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


quit work rather than run risks in an un-
wholesome mine.
While in consultation with an assistant, one
of the miners enters the room and informs
Colonel BeStor that owing to faulty survey an
accident has taken place in the mine. The
superintendent and bosses hasten from the
office TO the engine-house, at the top OF the
shaft. They find two men have been brought
up dead, and the remainder of the shit are
still in the mine. Graves are dug and prepared
FLOR their burial, and in the meantime the water
lis being pumped out.
Jimmy James is in love with pretty Ellen
lTruson, who has rejected him in favor OF Steve
ECIemow one OF the miners in the shift Meet
sing Jimmie shortly after, Ellen begs him to
save her loverl
All this seems to Tregaskis and his
stoker so ridiculous that they are heartily
laughing
Colonel Bestor rises, his face very red.
~Hi!' fairly yelled Jimmie, who was get
,ting up more slowly. The chain-bearer
drops on his knees and put his ear to the
compressor pipe and the surveyor does the
same.
Jimmie seizes hammer.
"Wait," commands the colonel.
Too late Jimmie has hit the pipe, and
again he puts his ear close to it.
Strike again, orders the surveyor.
Watts up?" cries Tregaskis, but his
stoker runs and puts his ear to the COM
pressor pipe.
.sBe they uns all gone daft t'githerg'
mutters the engineer, and, stopping the
engine, he runs TO the side of the air-com-
pressor. "W'at's up?'' he repeats.
Some un,s halive down shaft, y answers
Jimmie.
"0nPossible, ,; he replies ] -,
Hits their ghosts, said the stoker.
Listen for yourself" said Colonel
Bestor, who could himself scarce credit the
fact.
With flushed face the engineer bends
down to the pipe.
Yes, family, but quite plainly, he hears
two raps, three raps, one rap.
His face blanching, Tregaskis staggers to
his feet.
'sHit's their ghostsr' he falters, uncon-
sciously repeating the thought of his
stoker.
Nonsense" answers the colonel.
Hits the danger sign of hour Miners
Benevolent Society" says Jimmie James,
IAN hits the boys W at was a-working the
Hingersoll* hon the raise orr the south
drift of the four 'undred."
mo un's a-workin there" said the en-
gineer. They uns were hin the north
Drift
" 'Ow can hit be hanybody. an more'n
two undred feet o gas an water hover
their 'eads p scornfully asked the stoker.
Turn on that compressor Go to your
work, sirl' ordered the surveyor. 'And,
Jimmie run and tell them at the office.
And Jimmie" he added, as that lean,
large-boned, loose-iointed individual pre-
cipitately started, mot word to any one
else"
mo, sorr," said Jimmie, and off he
dashed.
why, man, what's the matter2" asks
the colonel of the engineer, who, his pale
face beaded with perspiration and his eyes
staring, is trembling so as scarce to be
able to stand at his post. Here, let me
take the brakes, and you sit down"
No, thankee, sorr," Tregaskis replied;
q ere hi do belong to be to my duty, an
ere hi stops till shifts done, come man or
ghost or devil"
"Pshaw, man! It's no ghost" said the
colonel
Hi knows my duty, sQrr," the engineer
ibravely replied; and glad of the chance to
change the subject he nodded his head to-
ward the door through which old Captain
Black and Jimmie can be seen coming up
the hill.
GO Ere they be a-comin', sorr,' he says.
"'Elo, Bestor!" cries Captain Black,
''w'at's hall this bout some un's bein'
halive on the 400?'
stop the compressor" orders the
colonel, and handing hammer to jim
Inie-
'strike that signal" he said, land let
this gentleman hear for himself"
''Ye needn't be so 'uffy henyways, young
man" Tejoined the captain, spreading his
handkerchief on the floor and kneeling on
it with his ear close to the pipe.
For moment there is silence.
t'Some un is there, an no mistaken ex-
claims the captain with an oath, raising
his head. cit 'er hagen"
The captain leaps to his feet.
Lets go down to the hoffice," he SAID.
So ordering on the compressor the 'boss"
and the surveyor leave the Shafthouse.
The council of the -'bosses" has been in
session less than quarter of an hour.
Finishing description of the situation,
Manager Rose concludes: "And all we can
do is to pump out"
''They uns II be hall dead fore then"
responds Captain Black.
"If on'y some un could get to 'um with
wittles," answers Captain Vivian, the out
side foreman, "they uns could stay there
safe 'nough."
ayes, if F" reioins Captain Black
~ think can fix rescue apparatus so
some. one can take down lights and food
said Colonel Bestor.
Describe it, orders Mr.. Rose.
"Fasten air and water tight goggles ovar
the eyes of the rescuer; cover his ears and
nose with rubber cloth and firmly str, u
his back an air and water tight bag full of
compressed air; from the bottom of this to
his mouth have a stout piece of flexible
rubber tubing, near the END OF which there
must be shield to fit against and protect
his mouth, and in front of the shield a
stopcock, so he can economic the air in
the Bag
"Ah, yes" said the manager; sit is
somewhat like the apparatus described by
N. Simonin in Underground Life.
"Yes, sir assented the surveyor. "How
long would the compressed air in such
bag last?"
About twenty minutes. by breathing it
over two or three times
with that there bag onto is back ed
pop up through the water like cork, -
said Captain Black.
1--WE would weight him."
''Then e couldn't never git hout o. the
skip"
1--WE would cut an opening at the top of
the skip for the rescuer to get out, have
seat and foot-rest in it and send it down
shaft upside down like a diying-bell. - said
the colonel.
'Hi don't know nothin' bout no drivin,-
BELLS" rejoined the opiniated captain. II
be on'y plain miner. But hive worked
at mimi man an boy nigh on t. fifty
xyaorS novar harm oil nj No eaoI