Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-08-22


alarm the E'o,, should get to the mill
Wien the rope is pulled, haul away,
and l hope each time you will have q
heavy load "
We lowered away, and be disappear
ed. | felt peculiarly uneasy at seeing
the generous follow leave, though tho
scheme seemed so feasible that l could
not see any danger involved. eff tho
fiume 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 Il reasonable time The men at
work below had suspended operations
and stood guzing up at us in wonder
meHt.
On arriving at our elevated position
overlooking the gulch | had noticed a
decided change i'll the weather. A
''chinook' was bloWing-tECFe south
westerly winds which temper the eli
mate of the west, changing within a
few hours winter into spring, snow into
water. Instead of the binding snow of
the day before, Il drizzling rain at first
set in, and within an hour had greatly
increased il 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 viii 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 Il 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 mon 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 fred IL
shot, but 10 reply of any kind was
made. Then he fired two in succession,
and socn the joyful answer, in the
shape Of hGmmcring cn the metallic
pipe, greeted his ears. The men, poor
fellows, Thought the first shot. was u
breaking timber and listened to it grim
". They had braced the building as
well as they could, and We're awaiting
their fate. When the two reports sound
ed, they felt sure it was signal, and
Emma Joe (he last worked at the En-
ma mino) said "Rousc up, boys. Here
is rescue sure.
AT first, they afterward told me, it
had not occurred to them that any one
came down through the conduit They
Thought shaft had been sunk and that
the first object encountered Was the con-
duit They ran to it and hanmered-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 cagotncss, and after
some time removed the turbine Down
dropped Bill among them
"Thank God, it's Governor Billr'
said Emma Joe And then these rough
reckless men sobhcd with joy
"What's that, Bill?' joe inquired.
ITS the snow settling There is %
chinook above, Come, hurry. you fell
lows, and we will leave this place.
The first man to so 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
500 ahead, Bill. "
"No, you, ice. Hurryv'
''Why, old man. so anxious?:"
Just because the fellows above want
TO see you, ,Joe," he almost pleaded.
ice afterward said that Bill looked pale
at this time and assumed indifference.
"Thc heavy snow might crush the
fume, Bill.
''It won't crush it. -
."Well, then, here gees. Goodby."
When Bill replied. Joo said that be
smiled like IL woman.
Joe barely passed the point where the
wooden tlulne Was united to the conduit
Tho 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 II horrible feeling he Thought of
Bill. And this is why he hurried u.s.
he groaned
LIS " 90 tliS ttSt'li I>lil liJliCtl tllC
break when he descended, and he knew
what the creaking sounds from the con-
duit meant, but he never told the others
When Joe reached the surface he barely
whispered, Hurry and lower the rope!"
Too late
The weight at the ropes end lodged.
Joe knew where.
And then the miners dug with frenzy,
for Bill was the pride of the camp
When the shaft, sunk through the snow,
reached the mill, it was crushed The
strain upon it due to the watered snow
had been too great. Governor Bills body
was found revolver in hand, and this
told a story. Two days later there was
as impressive funeral at the Last
Chance camp as was ever seen on the
frontier They buried him, not in wormy
earth, but deep i'll the frasmcntary rock
of a played out stope of the mine.
They will tell you now among the
Cmur d Alene mountains of the govern
or hero of the Coeur d 'Haleine, 'heart
of breath. ''-LieuteDant Herman Hall
in Golfers Weekly.
Two Serious Of!enses.