Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-07-24
DOWN THE FLUME.

been long i'll the camp, and II was all
new to me, so l naturally tied to Coy
ernor Bill, foreman Of the Last Chance.
during the exciting days of the great
snowstorm. The miners gave him that
name because he had gone to college
with governor of one of our eastern
states He was educated for the bar, but
drink made him miner, and now that
he was reformed the company made him
foreman When the storm commenced,
the mills were all shut down and the
water which furnished the power was
turned from the various fumes.
The day following the one of the
heaviest snowfall it was reported ut the
lower end of the gulch that an immense
snowslide had occurred during the night
at the upper end. procured pair of
snowshoes and hurried to the scene. The
manager and Bill were experimenting
the working of scores Of mincrs-in fact,
all the available men.
Whats the matter. Bill?" inquired.
1.-The men at the upper mill are buried
in this mountain of snow, " he answered
what! How many?"
-Four You see, the miners ut the
boarding house there below escaped, but
those who slept in the loft Of the mill
at the head of the gulch had no chance
to leave. "
Those who have visited the Cnur
d'Alenes will recall how steep the buttes
rise from the narrow gulches At places
you can scarcely scale them, and even
the hardy pines can barely gain n foot
ing
The wind was now blowing in gusts,
carrying clouds Of snow from the buttes
above, swirling down the slopes, eddy
ing through the gulchcs and banking the
white powder at the very feet OF the
miners. Shovels were powerless, but the
men worked ON in the firm belief that
they would reach their comrades. But
no one knew whether the old building
had stood the strain and that the poor
fellows were alive.
ITS no go, Mr.. Bardon," Bill de-
spondently said. '"rhere il no telling
how long the storm will keep up, and
even if it soon subsidies it will be days
before we can reach them. Moreover,
they cannot live long in that small
building without mir. -
81 fear you are right, Bill. But 1t Is
all we can do, slowly replied the man
ager
There was momcntary lull in the
storm, when the governor remarked,
with al anxious face: Look at the
4. a. hot
been the path Of the slide. "
YES, it originated on the smooth
fiume. A binding rush OF snow from
over the mountains shut out the view.
1.-THE wind keeps the hume bare near the
top OF the slope" added the manager
after we had shifted our Positions for
the snow was drifting about us.
All day long the men toiled, and all
that night reliefs were working, but
progress in the shaft was slow, as the
snow continually caved in or was carried
in by the wind. During the following
day and night there was no lot up in
the work To me affairs looked more
hopeful, for the storm had spent its
fury and was now subsiding. That
night ! asked Bill how deep he thought
the snow was where the men were work
ing.
ITS hundred feet IL an inch, he
replied, land we have not made more
than 40 Thirty more feet should bring
us to the roof, but, you sec, 1t becomes
harder the deeper we get "
Evidently Bill did not take rs hope
full view Of affairs. | had moved my
bunk to the Office building, and early
the following morning was aroused by
O loud knocking at the door. 1t was the
governor He looked very determined
and hurriedly said that he had planned
scheme, u side issue, during the night
and wanted me to join him. Bill had
not slept or eaten much since the slide,
80 worried had he been and anxious to
rescue the buried men. He had several
hundred feet Of small, strong rope with
him, and after IL hurried breakfast at
tho officers mess five OF US set out on
snowshoes.
(which way, BillY
"To tho fiume," was all he said.
did not urge him; it only irritates
strong man to ask him to disclose his
plans in time of action. decided to fol-
low and await developments
The ascent Of the precipitous butte In
the gray Of morning was no easy task,
but by taking II somewhat ciTcuitous
route, which followed "hogback, we
avoided tho sleeper slope and before long
reached the exposed portion Of tho
wooden fume.
And now, " said Bill, well move
down as far as we can along the hume.
We did 40, and after travelling short
distance below the point where the snow
first covered the planking We dug sev-
eral feet and cleared the boards
The scheme had gradually unfolded
itself to me. / saw 1t all now. Bill was
going to have himself lowered down tho
fume and, IL possible, through the "a
inch metallic conduit, which prolonged
the hume at short distance from the
mill. Then he would trust TO luck at
getting through the turbine and into the
building. And this was the man who,
during the tuInultuous troubles of pre-
ceding summer, had stood loyal TO the
company, and with few brave men
had kept these same miners at the lower
end Of the gulch away from the com
pany's works. Here he was now strain
ing mind and body 10 rescue them.
An Ak opened the passageway and re-
vealed dark space Of about 3 feet by 4
feet in dimensions Bill fastened the
rope under his arms and dashed his re-
volver to the inner side Of his right leg
at will be a close fit in the conduit, "
said he, but will need the pistol 70
alarm the men, should get to the mill
When the rope is pulled, haul away,
and hope each time you will have q
heavy load. l."
We lowered away, and he disappear.
ed I felt peculiarly uneasy at seeing
the generous fellow leave, though the