Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-06-12
DOWN THE FLUME.

new to me, SO naturally tied to Gov
ernor Bill, foreman of the Last Chance
during the exciting days Of the grea
snowstorm. The miners gave him tina
name because he had gone to colleg
with a governor Of one Of our easter
states He was educated for the bar, bu
drink made him a miner, and now tina
he was reformed the company made hin
aforeman When the storm commenced
the mills were all shut down and tn
water which furnished the power wa
turned from the various fumes.
The day following the one of tn
heaviest snowfall it was reported at tn
lower end of the gulch that an immens
snowslide had occurred during the nigh
at the upper end procured pair O.
manager and Bill were experimenting
the working of scores of miners 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 at the
boarding house there below escaped, but
those who slept in the loft of the mil
at the head of the gulch had no chance
to leave"
Those who have visited the Ceu1
d'Alenes will recall how steep the buttes
rise from the narrow gulches. At places
you can scarcely scale them, and ever
the hardy pines can barely gain 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 gulches 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 ''There is 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 air. Z"
II fear you are right, Bill. But it is
all we can do" slowly replied the man.
ager.
There was momentary lull in the
storm, when the governor remarked,
with an anxious face: "Look at the
streak down the butte. That must have
been the path of the slide. -
Eyes, it originated on the smooth
fume' A binding rush Of snow from
over the mountains shut out the view.
1.-THE wind keeps the fume 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 let up in
the work. To me affairs looked more
hopeful, for the storm had spent its
fury and was now subsiding. That
night I asked Bill how deep he thought
the SNOW was where the men were work
ing.
Its hundred feet if an inch," he
replied, "and we have not made more
than 40 Thirty more feet should bring
US to the roof, but, you see, it becomes
harder the deeper we get. ~
Evidently Bill did not take as hope
full view of affairs had moved my
bunk to the office building, and early
the following morning was aroused by
a loud knocking at the door. 1t was the
governor. He looked very determined
and hurriedly said that he had planned
scheme, a 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 hurried breakfast at
the officers mess five of us set out Oh
snowshoes.
(Which way, Bill?"
''To the flume," was all he said.
/ did not urge him; it only irritates
q 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 a somewhat circuitous
route, which followed a "hogback," we
avoided the sleeper slope and before long
reached the exposed portion of the
wooden fume
"And now," said Bill, "we1l move
down as far as we can along the f1ume :"
We did so, and after travelling short
distance below the point where the snow
first covered the planking we dug sew
eral feet and cleared the boards.
The scheme had gradually unfolded
itself to me. saw it all now. Bill was
going to have himself lowered down the
fume and, if possible, through the "a
inch metallic conduit, which prolonged
the fume 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 trlnultuous 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 to rescue them.
An ak opened the passageway and re-
vealed a dark space of about feet by A
feet in dimensions. Bill fastened the
rope under his arms and dashed his re-
volver to the inner side of his right leg.
''It will be close fit in the conduit, -
said he, "but will need the pistol to
alarm the men, should get to the mill.
When the rope is pulled, haul away,
and hope each time you will have g
heavy load. !"
We lowered away, and he disappear.
ed. I felt peculiarly uneasy at seeing
the generous fellow leave, though the
scheme seemed SO feasible that I could
not see any danger involved. eff the
fume is broken, we will haul him back, -
I reasoned. I knew he could not use his
arms to signal while in the conduit, and
I decided to haul away if none came
within a reasonable time. The men al
work below had suspended operations