The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-04-22
THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND OAR
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.
Avalanche In Idaho-Gen. Grants
Goodness When lieutenant.

X s brave as the noble Sparta.
~ Gus himself is miner Jim
NJ Hemsworth, OF Rossland,
British Columbia, was the de-
claration OF those who stood by while
a corps of physicians amputated his
arm at the shoulder to save him from
the fearful possibility of blood pois'
oning as result of his terrible in
juries, sustained IN his heroic rescue
from certain death of two fellow-mln-
ers. That he still lives is the marvel
of all Rossland, for few have ever
been wrenched, maagled and bruised
as Hemsworth was and lived through
his injuries as this hardy sufferer bids
fair to 10. The doctors declared their
belief that he would survive in very
hopeful tones.
Jem Smith and Frank Conson were
working at the bottom of narrow
shalt of the Young America mine at
Rossland at a depth OF nearly $50 feet,
engaged IN loading ore into an iron
bound bucket, while Jim Hemsworth's S
duty consisted in hauling the bucket
to the surface by means of windlass.
The heavy bucket filled with ore
had almost reached the top of the
shaft when the iron crank oI the wind
lass suddenly snapped in two like a
bit of pine. hurting Hemsworth to the
ground. Sprlnglng to his feet, half
dazed by the blow, Hemsworth saw
the wiDdlass whirling around at a
frightiul rate OF speed as the loaded
bucket shot down the shalt upon the
men below.
He had not second to lose. There
was Just one chance to save them, and
he took that chance. Jumping for
ward, he threw his body upon the
cogs OF tie whirling windlass, thrust
ing his arm and shoulder between the
swiftly revolving wheels.
Their IRON jaws crunchei' and tore
the fesh, crushed nerves, bone and
sinews, tore ghastly wounds from
finger tip to shoulder, but the wind
lass stood s,ill.
With an awful jerk the loaded
bucket stopped just above the heads
of the two terrified miners far down
in the shaft. Pale as death, and with
the blood flowing from him in streams
aud suffering intense agony. he never
uttered a cry nor even sound as the
jaws of the wheels pinioned him fast
as in a wise.
Superintendent Shields witnessed
the accident from short dIetauce
awav, but 80 horrifed was he at the
sight that ior moment he stood as if
psralyzed. Quickly recovering his
faculties, he rushed to Hemsworth's
aid, and in twinkling had blocked
the machinery and caused Hemsworth
to be released from his perilGus posi-
ton.
As Hemsw orth staggered back and
was about to iall, Shields caught him
in his arms, at the same time exclaim-
ing, "My God, Jim; this ls awful"
"Oh, what's the difference, answered
the pIucky fellow, $50 long as I saved
the boys?"
1t was aot long, however, before the
intense pain he suffered, together with
the loss of blood, began to have their
effect on Hemsworth's powerful con-
stitution. and he became too weak to
stand. A litter was hastily formed by
men who had by this time arrived.
Tendelly the wounded man was placed
upon it, and with the utmost care
Remsworth was carried to Rossland, q
mile away, and placed OF cot in the
hospital. Ele was unconscious then.
but DR.. Bowers, who had been hastily
summoned in advance Of che arrival OF
the litter, was at his SIDE, and with
restoratives Hemsworth. was soon
brought to consciousness,
His wounds were dress sed and the
Injured man made as comfortable as
could be under the circumstances.
smith and Conson, who were hauled
up from the shaft and assisted in carry.
ing their brave comrade to the hos
pital, stood with eyes dimmed with
tears as they witnessed tae sufferings
of the man who had made such heroic
sacrifice to save them from death.
Smith said, in describing their sensa.
tions at the bottom of the shaft:
"When I heard the bucket falling /
expected nothing but death, as there
was no way Tor US to avoid the heavy
load dropping upon us with such
frightful rapidity. Ill admit that
was paralyzed and fully expected that
nv hour had come. When the bucket
stopped but few feet above us, Con-
son and ], in awful suspense, stood
with heads bowed, awaiting to fe
crushed to q pulp. Ii was several
minutes after the bucket stopped be.
fore We recovered ourselves sufficiently
to realize that IN some manner we had
been saved"
Superintendent Shields said that in
all his mining experience OF twenty
five years he had never witnessed q
more heroic effort to save the lives OF
fellow workmen than that Of Jim
Hemsworth.-San Francisco Exam
liner.
Under an Avalanche.
An extraordinary escape from death
was lately recorded by e. newspaper OF