The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-07
RuaIEp IN A cAYlNa NINE.
The Professor Relates His Experience and
Strange Rescue.

Strange Rescue.
"Some Of you gentlemen were asking
about that stuffed rat in my room, said
Professor Churchill the mining expert at
the Montana club, THE story concerns an
experience that made my hair curl. I was
once retained 10 report upon the workings
Of a mine called the Little Whoop Up in
southern Arizona. On an adjoining claim
was another mine called the Atlas A dis
pute arose. The Atlas people claimed that
the lower tunnel Of the WhcoD Up had been
bored into their groUn& and q half million
in ore taken ont. The first thing 10 do was
10 take a survey Of the WhOop Up, and Of
course the Whoop Up people objected.
Finally an order for the survey was se-
cured from the court, and Dr. John X.
Parks and were sent 20 make the survey.
There are tricks In all trades, and the
Whoop Up superintendent knew a few.
When We reached the mine, he said that
the tunnel we wished 10 explore was in n
dangerous condition. There had been q
cave, the timbers we're rotten, and so on.
It meant 10 70 chance that we would
be crushed II we tried it. OF course we
classed him as liar, though he turned
out 20 be right,
eve worked our way IN the tunnel mn
Ill we ran against jam Of fallen timbers
which were sound and were plainly ar
ranged 10 stop our progress Parks went
back for an ak, while J worked at The roof
with pick to dislodge the centerpieces.
] succeeded and had climbed half way over
into the other side Of the tunnel when
there came terrific crash Of loose ore from
the roof, It fell On both sides Of the tim
bers, pinntng me In hole which would
have been a grave right there but for q
few sticks which held the mass Of ore
above The place was barely large enough
20 move In, and I knew IT. was certain
death In few hours unless Parks could
dig me cut Even then believed / was
gone, for did not know how much GRE
had fallen In few minutes the air got
heavy, my eyes began TO feel drowsy, and
it seemed like the roof and sides Of the
hole were closing n on me This oppres-
sion and drowsiness increased until was
forced 10 hammer tho sides Of tho place
with my fists and head 10 keep awake.
Still not sound could hear from the
outside and only the slow crumblng of
ore from above The foul air was getting
into my brain, and think | was actually
insane with the fearful dread Of being
buried alive. Anyhow / remember drop
ping to the floor Of the hole and giving a
few faint shouts, which were echoed back
into my ears had given up all hope aud
was almost swooning when ! heard a
strange scraping sound above me. Iycllcd
but received no answer; agd then threw
my body against tho walls and tried tc
pick out the orc from between the lodged
timbgs. Still came the queor soFapinp
noise, which scanned 10 come nearer mud
sounded not unlike the steady grinding oi
a saw. II seemed TO last for hours, though
it could hardly have been minute after
when bit of larth dropped to my feet
from the upper end Of the wall and along
with it came big gray mine rat, who
saved my life, for he left a clear hole fol
his trail, and through ii came breath oi
fresh air that gave life 10 me, The fellow
had bored his way from tho shaft side Of
the cave,
"Istaid there two hours after that nm
til Parks found tho cave, got help and got
me out without breaking the airhole.
caught the gray rat, too, and kept him
well fed until he died and wouldn't take 9
lot of money for his skin now" New
York Sun.