means Of resuscita-
ZION were applied. regained consciousness
ami recovered
Several years ago. while working IN
inc srrlng Valley Drift mine Va Eutte
county. ] met with an adventure which
may have been responsible FOR a long Pc
Rod of il health that followed.
The SPRING Valley drift mine was what
miners call bad hole. There was only
one way OF entry and exit-down a deep
shaft, through "a long tunnel. and then 10
AN inclined shaft 100 feet, and from the
Top OF This shaft 90 any OF the gangwayF,
which radiated from IL like the sticks OF a
tan- To- the Inclined shaft was a chute.
into which the gravel brought fnom this
ganswa1s TIA cars was dumped.
The tracks OF the gangways were laid
with a heavy grade, and the cars were
supplied with strong brakes. Sometimes
"a brake would wear out. and then the
car would Zoe run into one of the numerous
side drifts. Sprayed and the brake
sent 40 the shop for repairs. 4 few iron
cars were used, but the most OF them
were wooden affairs. very large. and when
Wen soaked with water all that two men
D. aafsH
One night-it was about 1 A. m.-the No.
gang. with which / was working. was
putting in a set OF tlmhers. An AK was
needed, ana the boss said TO me; Some
body's stole our dog; go down to number
6, look IN the side drift there. and see II
you can't find dog there"
took nay candle and went. No. s
gangway was 800 feet away and II hap
pened that there was a very small force
az work That night. Nos. 5. G, Z. and
were empty. and the men working In ].
3, and ] were long distance from No.
o. Just as / reached No. drop
OF water fell upon the flame OF
my candle and eXtinguished II. l felt
Ia an my pockets for matches but could
lind none. / was perfectly familiar with
the interior of the mine, and | was suro
that N there was am ak. or dog" as Wa
called IT, In the short side drift I could
find 90 TN the dark by feeling for Il. 40
went on.
was STOPPING and feeling with my
hands.w ! came In contact with the
end of a wooden ear. and felt IT move
toward me. 1 threw my weight against
it.. but ~ continued to move down tho
track. which was unusually steep. l tried
vainly to check 90. If ] let it so II would
rush into the gangway and plunge into
the chute, and cause no little amount OF
trouble and expense. Gradually the car
and I worked down from the drift i
couldn't stop that car 1 CROPPED under
and around a., hut the brake had been
removed For mere than two hours
pushed and groped. and swore and hal
Iced for assistance, and then, worn out
and aching In every limb and bone, |
gave up the fight. jumped to one side
OF the track, and said:
"Now, go IT, Confound you; 80 it,
And the car went about foot There
was something lying on the rail thai
stopped IT, ! went back TO my gang and
told the boss about a. lie said II didn't
matter but ! had better take light and
see that the car was securely "spragBed.'
went back and there was no car on the
track. There was no evidence OF car
ever having been there. Greatly annoyed,
] went down 10 the top of the chute. Tho
chute was fun Of dirt, but no signs Of y
car having jumped into u We're visible.
More puzzled than ever I returned TO the
side drift of No g. There was no car
there either But standing on end against
a bulkhend which had been built against
the face of the drift. was an old car truck
with one pair OF wheels near the bottom,
and hanging downward from a crack in
the timbers was a thin. sprngy board.
had Numbered against that board, and ia
the darkness had imagined II was a car
The wheels on the old truck had strength
ened my belief and for more than two
hours / had pushed and sweated and
groaned and shouted and endured agonies
Of suspense.
7 went back and told the boss that the
car was secured. and thanked fortune
that nobody had come TO my assistance.