The bee., 1901-07-25

moon had never shown, made palat-
able by judicious admixture OF
saccharine matter and favored with
sprigs of an aromatic plant of the
genus Mentha-a piece of advice
that was taken with good deal OF
JUNCTION. Then came the announce
ment that dinner would be served in
the st. Bernard mine, one mile from
the entrance. L acknowledge that /
received this announcement with an
action approximating sbudder, but
as L was in a strait between two
shudders - one at the thought of
going to the end of hole mile long
to get my dinner, and the other at
the appalling prospect of getting no
dinner at ALL determined to face
the lesser shudder, and went in the
hole. However, as is frequently the
case, proximity did not mean SINH
larity. Though the two holes were
near neighbors, there was an infinity
of preference in favor of the upper
one-the St. Bernard, which is To-
Gated OIL q much higher plain and
cut into an entirely different vein of
coal. 1t is seven feet thick, and
forms segment of a hill; while the
Hecla is but five feet thick and lies
far down under the valleys. Here
were large, clean cars, provided with
clean seats for six persons, and the
trains drawn over smooth, dry tracks
by two large mules in tandem. There
were a number of trains of six cars
each, and the lights of the miners,
glImmering in the distance like fire.
flies, made, what was to me at least,
novel and interesting spectacle.
Near the point of destination the en-
try had been closed by large sheet,
or drop curtain, and as the train ap-
preached it was drawn aside, and
disclosed to the astonished view of
the upper land-lubbers truly won-
derful spectacle for such place.
There was a magnificent gallery,
three hundred yards long, some
twenty feet wide and ten or twelve
high, lit up by more than thousand
candles, band of music filling these
living catacombs with softest SYM
phonies, and two long tables loaded
with delicacies and presided over by
fair women, spread out before that
hungry crowd. 1t was time for ad-
miratioa and for appetite.
: 1t was my good fortune to fall early
into the hands of Mr.. Robinson, Gen
eral Foreman of the mines. Eight
years ago the Sd of last May he and
one companion stuck the first pick
int what is now the Great st. Ber-
nard. with it's capital stock of one
million dollars, with fee simple to
mineral privileges in thirteen thous-
and acres of land, and has driven
thirteen and half miles of entries,
and has five miles of iron railroad
underground and mining capacity
of 25,000 bushels, or 1000 tons per
day. Its total output to date is 22,-
100000 bushels or 100000 tons. Out
put for the year ending April l, 1878,
4,407 500 bushels, or l73,304 tons.
Even while the guests of that fes-
tive occasion were enjoying the good
things so lavishly set before them,
there would reach their ears the dis
tant rumble of blasts fired off far
away in the depths of the hill. There
is no end to the coal there and there
is no limit to the st. Bernard's fa-
cilities for getting it out. Many in
teresting facts and statistics were
furnished me but the loss of a men,
orandum book will save them for
another VISIT and another letter. Mr..
Robinson was born on the Isle of
Man, and is now about forty-five
years old. He has lived in mines
since he was ten and is better salts
fed in the earth than on it. He has
three brothers, foremen in the mines,
and one of his sons is member of
the mine band that furnished music
for the occasion.
No one IN that party will ever for
get the day spent at st. Bernard and
Hecla, or the manv courtesies or
goodly cheer received at their hands.
Col. Sebree, Mr.. Atkinson and 9TH
ers were especially attentive to the
wants and wishes Of the party. Mrs.
Atkinson, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Will
liams and Miss Lima Judson, who
presided over the subterranean feast,
were embalmed in resolution of
thanks, as well as in the memories
of the ress.
Mrs. Mamie Houston Banks, who
is since known as an accomplished
author and brilliant newspaper
correspondent, was of the party
with her husband, Mr.. James N.
Banks, representing the Henderson