The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

ore. Ed Thomas went down in the bucket
first with the picks and shovels, and foil owed
afterward with enough food to last us for two
SQUARE meals, so as not to lose time coming to
the surface AS l stepped in the bucket Bill
Bradley, who was at the wndlass, looked at
me in sort of sickly way. | asked him If he
felt bad He assured me he would be all right
in little while, but that he was weak at the
stomach l told him not to work unless he
conld handle the windlass in good shape. oh
never mind me, Harry; IL be all right IN a
few moments. Pile in there and let me drop
you down.
"With some little fear got In more to satisfy
him than myself Slowly the bucket began to
sink but when got about half way down the
rome stopped and my descent continued in
Jerks Before / knew it the jerks became more
frequent, and | knew the windlaEs-nandle was
getting away from Bradley. / looked up
through the mouth CT the shaft and to my hor-
ror saw the spindle stop short a second and
then whirl off the coil OF rope like lightning.
Down. down, down went, and the hmbers
swept up past me with rush tried to warn
Thomas OF my coming, but my tongue stuck to
the roof OF my mouth as though it had been
riveted there. Although my flight down the
shaft could not have lasted more than two
seconds it seemed age. Ny candle went
out and the blackness of eternal night en-
veloped me. 1 felt the bottom of the bucket
crash into something that sounded like the
cracking OF a human skull, and a groan
struck upon my ears the blackness became
heavier and felt my head being torn from my
body Then | forgot everything.
something was dripping on my face. tried
TO lift nv hands but could move neither of
them. Where was /? I seemed to be lying on
I, md 81 no nj yet 1eftr
eyes could see far above me the light OF day.
Drip drip, drip. 1t continued to fall. In a
short time l was able to discern an object
hanging over the edge of the shaft. / tried
and finally succeeded in collecting my thoughts
and then the terrible fall the crash of bones
and the groan all came back to me. looked
again toward the cape OF daylight over me and
made out the head and shoulders OF what
afterward proved 20 be the body OF
Thomas Then | thought it all out.
The windlass handle had escaped him and
must have struck the unfortunate man on the
head Drip, drip, drip. 1t was coming at
longer intervals BY this time l was in full
possession of my senses. Drip, drip. Ough-
it was Thomas blood. Drip, drip. A long in
terval again. Drip. Presently it ceased.
sThings we're becoming clearer to me.
gained a little strength, and finally released
one of my hands from a weight that rested
upon it, felt around and my fingers came in
contact with something clammy. l was able
in a few seconds to define a face. What
a shudder ran thVough me. 1t was Bradley
and he was dead. l reluctantly felt for his
head The skull crushed in and fearfully
mangled. 1 foolishly thought he could be
reused, but he was gone Dead. Dead.
''Queking with fear and half crazed with the
prospect of dying OF starvationI began 10 look
around me for some means OF escape. Every
thing / touched seemed TO be dead mans
body l succeeded in getting my other hand
loose and telt around in the darkness.
raised my arms above me and my fingers
touched a hairy substance. | felt again 1t
was the broken end of the rope that hung from
the windlass At last had found some means
OF escape if could extricate myself from the
wreckage. My only salvation was calmness
and managed to get into my shirt pocket and
secure The matches / always carried under
ground. struck light and found the candle
half imbedded in the soft mud. As the tiny
flame crept up the wick turned fearfully TO
look at Bradley. My God His head was
mashed beyond recognition. The blood was
oozing out over his face and never put my
eyes upon him again. Several attempts to
reach the shredded end Of the 'windlass rope
failed and, finding | was too weak to exert
myself violently, l thought it we'll to revive
basket, with very gratifying results. After
eating IS much as my condition would permit
lay back quietly 10 rest before making an
other attempt The afternoon wore away and
a dark wing of the night crept across the en-
trance of the shaft and left me with but the
glimmer Of my hali-wasled candle to keep me
and my dead companion company.
'Soon the stars appeared, but they seemed so
far away fired of looking at the twinkling
lights and turned again to the rope my only
hope, my only means OF reaching the upper
leveis-the sweet, longed-for surface OF the
earth. Could it be possible 1 was mistaken
in what saw. No.
at was drawn up nearly three inches.
az tried to touch it, but failed What ghost
of the mine was playing with me? After
time | tried again. 1t was some five inches
above my fingers. | struggled frantically to
grasp 1t, but fell back exhausted. Inside of an
hour the precious thing was foot further
Was the devil haunting me? The chilled per-
spiration began to ooze from every pore. I
CRASHED my teeth and foamed at the mouth
My only chance for life was leaving me like
the last heart pulsations of dying man.
There was no hope. | was to die of star
walton. Cursing and struggling to free
myself once more / lost my head
and swooned again. But only for a mo-
ment. When came to it seemed atthe rope
had disappeared altogether; the stars went
out, my heart almost burst from my breast and
became utterly unconscious
'When my senses returned it was about noon
the next day, and to my amazement and de-
light found that the precious rope was drop-
ping back within my grasp. | watched it like
a madman waiting for victim to come within
his clutches, and by four in the afternoon it
was in reach. uttered fervent prayer, and
after knotting the end as best could I seized
it with all my strength and by superhuman
effort drew my BODY up until stood upon INV
feet. was weak and trembling but found no
bones broken. With the strength of despera-
ton | tried to climb. 1t was useless. NV
body was unable to stand the strain and