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

scheme seemed so feasible that could
not see any danger involved. "If tho
flume is broken, we will haul him back"
reasoned. knew he could not use his
arms to signal while In the conduit and
decided to haul away If none came
within reasonable time. The men mt
work below had suspended operations
and stood gazing up at us in wonder
ment
On arriving ut our elevated position
overlooking the gulch l had noticed
decided change in the weather. A
"chinook" was blowing-those south
westerly winds which temper the eli
mate of the west. changing within
few hours winter into spring, snow into
water Instead OF the binding SNOW of
the day before, u drizzling rain at first
set in, and within an hour had greatly
increased in quantity. Surely those soft
gentle winds that bring life to freezing
men and beasts as far east as the Bad
Lands never bring destruction in their
paths.
This will pack and settle the snow"
remarked one Of the miners.
We did not then know what effect
that would have on the fume This
sluice, which furnished water power
for the mill, did not descend, in direct
line, but took diagonal course across
the slope.
Bill reached the turbine safely. but
had no room to spare the conduit He
told the men below that he felt very
peculiar while making this part Of the
descent, fearful that by some chance he
might be fastened there
On reaching the turbine he fired
shot. but no reply OF any kind was
made. Then no fired two in succession,
and soon the joyful answer in tho
shape of hammering ON the metallic
pipe, greeted his ears The men, poor
fellows. thought the first shot was
breaking timber and listened to it grim
ly. They had braced the building as
we'll as they could, and were awaiting
their fate When the two reports sound
ed, they felt sure it was u signal, and
Emma Joe Che last worked at the EN-
ma mine) said: ''Rouse up, boys. Here
Is rescue sure. "
At first, they afterward told me, it
had not occurred to them that any ono
came down through the conduit They
thought shaft had been sunk and that
the first object encountered was the con
duit They ran TO 1t and hammered--a
dull reply. and there was no mistake as
whence it came. Bill could only kick
with his boot
Weak and exhausted they worked
with desperate eagerness, and after
some time removed the turbine. Down
dropped Bill among them.
"Thank God, it's Governor Billp'
said Emma joe And then these rough,
reckless men sobbed with joy
What's that, BillT' Joe inquired.
ITS the snow settling There il IA
chinook above. Come, hurry, you fell
lows, and we will leave this place. "
The first man to go attached the rope,
pulled at it and was hauled upward.
And the snow continued to settle.
Then two more were rescued and the
rope returned.
$50 ahead, Bill.
mo, you, Joe. Hurryl"
'Why, old man, 30 anxious2''
Just because tho fellows above want
to SEQ you, Joe, >" he almost pleaded.
Joe afterward said that Bill looked pale
ut this time and assumed indifference.
"The heavy snow might crush the
fiume, Bill -
1T won't crush It, +"
We'll, then, here goes. Goodby."
When Bill replied, Joe said that he
smiled like u woman.
Joe barely passed the point where the
wooden fume was united to tho conduit
The normal strain was separating them,
the angle between them was becoming
sharper and sharper, but he bent his
body and thus passed through Then
with horrible feeling he thought of
Bill And this is why he hurried us. -
he groaned.
This was the reason. Bill noticed the
break when no descended, and he knew
what the creaking sounds from the con.
duit meant, but he never told the others
When Joe reached the surface lac barely
whispered. Hurry and lower the ropel'
Too latel
The weight Mt the ropes end lodged
Joe knew where.
And then the miners dug with frenzy,
for Bill was tho pride Of the camp.
When the shaft, sunk through the snow,
reached the mill, IL was crushed. The
strain upon II due TO the watered snow
had been too great. Governor Bits body
was found revolver in hand, and this
told story. Two days later there was
AZ impressive funeral at the Inst
Chance camp as was ever seen on the
frontier. They buried him, not in wormy
earth, but deep in the fragrnentary rock
Of IL played ont stope Of the mine.
They will tell you now among the
Cgur d'Alene mountains Of the govern
or hero Of the Cmur d'IIaleine, "heart
Of breath. '--LieuteDant Herman Hall
in Golfers Weekly.