Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-10-09


seen better days-and in view OF the
fact that his ribs were protruding in a
truly remarkable style, and that his
labors had been unusually steady and
entirely creditable, it was deemed ad-
yisable to grant him q holiday. There
fore Bellies driver, Tim Murdock, led
him out of the great Sutro Tunnel and
where he cast off the halter and turned
accompanied him 10 bleak hilltop,
Belize adrift
Belize blinked his brown eyes. The
bright, hot sunlight dazzled his vision
airy organs. Four years under ground
IL conducive to blindness, and Belize
had pulled ore cars in the drifts OF the
deep gomstock mines, and trotted to
and fro through the Sutro Tunnel fully
that length of time. So Belize blinked
his eyes and gazed about him in a
dumfounded manner. He didn't know
whether to be pleased with his unusual
freedom or panied at the idea OF eX'
listing in such a brilliant atmosphere.
Perhaps Belize remained on that par
ticular knoll two hours, PERHAPS
longer. It is certain, however, that as
soon as the sun dropped behind the
crest of bald old Mt. Davidson, the
mule seemed relieved; he grew quite
sportive by the time nights sable pail
fell upon the dreary landscape. Thus
did the overworked mules vacation
begin; the days slipped by, and ere
long the bony, long-eared, solemn
looking -Beelzebub became familiar
object as he roamed about the Yir-
ginia hills.
Strange things will happen, and 1t
became apparent that this visible
ribbed donkey was thriving on his sage
brush diet. His master noted the fact;
and decided to terminate Bellies fur
Tough. Mules were none too plentiful
just then; work was pressing, and,
take it all around, Belize could i'll be
spared, especially since he no longer
cut the same figure as did the rack of
bones that emerged from Sutro Tun-
mel four weeks previous. So Tim Muir
dock was detailed to roundup the re-
juvenated BeelZebub. His accustomed
haunts were searched, no brown mule
with the peculiar markings of Belize
could be discovered. Inquiries were
made, but no one remembered seeing
him within the last week. Finally the
stage driver informed Tim that he
''seen a mule ambling down Geigef
Grade, pretty close to Steamboat
Springs day before yesterday" This
seemed 4 self-evident clew, and Finn
got an extra day off, mounted spare
mule and struck out in pursuit Of the
wandering Belize.
Steamboat is Noted for its hot
springs, geysers and the altogether ex-
traordinary formations in and about
that locality. These springs are
favorite resort for natural scientists,
and offer a splendid field to the re-
searches of geologists.
There happened to be particularly
jealous professor sojourning at Steam
boat about the same time Belize was
rustling for new growth of bone and
muscle. Two prospectors, firmly be-
lieving they had struck bonanza"
were extending an old tunnel in hill
side, about half mile from the main
springs and geysers OF Steamboat:
Quite. friendship sprung up between
the young professor and these two
miners. The three made frequent ex-
petitions, bent on investigating the
wonders of hot springs, surmising
causes and effects of internal heat, and
the prospectors listened in utter fasci-
nation to the theories propounded by
Professor Mellins.
One sultry night heavy earthquake
shook up goodly portion of western
Nevada and California. 1t played odd
tricks in and about Steamboat
Springs. The main geyser went dry.
When Professor Mellins discovered
this fact, his rapture knew no bounds.
He recorded voluminous notes on the
natural phenomenon, and began the
preparation of exhaustive lectures for
future classes to digest While busily
engaged in jotting down notes, and
gazing into the cavernous dry vent Of
the erstwhile geyser, the two prospec:
tors hove in sight. They were breath
less, tired, yet gasped out yoluble
and excited description Of an unprece-
dented freak of nature that had taken
place on the site of their tunnel. So
incoherent was the account given by
the two men that it was with difficulty
they were understood; but Professor
Mellins comprehended at once that
something stranger still than the mere
disappearance Of the spring had fol-
lowed in the wake of the trembler.
"By the trumpeting elements, boys,
this is great" Professor Mellins forci-
bly, expressed himself by using his
favorite term, as he beheld long ir-
regular flssure beginning a few yards
from the mouth of the tunnel and run
ming directly into 1t, extending as far
as the eye could penetrate the gloom.
Putting jets of steam arose in thin
clouds, converting the prospectors' tun-
mel into veritable steam retort. CAS-
suredly the subterranean force that
elected the water in the main spring
has found new outlet here" said Pro-
fessor Mellins.
"But, professor, that amt the phe-
nom what amazes us. Just you listen
to the internal racket"
Even as the miner spoke decided
rumbling resounded within the tunnel;
it grated on the ears and appeared to
emanate from the very bowels Of the
earth. The three men were silent; the
mysterious workings Of natures un-
seen and powerful forces appalled,
them Another cloud of steam spurted
up. another grinding rour; it rever-
berated In a jerky, hollow manner,
then dwindled away to an almost me-
tallic gurgle. The miners bronzed
faces turned a shade paler.
Boys, this is wonderful, wonderful!