The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-24

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copyright by H. wythe Jr., 1881
This interesting story OF mining life in Cali
fornia opens with a description OF the burning
OF Judas Iscariot in accordance with tradf-
tional custom among Spanish Americans. The
hero OF the story, Jimmy James, chain
bearer, in company with Colonel Bestor, a min
ing expert and ex-artillery officer, arrives at
the camp in connection with some supposed
structural defects in the mine. Water and
foul gases have been noticed in one OF the
shafts, and many of the men have voluntarily
quit work rather than run risks In an I'M
wholesome mine:
of the miners enters the room ana INFORMS
Colonel Bestor that owing to faulty survey an
accident has taken place in the mine. Inc
Superintendent and bosses hasten from the
office to the engine-hOuse, at the top OF me
shaft They find two men have been brought
ND dead and the remainder OF the shit are
still in the mine. Graves are dug and prepared
for their burial, and in the meantime the water
is being pumped out. 49,
Jimmy James is in love with pretty Ellen
ITruson, who has rejected him in favor OF Steve
Cle1noy one OF the miners in the shift. Meet
ing Jimmie shortly d1terl EIlen pegs MIN 10
save her lover.
1t is suspected that there are some miners
alive in the shaftas DISTINCT appings or signals
can be heard. Colonel Bestor orders the COM
nressor stopped, and the manager of the mine
decides that the only thing to be done to aid
the imprisoned men is to pump out the water
in the mine. Colonel Bestor then describes an
original breathing apparatus to be liked over
the mouth and nostrils of one OF the rescu1ng
party who is to go down into the mine. The men
are called together, but none OF them possesses
the necessary courage to descend to the rescue
OF his comrades though reward or S5OO is
While the manager is talking Jimmie James
steps forward and volunteers his services, stip-
uleting only that in the event of his death OF
injury his aged mother be provided for,
This is agreed to, and Jimmie descends
Some considerable time elapses, and as no sig.
nal comes from Jimmie the men disperse.
The first part OF this story appeared Aug. IL
'Neverp SEE Jimmie, a-standin' 'strad
die hover i'm. i alters STAINS by my
fr'en's.' An then e stopped down an
pullin a couple O. shooters 'e 'ad out of is
boots, e beginst' fire int the brush, an
sech a howlin' an scamperin' l guess We
never seed. Then Jimmie Bonded down
an sez e. Charlie Charlie!
but Charlie was too bad scared t speak
right off; but in minute 'e let out groan
like s if e was henymost killed.
':'Is We badly 'ursed?' seq Jimmie.
.''Yes, SEE e, kinder faint like.
"'Where?' SEE Jimmie.
al dunno, SEE e, an then e groaned
orful
Let's see, SEE Jimmie, a-gittin' on lis
knees.
'No!' SEE Charlie, scared worse'n ever.
4 couldn't stan hit, not noways.'
"'W'at shall do? axes Jimmie.
"'Run fer the doctor, SEE e.
NO, SEE Jimmie, 4 hain't that kind
They uns might come back
$50 fer all is groanin's an all Charlie
could say, 'e lifted i'm onto is back an
carried i'm piggy back t. the Doctors"
81 should have thought Thorns would
have run away" SAID Colonel Bestor.
"'E didn't dare" was the reply, "fer
the reason wy Jimmie made i'm odd on
piggy back was SOS 'e could carry pistol
hin is and" And Captain Vivian con-
tinued: $50 hit all come out. But wen
they got t. the hoffice the doctor said s
Charlie 'ad Ugh fever an didn't know
wat e was a-sayin' then; that e 'ad been
shot, an that the bullet 'ad gone up lis
nose an was in is brain. An so e made
i'm take dose W at e said nd prevent is
'avin' heny more such brain fever fer some
time. An hit made Charlie that sick e
couldn't work none fer couple o. days.
/
e. said IS e called it is Devils Helixir'
"Did the boys get even on Jimmie %
asked the colonel.
NO. sorr, replied the captain, 'fer the
manager got t. ear of it an all them wat
'ad and in that there graveyardin' was
turned orr an not hallowed on the grants
no more"
II should not have taken Jimmie James
to be the kind of man you say" said
Colonel Bestor, after moments silence.
"Oh, but els changed, sorr, 'e's changed"
answered Captain Vivian.
"How?"
'Well, sorr, the very mex payday after
the graveyardin' Jimmie went orr on the
reglarest rip-snortinest kind of a spree.
bein' busted an kensequently 'alf sober,
e got. a letter tellin' i'm that is old wild
defed Somammy was a comm out to i'm
from the ole country.
Jimmie never was an ard earted man,
but since ed took t. the drink e 'adn't
done nothin for is poor nanny, SO Eel
fr'en's an relations was a-sendin' of 'er to
i'm. fer she knowed as 'ow ed take good
care of 'er if so be as she was on'y with
i'm.
''Jest afore she was t. come Jimmie
sobered up. an then Helen Truson an
some of 'em got i'm t. sign the pledge an
jine the Good Templars. An then is
nanny come an Jimmie done first rate
till the Mayday tea, but wat with
the racin' an raslin' an other games e
got purity thirsty, an so wen Mr.. Rose
sent hup present T. the boys of keg O.
beer, an there helm no water up t. the
fagpole where US was a-playin', Jimmie
took one drink, an that upset i'm, an
that night e went ome a-roarin' drunk an
drove is ole nanny out O. the 'ouse with
a 'atchet.
Mex day e sobered hup, an she comes
'ome. Them Good Templar fellars wanted
i'm t try hagen, but e was madden than a
March are an cussed ar swore at 'em till
they hall give i'm up has a bad job; leas'-
wise hall on 'em but HELEN Truson an
is old nanny - an e treated heven
them alfred mean, specially HELEN; but
they uns stuck t. i'm. an the first thing
heny on us knowed Jimmie got convarted
an jined the church."
Captain Vivian paused and pulled his
pipe to keep it alight.
The surveyor rose with sigh and leaned
over the mouth of the shaft, vainly striv-
ing to peer into obscurity.
Jus IL see I'm yet" said Captain Vivian.
Eyes his corpse, after the water is all
pumped out" dismally responded the
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