The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-17

1.-TWO hundred and ffty-three hum
bred ~ successfully reads Tregaskis, who
is at the engine.
Fifty feet yeti IS Jimmie alive or al
ready dead? We shall know in moment
for the dial shows that the skip is almost
at the lowest level. The bottom of the
shaft is reached and the engine stops.
Why, if living, does the chain-bearer not
give the agreed signal? 1t must be that
something has
Clangl clang! clang sounds the gong.
He's safep shouts the manager.
"Thank God!'' says the colonel.
ZIP! lip! 'urrah p yell the miners.
"Silencer' orders Mr.. Ross, as soon as
the first ebullition of Joy has found vent
"He is not out yet"
AnXiously those present watch the great
clock on the engine-house wall, and wait.
He will certainly be back inside of half
an hour, &" said Colonel Bestor.
Eyes, If he ever returns" assented Mr.
Rose.
In silence. unbroken save by the clank
clank of the engine pump, the moments
drag YEARLY along.
Ten-ffteen-twenty minutes pass.
All with strained hearing are listening
for the signal gong.
Twenty-Five minutesl
With white face, and clenched teeth, and
every muscle rigid, Tregaskis is convul-
Thirty minutes! and no signal yet.
Thirty five minutesl no signal.
Forty minutes
"I'm afraid something is wrong" said
Mr.. Rose, and the Cornishmen, ever slow
TO change an opinion, begin to mutter
among themselves.
Perhaps he was exhausted and is rest
ing" half heartedly suggested Colonel
Bestor.
An hour, an hour and half, two hours
pass, and still nothing is heard from
Jimmie James. Hope faints and dies soon
or late in every breast. One by one the
crowd departs, and at 3: 40 A. M. Tuesday,
excepting the few men necessarily en-
ployed therey every body has left the engine
entreaties, has persisted in remaining.
In utter detection the colonel seats him
self upon large piece of timber in the
shadow, hack from the mouth of the pit,
and supposing himself alone he no longer
makes any attempt TO check the express
sion of his grief. He rises and walks to
the mouth of the shaft. AS he bends over
striving to pierce THAT dark abyss, uncon-
sciously to himself the tears course down
his cheeks. Groaning in spirit he is turn
ing away, when rough hand is laid on his
shoulder. and he hears the harsh but not
unfriendly voice of Captain Vivian.
"Cheer up, Colonel Bestor! Cheer up,
sorr! Hit do be bad job, an no mistake,
but mebbe hitll be hall right yet, sorr.'
How can it now that Jimmie's gone,
too?' asks the dispirited surveyor.
1.-The on'y way t. do is t wait an see,"
said the captain. 81 didn't believe none
in that there happaratus o. yourn.. an I'm
slow t. change. But alter L got 'ome an t.
bed blarst me if l could sleep wink, an l
thunk, an thunk. an thunk hit over
'ow has Jimmie got t. bottom an Civ, the
o. X. signal. e OF course bein' alvin an
hunder water wen 'e rang er-an' so 1
caved in. An don't believe but wat e
II come up all right yet"
he ring?''
II dunno, on'y sorter feel hit in my
bones that 'e's a-goin' ter come up halive.
Henyways, ere hi stops till breakfast"
81 will stay, too" said the colonel,
Though l cannot share in your hope.'
Shortly after A. NJ. the surveyor asked
Captain Vivian if he knew the history of
Jimmie James, concluding his request by
| saying, He has not been here long, has
hep
mo, sir, not more'n year an 'alf.
As.ye'd like t ear" said Captain Vivian,