Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-11-22
A MINERS INITIATION
THE LEADvlLLE WAY OF GIVING ]
TENDERFooT NERVE.

The lEAOViLlE WAY OF GIVING 4
TENDERFOoT NERVE.
Peter Dean Of Boston Was Born to Pc q
Miner end Was Allowed to Fire q Shot
His First Day In the shaft-How 1t Was
That Peters Hair Joined the Silver Party.
Peter Dean, a young mining engineer,
went from Boston to Leadville to acquire
the practical part Of his profession. He
tells what befell him rs follows:"At Lead
vile ] met q person named Thompson
Classy Thompson, he was called by those
about him in testimony to his powers as a
conversationalist. A barkeeper who seemed
the best Informed and the most gentle
manly soul in town told me that Classy
Thompson was q miner full of practical
skill n that he was just then engaged in
sinking a shaft. I might arrange with
Classy and learn the business. At the bar.
keepers hint, I proposed as much to him.
All right said Classy; come out to the
shaft tomorrow
"Ihe next day I was at the place APP
pointed. The shaft was already SO feet
deep. Besides myself and this person
Classy, who was to tutor me, there was a
creature named Jim. That made three of
us. At the suggestion of Classy he and l
descended into the shaft. Jim was left on
the surface. We went down by means of a
bucket, Jim unwinding us from a rickety
old windlass. Once down, Classy and L,
with sledges and drill, penetrated a hole
in the bottom of the shaft. I held the
drill, Classy welding the sledge. When
the hole met the worshipful taste of my
tutor, he put in a dynamite cartridge, con-
nected a long 1v minute fuse Herewith.
and carefully thumbed it about and packed
1t in with wet clay.
Sat Gassy's word I was then hauled to
the surface by Jim. 1 added my strength
to the windlass; Classy climbed into the
bucket, lighted the fuse and was then
swiftly wound to the surface by jim and
myself. We then dragged the %windlass
aside, uncovered tho mouth of tho shaft
and quickly scampered to a distance to be
out Of harms reach. At the end of five
minutes from the time that Classy had
lighted the fuse, and perhaps three minutes
after we had cleared away, the shot ex-
ploded with a deafening report. AS a re.
suit, tons of rock were shot up from tho
mouth Of the shaft full SO feet into the
air. It was all very impressive and gave
me a lesson in the tremendous power of
dynamite. I was much pleased and felt as
If were learning.
Following the explosion, Classy and I
again repaired to the bottom of the shaft,
and after clearing away the debris and
sending it up out by the bucket we re-
sumed the sledge and drill. We completed
another hole and were ready for a second
shot. This was about noon. 1t was at
this point the miscreant Classy began to
put into action a plot he had formed
against me, and to carry out which the
murderer, Jim, lent ready aid. You must
remember that I had perfect confidence in
these two Williams. Il never seed no ten
derfoot git along like you do at this bust
ness said Thompson to me. Looks like
you was born to be q miner, he went on.
Now, I'm goin to let you fire the next
shot. Usual, I wouldn't feel justified in
allowin a tenderfoot to fire a shot for
plumb three months. But you has a
genius for minin. 1t comes as easy to you
as Robin a birds nest. I'd be doin wrong
to hold you back
"Of course | naturally felt pleased. To
be allowed to fire a dynamite shot on my
first day in a shaft I felt and knew to be
an honor. I determined to write home to
AAy AIAOuuS VI, VA4Ao UI4ulIlpu. OttSSy SitkU
he'd put in the shot, and he secured one
OF giant size. I saw the explosive placed
In the hole. Then he attached the fuse
and thumbed the clay about it as before.
He gave me a few last words. After l
ready, you climb into the bucket an light
the fuse. Then raise the long yell to me
an Jim, an We'll yank you out. But be
chnro M 1irr1t Tho f,,co E.. ThorS1 a-,,4y>;n
more discouragin than for to wait half an
hour outside al no cortride goin of. Es-
pecial when 1t goes off after you goes back
to see what's the matter with her. So be
shore an light the fuse, an then Jim an
This oughter be q great day for you, young
man, f1rin a shot this away, the first six
hours you're a miner
"Jim and Classy were at the windlass
and yelled, 'An ready below!' L was in
the bucket, and at the word scratched a
match and lit the fuse. 1t sputtered with
alarming ardor and threw off a shower Of
sparks. Hoist away!' I called. The vii
lains ran Inc up about ten feet and came
to a dead halt. At this crisis they seemed
to get into an alteration. They both
abandoned the windlass, and I could hear
them cursing and threatening and shoot
ing presumably at each other. 'I'l have
your heart out, I heard Classy; say. My
alarm was without a limit. I'd seen one
shot go off. Here I was a-swinging some
ten feet over a heavier charge and about
to be blown into eternity. Meanwhile tho
o~aitiffs, on whom my life depended, aban-
doned me to settle some accursed feud of
their own.
II cannot tell you of my agony. The
fuse was splitting fire like 40 f1ends; tile
narrow shaft was choked with smoke. l
swung there helpless awaiting death, while
the wv ~rascals, Classy and Jim, were try
ing to kill each other above. Either from
smoke or excitement I tainted. When 1
ain to myself I was outside the shaft safe
and sound, while Classy and his disreputa-
bic assistant were laughing at. their joke.
There had been no shot placed in the drill
hole; the heartless Classy had palmed it
and carried it with him to the surface.
Sat my very natural inquiry, made in
q weak voice-for I was still sick and
broken-as to what it oil meant, they said
1t was merely a Leadville joke and intend
ed for the imitation Of a tenderfoot. 1t
gives 'em nerve said Classy. 1T puts
heart into 'em an does 'em pOOd' Az soon