Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-06-13
DOWN THE FIJI ME.


erno~ Bill. foreman Of the Last Chance,
during the exciting days Of the great
snuwstorm. The miners gave him that
name because Inc had gone "a college
with governor Of enc 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 tho one of the
heaviest snowfall it was reported at 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 We're experimenting
the working of scores of mincrs-in fact,
all the available men.
What the matter. Bill:" inquired.
The men ut the upper mill are buried
i'll 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 mill
at the head of the gulch had no chance
TO leave.
Those who have visited the Cnur
d Alcncs will recall how steep the buttcs
rise from the narrow gulches. At places
you can scarcely scale them, and even
the hardy pines can barely gain Il foot
ing.
The wind was now blowing III gusts,
carrying clouds Of snow from the buttos
above. swirling down the slopes, eddy
ing through the gulchCs aud banking the
white powder at the very feet of the
miners. Shovcls were powcrloSS, Int the
men worked ON il the firm belief that
they would rcach their {, mradcS But
no one knew whether the old building
had stood the strain and that the poor
fellows were alive.
Its no q. ir. Bar,lon," Bill de
spondcntly sad. There is no telling
how long thr storm will keep up, and
even if ii = subsidies it viii bc days
before we can reach them Moreover,
they cannot Ike long in that small
building without air. :
Il fear yen are right. Bill. But it is
all we can dc, slowly replied the man
ager
There WAS II n.umcntary mll IN the
storm. when the governor remarked.
with au a'xioEs face. Look 1T the
streak dow. the huttc That must have
been the pa.h of the slide "
Yes. il originated on the smooth
fiumc. y lirG'Mg rush If snow from
over the mountains shut ont the view
THE wind ko,l.S the flumc bare near the
top Of the slcpc, added the manager
the snow was drifting about Us.
All day long the men toilcd. and all
that night relicfS were working. but
progress in the shaft was slow. aS the
SHOW continually cav,d in or was carried
i'll by The wand. During the following
lay and night there was no let up i'll
The work To me affairs looked more
hopeful. for the storm had spent its
Jury and was now subSiding. That
night asked Bill how deep he thought
he snow w;.- whore the men We're work
ng
Its Il hundred feet II an inch. :" he
replied "and we have rot made more
than 30 Thirty more feet should bring
Us to the roof, but. you see. it becomes
harder the deeper We get.
Evidently Bill did not take a. hope
full :: view Of affairs. had moved my
bunk to the office building. and early
thief lowing morning was aroused by
loud knocking II the door 1t was the
governor He looked very determined
and hurriedly said that he had planned
II scheme, "a side issue. during the night
and wanted me To join him. Bill had
not slept or eaten much since the slide.
SO 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
the officers mess five of us set out on
snowShocs.
Which way, Bill:'
ITO the flumc, " was all he said
did not urge him; it only irritatcs
a strong man To ask him to disclose his
plans in time of action. Idecidcd TO fol
low and await developments.
The ascent Of the PERCEPTIONS butte in
the gray of morning was no easy task,
but by taking somewhat circuitous
route, which followed "hogback. we
avoided the sleeper slope and before long
reached the exposed portion of the
wooden fiumc.
And now." said Bill, well move
down us far rs we can along the tiume. "
We did 50, and after travelling u short
distance below the point where the snow
first covered the planking we dug sew
ersl feet and cleared the boards.
The scheme had gradually unfolded
itself to me saw il all now. Bill Was
going to have himself lowered down the
flumc and if possible, through the "a
inch metallic conduit. which prolonged
tho flumc 1T a 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,
lurlmg the tumultuuus troubles of Il pre-
ccding summer, had stood loyal Ia tho
company, and with few brave men
had kept these same miners AT the lower
md Of the gulch away from the COM
paiiy ; works. Here he was now strain
ing mind and body to rescue them.
An ax opened the passageway and re-
vcaled dark space of about , feet by 4
feet in dimensions. Bill fastened the
rope under his arms and lashcd his re-
vulvcr to the inner side of his right leg
sit will bc a close fit in the conduit, "
said he. but l will need the pistol to
alarm the men. should | get to the mill
Vixen the rope is pulled, haul away,
and hope each time you will have n
heavy load. =
We lowered away. and he disappear
cd. felt peculiarly uneasy at seeing
the generous fellow leave, though the
scheme seemed SO feasible that could
no, see any danger involved. IF the
flumc is broken, we will haul him back. y
| reasoned ! knew he could not uso his
arms to signal while III the conduit, and
| decided To haul away if none came
within reasonable time The men at
work below had suspended operations
and stood gazing up at Us in wonder
mCnt.
On arriving at our elevated position
overlooking the gulch ! had noticed u
decided change III the weather. \
chinook WAS blowing-thuSe south
westerly winds which temper the eli