The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
LOST FOR 4 WEEK IN 4 MINE.
The UnpieAannt Experience of Three Men
In an Abandoned Coal Pit.

In nm Abandoned Coal Pit.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
GLousTER. o.. Dec. 2O.-Three men were
brought to town yesterday morning in a patrol
wagon ana placed in the City Hospital for treat
ment who were at the next door to death.
Their names are Duke Fulton. James Packard.
and Charles Maltes, all coal miners. and their
narration OF their existence for the past few
days is remarkable.
A week ago Friday the mine at which they
had employment did not work. and the trio de-
cided to 10 across the hills upon a hunting ex-
petition. A start was made long before day
light. and by the time Fridays sun began to
appear at the summit of the barren eastern
hills the seekers for game had reached n point
about four miles northwest OF Glouster and
close to the opening of the old. deserted Great
Diamond coal mines. The Great Diamond
ceased operations about three years ago be-
cause of q difficulty between the operators and
employees. and since then the mine has been en-
tirely neglected. and whenever rain descends n
large quantity Of water flows into the mouth OF
the great cavern.
Packard made the suggestion that the party
go down into and inspect the secluded quarters
that had once given room for work to some
thing like $50 laborers. and the other two men
eagerly assented TO the spoken arrangement.
The cage that had once carried the Goa! and the
miners from the pit of the mine to the outside
world lay at the bottom. decnyed and worthless.
and tho explorers had to climb down the per.
pend!cular ladder OF the air passage-the only
other opening Of the mine.to get down below
mysteries that always hang about the interior
OF n coalpit.
when on an expedition that would probably
require a part OF the night before home would
be reached. were wearing their regular lantern
supplied caps. which they used when at work in
the mines, and when they reached the bottom
through the main Section. Which is one of the the
largest, in southern Ohio. and extends almost
Maltes andPackard had been former employees
In the mine. and 1t was decided that a visit he
paid 20 q noted spring of pure water that had
once been the pride and del lEht o: scores OF
workmen in former years. The liquid WAS said
to have been the most excellent ever drank by
twenty tour feet in depth. and the water was
clear enough that by the aid of proper lights the
buttom could EASILY be seen.
l. The three men travelled on for an hour or so.
ana II shortly became apparent TO Mates and
Packard that they were pursuing the wrong
course. as no sign OF a spring had been observed.
They retrhced their step- through the long.
dungeon-like passage, and. through a miscalcu-
Slowly they turned around. keeping a hold OF
each others hand. but the more they attempted
worse they became confused. md at last they
were compelled TO believe that they were lost In
winding passage ways. any one OF which, Tor
all they knew. might possibly. have been the
true one to tho opening of the mine.
Fulton. Mathes. and Packard are young men
between go and ,25. and Dravely they rushed
through tho mnddeninE darkness, family prne-
trhted by their mite OF cap lights. going whittier
they knew not, and hoping against hope TINT
somsthing would happen 70 pace them on The
passed, by n den. which they claimed to
have been the home OF hundreds OF rat
tIesnakes. The men had heard the sound of
achorus Of Misses. and in. an ecstasy OF JOY
and uncomfortable delight Rugged each other.
thinking that the noise OF the serpents was
matches and gazed through an opening in the
slate and were Mortified as the creatures. Mt
lTaCteu nE the lights mazda IA rngh toward tho
opening OF the room where the miners stood.
The frightened men broke hands and ran n
when exhausted by the terrible strain upon
their nerves they dropped down. The men do
into temporary, fits OF madness, For a while
disconnected words. At times the three would
fight among themselves in maninc earnestncss
they would become temporarily played out they
would wrap their arms around each others
neck and rain kisses upon the faces and necka.
hours, and, with the exception of a few matches
IN Ssn !ae Sn MA; for 9 9Wi1n lao hours ,hG1 I WeTe
they finally gave up every hope of ever leaving
the tomb and decided TO make no further NJ.
MS decision. as Mathes. puts 1t. they lay down
side by side with their tonEuos .parched 80
i Ssx i they 'R 4sms i1eir s sSers stt sh'i tSsir iiasi
eeserm wiabnm, +" give up their no eX Men
statements he went into a semi.doze and passed
through a dream terrible in lite makeup. lie
aw0ke in fever. and, being unable to control
himself, he rushed away from his companions.
lie went but a short way before he ran across
the fountain that had been first. hunted for by
the three, and, insane with the Joy of the scene.
no jumped into the crystal pool and bathed
himself time and again with the refreshing
lnid; The water seemingly had a powerful
effect in refreshing Mathes; and, afterward
awakening his comrades, they all drank from
the basin OF water, which saved their lives.
IL required but little trouble for Mathes and
Packard TO get upon the main route from the
spring, which they had Outlines followed n few
years before, ana the bottom OF the air passage
to the, top was safely reached without the
starved and nearly totally exhausted men losing
their way. How they got TO the top, being, as
they were. in this weakened condition., no one
could ably prophecy, as 1t requires the efforts of
q strong man 10 lift himself from one rung of
the ladder. to another, situated as they are,
about iVo feet apart. But they reached the sur
face OF earth again. never 80 beautiful as II APP
Ing, to their gaze.
Riley Tullis, q farmer boy. passed by with a
drove of COWS. and noticing the eInancipated
bits of humanity lying near by. investigated the
case. hiley's father telephoned to the police
authorities Of this city the terrible condition OF
the men, and a wagon filled with blankets and
straw WAS sent across the hills to bring the un-