Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-06-23

-<,>Je.: 80 S-2~S@ Jul paul W tue OutSi
world. As the bore ran level with the
foot Of the, north shaft, we were about
forty feet below the clear surface. We
had no. food, and our lamps would
burn, say, another five or six hours;
while the breathing air, hot and gas
eous already, would probably become
uncomfortable before the evening came.
That was our situation, and let any
man conceive worse, if he can. One
slender chance of escape at the best
left; perhaps the entire passage was
not blocked, and we might force our
way to the main gallery. I was not
afraid of death in the way that it comes
to most people, but L was afraid to
meet and struggle with it there. We
'sprapg to the task, wild at the thought
that thosef few hours of stupor might
have made all the difference.
"You can guess what happened, and
why, after o long spell of fighting to
break through that horrible wall, old
Jim threw himself down with o groan
;and refused to go on. AS fast as we
loosened one mass, another crashed
down in its place; at the end of our des-
perata attempt We were half choked
and blinded with dust, our hands were
raw spd we ! d made scarce any head
way. Barely, too, had we given up
the work as hopeless when my lamp
hickered out; half an hour later, old
Jim's followed suit.
srTotal obliyionl AS I sat and con-
temp, ated our. fate, a faintness Of
mingled hunger and despair crept over
me. Young Jim, quite still, was
propped up against the wall close by.
Within few feet of me sat his father;
at times he would start up and shrek
out in nameless terror-at others he
would catch up his. pick and hack at
the walls with the fury of maniac.
And worse was to come.
ST think must have tainted. I do
not seem to recollect any more until
the moment when I became conscious
of my mates hard breathing over me,
and of the fact that his hand was feel.
ing-or, SO it seemed-for my throat.
1 dashed away, painting under the
shock of this new horror.
"'Jim,' I gasped, for Heavens
sake keep sane! If we're to so, let us
die like men!'
"No answer; Z heard him crawling
away, and that was all. The dead
silence was only broken by fainf
trickling sound. Tfickling! Yes;
put my hand to the level, and found
half an inch of water--and hotter ant
sitting grew the atmosphere. Pray
ing hard TO myself, I Irealized now thai
should no help come, only few hour!
could live betwixt us and the end
And then--old Jim might go first, ant
.EI should be left. Nay, I was alread.
practically alone; the fear that wa
slowly whitening my hair had turned
old Jim's brain.
"He suddenly sent up q peal o
.delirious laughter. 'Waterl WIZ
says water? Why, mates, I'm swim
ming in it! Here go!'
Presently he began creeping rount
to find me. / could hear him coming
by his labored respiration, and tn
swishing of the ooze as he moved
Round and round the space we wen
steaithily, until at last he made a Gun
ming rush and caught me by the ankle
Got him!' He yelled it with gle
that was unmistakable.
"More words Gould never conve.
the sensation Of that moment. Hal
suFocated, past all ordinary fear,
closed with my poonold mate, and W
went staggered to and fro across ou
prison. until at last I managed to throN
Thin 80 that his head struck heayil