The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-17
DEEPINT0 THEEARTH.
A New Mine Opened Up at
Newcastle.
HUNDREDS OF TONS LAID BARE
Maryels OF an Excursion Into the
Realms Of NiGht-Abandoned
Veins on Coal Creek.

! Marvellous changes have taken place
! az Newcastle since December IL last,
! when the startling news came over the
/ wire that the Coal Creek mine was on
I FIRE and forty miners entombed. No
/ sooner had every man. young and old,
+ been rescued from the burning pit than
I Superintendent Corey was at work with
I a large gang Of men opening the mines
/ that today are producing so tons. and
before next September will De anie 10
give 70 the world az the lowest calcula-
ton 80 tons a day or an amount equal
/ 70 the mines which went up IN smoke
and flames.
BY energy and good management work
has been done that IS hard 10 conceive
possible unless one has the opportunity
TO see and examine for himself. Where
as the mouth OF the Old Coal Greek mines
was located a mile and a half from New
castle up the Columbia Il Puget Sound
railroad the new field OF operation has
for its head the very center OF the town.
Here Il Is that upon a plateau made for
the most part from solid rock. and en-
hraClng at the outside not more than
three acres. the entire outside surface
machinery for working the large mines
wti their inexhausttbie stores OF coal
IS located.
Already the work OF the pick and shovel
assisted BY the tremendous energy of
Z
the bowels of the earth 10 such an ex-
tent that veins whose depth Is equal 70
forty-eight feet and eight inches are
ready 20 be torn from mother earth.
How far these veins extend and how
dong IL will take 20 work them out is
purely prohiematical. but IL is safe % say
that IL viii take years. and then there
are more in the same neighhorhoo1.
one OF the most interesting experiences
( imaginable is a trip through these mines
In company with superintendent T. r.
Corey and his assistant of many years,
q. G. Anderson. II is not an easy jour
ney ~ any means, and when 10 comes TO
crawling mp dark ''manways" alongside
coal chutes and exploring breasts" or
( large coal chambers, with sandstone
roofs. where the only light comes from
the little miners lamp hitched to a per-
sons cap. the timid might express some
desire 10 he safe by his own fireside. The
chances, however. OF accidents are very
few, and the new mines are so strongly
timbered and have such solid. compact
sandstone roofs that the possible danger
is reduced TO a minimum. Then, again,
there are already four means OF escape
already provided. and before many
months pass TWO more VIII be added.
or for the Mines.
Yesterday morning a Post-InteIhgencer
reporter crossed Lake Washington on the
steamer Quickstep 10 Newcastle landing.
aud after a delightful ride OF about three
and a half miles through heavily wooded
country road that follows for most part
the old track over which coal was convey
ed to the lake on its way TO Seattle, the
small but famous town Of Newcastle was
reached This little collection Of houses
with its hotel. two churches school and a
store or two has an altitude Of about 500
feet above the sea level and may be de-
scribed as lying on a knoll within a valley,
surrounded by large hills or mountains.
From one point near the town view may
be had OF all the surrounding country for
miles. and many who have been there say
1t is the grandest view they ever had.
When the twO-horse country stage. a
regular old New England affair, reached
the town superintendent Corey. Assistant
Superintendent Anderson. who lives at
the town. and Company Physician George
II r. Sparkling, were on hand TO take the
trip down into the earth TO inspect the
mines.
1t is not a good plan to go into a coal
| mine with summer shoes or good clothes
so regular miners "toEs" were brought
nut for all. Superintendent Corey looked
as II he were ready for bear hunt with
his blue overalls and jumper. rubber boots
and miners cap. The latter piece of wear
ing apparel looks like the caps worn by
fellows who hang around fast horse
stables. but II has in front piece Of
leather in which IS a hole for the arm OF
the lamp to be carried The lamp is a
cute Nttle piece OF machinery and looks
Just like a diminutlve teapot were II not
for ehe big wick that protrudcs from the
1 funnel.
Down Into the Pit.
When the party reached the mouth Cf
tho main slope or big hole that marks the
entrance 70 the mine, Superintendent
Corey gave orders for car 20 be gotten
ready and brought 20 The 'knuckle' cr
very edge 81 the slope. II was Qu7er
looking object this car something like q
long box with q door az either end. So
on 1s-{neh wheels Assistant SuperintA1l-
eut Anderson. IN honor Of Mr.. Corey's
r~esence. put some hay I'm the bottom ~
the car and then told all % p in. The
big chain with hooks that IS attached -
the hosting rope was coupled 10 the car
and thon the signal "AU ready" Vas
given The engine gave pud and ~ the
tw.nklsug ~ an eye the machinery was
working and the car with its human
freight was sailing down the steep incline
into uurky darkness.
..Tha water level 100 feet below She su--
face" called out Mr. Corey, and hv the
asa ~ the farinE llttle lamps che entrance
- another black hole ~ The lett could Zee
eean Down went the ear ar1 su5dsua'v -
,o,r'F 30 sen that fha S'nre had 6atre0tt
s~,rr, a a. degree anc}s 70 one ~ So degrees.
A moment later the ro0o stonUo1 and A.
sts+ars S3lpertuten5 ru' Anderson an
nounred that ghe present foot - the s3ore
NaF been reached out Ttiet TIE pa~-v.
ooa sat down On some tIr1b@rs for a short
.t,.,, =, allow their cves 20 become 7~ru--
+,-oe.t so the darkness. soon objects that
- remained hidden commenced 80 ar.-
- ana ~ looking up -" slope n 5im
-. ~ rght could so seen which tcl3 'hst
80 US sin daylight 81 the upper
world
Six Hundred Feet below.
,,-,,. -~,frt now reached vas 50 fco-
,,,l,o, fh, surface. ana gave good o.
...,,,,fty- 20 500 what the main s.of.a
So IN height it measured seven feet
80 an width thirteen. both measure
..,,,,,,s taken from the inside % the b.-
+s,If srnooreing timhevs. AlonS the a1or
1.,,,t3 be seen the double trae& tae
v,t4fb between t7e rails belnE tvo fee-
slV inches on the riEtt hand side -
ora hooked un was the signal Rire. Vh4ca
=, -,7-s~eert Is worked ~ hac3 bit soon
vii lse run rs eiectrteity Eterg Thing
sx,ss hv a code az s.znals ard when
$3.50 e..lts ar, sounded that means. men
- 80 mr." From the f1ct az tha SLOPE
"a, c-aDzways lead oit. ONE east and fAs
,,,,e~ west. both az r1E1- angles 70 the
slo-.a. They folloa tlse veins cr coal ard
FURNISH the bass Of operations for dig
r1rr e;lt the prssesous N neral
~rAa east EAHERay Pas t-eeQ eEte0.sf-?
~ faar ard has a So3I3 sandstone. roof
ar4 forr. Where t!r-e-S ere used ia
-hts e-sn-aey theE- a-t ga I'D rsue-foat
legs on tne u~.f~r s..@ ara seseu-8oat
collars Rlth siT-fool yss-z uo tle lower.
F-e~stsrI vsfth fne Tar ~ th.. xarra-as-
the 'ee~r sti~ fes' ~lusS f~,opv 81. 3