The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1901-06-13

formation. They avoided taking
what anyone could see was pure
galena or jack, aud selected those
specimens which the layman would
pass as 'just common rock" While
wo were thus occupied, shout from
the mine called our attention TO the
fact that the shots had been placed
and the fuses lighted. There was
rapid work al the windlass to bring
Mr.. Wheeler to the surface. The
miners then took refuge behind
neighboring trees. We did not have
long TO wait until there was an ex-
plosion that shook the hill. This
was followed by another then an.
other. the sound being somewhat
muillcd by the depth Of the shaft.
"he mine not yet being provided
with the most improved ventila.iug
apparatus. other means had to be
employed for eliminating the smoke
aud gasses so the men could descend
with safety into the shaft. The
smoke, ifleft alone, will rise Of Its
own accord, the length Of time re-
quired, of course, depending on the
condition OF the atmosphere. Other
measures employed in this instance
consisted in pouring water down
iato the shaft, and also IN letting the
tub down rapidly-anything to
create Il curront in tho shaft. I!ut
1t was not expected that the smoke
would rise before sometime IN the
afternoon, and all hands went TO
dinner, with an appetite such as only
an outing of this kiud IN the Ozarks
can give.
Returning to the mine in the after.
noon. after leaving the hack aud
starting the balance of the way afoot,
.Messrs. Brothers, Nysopg and the
writer. fell bchind tho rest of the
party, as Mr.. Brothers was trying TO
ind n place where he had picked up
nugget lead from little wct.wcathcr
branch or "wash" extending down
The hillside, during n former visit to
Taney county. II was while thus
occupied that several loose slabs OF
rock in the road attracted our attcn.
ton. Breaking one Of them iu two
we saw that IL was white or gray
marble similar to that found at Ne.
Cormick's ia the southwest part OF
the county. Going n little further
up the hill. we found an outcropping
of tho ledge Of gray marble. We
knew that further up the hill. the red
OF pink variety ought to bo found
and we did not have to go lar until
we fouad nn outcropping of this
Securing several good specimens, We
hastencd toward the mine. AS soSi
"a we got there, VIC learned that Mr.
johnson had picked up one Of th,
miners hammers aud going II sbor
distance up tho hill to II ledge, hat
made u simultaneous discovery of III,
gray marble. This was certainly I
gratifying discovery to men who
already had quantities of lead nnc
zinc in sight, to know that their min,
was Overeid with thick lcdgcs u
valuable marble. tho like of which il
today selling IN the marble wards, un
polished at from $3.50 to 81 pc
cubic foot; aud 10 know that a rail
road survey runs along this vUr.
hillside some distance below the levc
ofthc mine, aud that thoro arc stron,
probabilities OF railroad being bull
on this survey in the nol.far. .disia;i
future.
But IL was time TO give our alton
ton TO the mine. The smoke ha
cleared away sufficiently and ono o
the miners had descended into til
shaft to put the ore iuto the tub
while the others hoistcd 1t to tn
surface. With this comes the pur'
undecomposed jack and disseminate
lead. There were nuggets Of jac
all through every tubful of ore thu
was brought to the surface. Th