Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-28
TE>DERFOOT N 4 NINE.
Put Through an Initiation TO De-
yeIOp His Nerve.

denver Field ana FARM
Peter Dean. n young mining engineer
came from Boston TO leadyille To ac-
qulre the practical part Of his proiessio"'
He tells what befell him as ioilo""'
"At Leadyillc | met "A person name"
Thonpson: 'Gassy' Thompson be was
called by those about him in testimony
10 his powers IA a conversationalsl' a
batkopper WHO seemed the best Informed
and the most genticmanly soul IN Town
told me that Classy Thompson was
miner full OF practical Skill ana tha'
he was Just then engaged in SINKING
shaft. 1 might arrange with Classy ana
learn the business. At the bdfkeeper
mint. | proposed as much TO him. All
right. said Classy, come out 10 IN"
shaft tomorrow.
'Thc next dag / was at the place ap-
pointed The shaft was already ~ 1eet
deep. BESIDES myself and THIS person.
Classy. who was 70 tutor me. there was
4, creature named Jim. Ihat ha"e
three Of rs. AT tine suggestion or Classy
he and | descended into the shaft. Jim
n.as left ON the surface. We went down
bv means OK bucket, Jim un"indins
as from Il rickety old windlass. once
down. Classy and /. with sledge ana
drill. penetrated hole in the bottom
of the shaft. / held the drill. Classy
wleldlng the sledge When the hole met
The worshipful taste OF my tutor he put
in A dynamite cartridge. connected
long fiye-minute fuse herewith and care
fully thumbed ii about and packed u III
with wet clay.
at Gassy's word [ was then hauled
10 the surface by Jim. / added my
strength 10 the windlass. Classy cHn'peu
into the bucket. lighted the fuse. ana was
then swiftly wound 10 the surface 10y Jun
and myself We then dragged the VIM
lass aside. uncovered the mouth or the
shaft, and quickly scampered 10 4 u,''-
tance TO BIZ out OF harms reach. Al lhe
erd ~ 1--WE minutes from the time that
Cassy had lighted the fuse, and perhaps
tnree minutes after We had cleared
away. The shot exploded with deatehihg
| renort. As "A result. tons OF rock "VIe
| shot I'D from the mouth or the smart iui'
~ feet into the air. Ii was all very I'M
or-ssive AID gave me lesson III 'he 'iI
mendous power OF dynamite. was luu'I
pleased ana felt as II ] were iear'lls;
.Folloying the explosion. Classy anu !
ayain repaired TO the bottom OF the shait'
aod after clearing away the debris anu
gendinf, II ND and out by the bucket we
resumed the sledge and drill. We COM
pleted another hole. and were Te""y ~.
a second shot. This was about noon. -
vas at this point the miscreaht uas9I
began to put into acton o piot ne - 20.
formed against me, ana, 10 carry TI'
| which the murderer, Jim. lent ieauy 49,
Van must remember that l had perfect
nrienc, IN these two villains. L never
seed no tenderfoot git along IKE 80"
Jo n this business said Thompson "
me Il ,ooks like you was born TO De d
miner he went on. Now, I'm COIN "
LET Won fire the next shot. Csua1
r,ouidn,t feel justified in allcwin' a ten
Sarfoot 10 fire a shot for plumb tlree
months. But you has genus lO' iI,''''
fl comes as easy 10 YOU as loool" LA
INNS nest I'd be dom wrong TO Ho'"
| you back ..,. ,,oase1 To
| ta allowed to fire dynamite shot OH
NV first day in the shaft l felt and khe"
20 no an honor. ! determined 10 write
home 10 my friends Of this triumph.
Classy said he'd put in the shot. ana ne
| selected one of giant size. L sa" the eA-
piosive placed in the hole; then ne at
taohed the fuse and thumbed the clay
/ about IL as before. He gave me a lew
| last words. After l gets up, ne sA!d'
and me an Jims all ready, you cllmp
| into the bucket and light the fuse IheA
raise the long yell TO me an JlHh' a"
wen yank ye out. But be shore anu
| light the fuse. Thars nuthih more us
couragng than TO wait nan 81 n
outside an no cartridge goin' or, espe-
| c,al when IL goes off after you goes BACK
| m SOP what's the matter with her 20
| he ehore an light the fuse, an theh
linn an nell run you up for the second
/ f,lorin'. This oughter be great day
for Won. young man, firing a shot 'his
| AWAY. the first six hours you re iiliet'
"Jim and Classy were at the wihdiass
and velIed. All ready below" l was IN
| the bucket, and at the word scratcheo
match and lit the fuse. II spluttered
w,th alarming ardor, and threw on
! shower of sparks Hoist away l called.
| The villains ran me up about ten ieet
| and came to a dead halt. At this Crisis
| they seemed to get into IAN aitercatloh.
| They both abandoned the windlass. and
| could hear them cursing and threaten
| ing and shooting presumably at each
| other. IN have your heart OUT heard
| Classy say. Ny alarm was without
! limit. I'd seen one shot go over. Here
| I was a-swinging some ten feet over a
! heavier charge and about to be blown
| into eternity Meanwhile the caitiffS on
whom my life depended abandoned me
to some accused feud OF their own.
| II cannot tell you OF my agony. The
| fuse was splitting fire like forty fends:
| the narrow shaft was choked with smoke.
| | swung there helpless awaiting death.
| while the two rsscals. Classy and Jim,
were trying TO kill each other above.
Either from smoke or excitement I faint
| cd. When | came TO myself | was out
| side the shaft safe and sound. while
| Classy and his disreputable assistant
were laughing at their joke. There had
| been no shot placed In the drill hole:
the heartless Classy had palmed IL and
carried ii with him 70 the surface.
| AT my very natural inquiry made In
| 4 weak voice-for / was still sick and
broken-as TO what 1t all meant. they
| said IL was merely a Leadville Joke. and
| intended for the initiation Of tender
| foot. 1t gives 'em nerve said Classy.
| II puts heart into en- an does 'em
| good As soon as | could walk | Sc
| vered my relations with Classy Thompson
| and his outlaw aiherent. Jim. The next
morning my hair turned the milky sort
you see The Leadville people with whom
I discussed the crime laughed and said
! the drinks we're on me- That was all
! the sympathy. all the redress ] got"
/ This is the true tale OF how Mr.. Peter
| Deans hair joined the silver party;
| Ii also shows why his friends to-day
speak evil OF the great throbbing West.
It's jolly practical jokers. and the rough
| shod pilgrim initiation system.
| Old papers COR sale AZ &c q hundred a