Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-19

day. Foreman Carruthers took the en-
Qlnecr's place. and under Instructions
from Mr. Harmon the empty cage was
slowly lowered down the shaft. At
point midway between the top and the
f'rst level the cage halted. The rope,
which was being slowly paid out, cciIed
on the top Of the cage. II was evident
that the cage was being held by the
buiging sides OF the shaft. With weisht
In the cage and terrific rate OF speed
applied the cage could pass the obstruc-
ton offered BY the shafts toAering
walls, and only by recourse TO THIS
method could the descent be made.
An order was then given 10 hoist. The
rome strained and crcaked, but the cage
refused 20 bulge. The steam pressure
was Increased. with the same result.
Finally the utmost capacity OF the en-.
ginc was exerted. and the cage bounded
to the surface.
you'd better get that pump out OF the
mine n YOU want TO save it, remarked
AIR. Ruttmnn 10 Superintendent Carnegie
shortly afterward.
"Why?" asked Mr. Carnegie.
"Because the mine is going TO Ill In
nretty SOON" said Mr.. huffman.
The next day, when the mine was
visited n portion of the shaft had given
way Fortunately. no one was IN the
mine at the time. Escape would have
been impossible. The entire trouble was
due 20 the method In which the mine
was worked by the Carnegie company
after II had failed to purchase the mine
or secure an extension OF the lease. In
cutting drifts in all kinds OF mines,
portion Of the mineral is left standing
10 support the walls. In sinking the
shaft care is observed in leaving heavy
lining OF the mineral in the shaft The
EXPERT opinion on the condition OF this
mine was that the ore most easily OBJ
iained had been seized at the points
where II should have been undisturbed
to secure safety to the mine. This Is
known In mining circles as "robbing" the
mine.
SUED BY THE CARNEGIES.
As result OF the evidence otained the
mine-owners refuse TO purchase the ma
chinery put In by the Carnegies, and
which they would have done had the mine
been in satisfactory shape. the Carne-
gies sued. and the Virginans filed a cross
suit for damages aggregating the value
OF the machinery and slS,WV addiuonai.
The case was tried In Charlottesviiie.
None of the Carnegie firm appeared 10
testify, but n deposition by Mr.. III. NJ.
Curry. n stakeholder In the Carnegie con-
Germ. was filed. Engineer Ruttman APP
peared for the mne-owners. and the jury
returned a verdict IN favor OF the mine
owners for 1880
president Harmon, Foreman Car
ruthers. and I testified" said Mr.. Rutt-
man recently. "Mr. Harmon testified as
TO the business relations and alleged that
the Carnegies, in weighing the ore 10
determine the royalty. made returns or
greater percentage Of moisture than ac-
tually existed. Foreman Carruthers tes-
titled as TO the condition OF the mine.
and repeated some singular conversations
he had overheard.
"As for my own testimony continued
Mr.. Pullman. my report 20 President
Harmon was offered In evidence, but
objection was made and sustained by the
Judge. Later ] was permitted to refer
10 the report and eventually read 1t in
court. In response to question regard
Ing my opinion as TO the method In which
the mine had been worked, l testified
that Il had been 'coyoted.' as they call
IL out West. In other words. the Carne-
cies had endeavored TO obtain all the
ore they could, without regard TO the
safety Of the mine. | also testified that
II was either a disgraceful lack of proper
engineering or a case Of deliberate wreck
ing for some Interior purpose. Practically
the same language was employed by the
present Senator Martin. of Virginia, in
summing up
The Carnegles appealed from the YER
dict Of the Circuit Court OF Albemarle
county, Va, and the case Is expected
TO come up within the next few days.
In the mean time they have made sew
eral offers TO secure another lease, but
the mine-owners Insist on the mine being
worked 70 the extent Of an arbitrary out
put. This has been refused. Since the
closing of the mine the Carnegies have
obtained manganese for their armor
plates from Germany and Cuba. Among
the local stockholders of the Virginia
concern are Jefferson NJ. Levy. of No.
80 Nassau street. and Isaac Rosenwald,
president Of the Southern National Bank.