The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-10-19

from the hydraulic pipes are succeeded
now and again by The grinding crash
OF ire powders and tons OF earth
which. giving Way 70 Tie InsIdous ace
tion of Che water fan pellmel into the
valley
Tho sun Is waning. and soon dark
ness viii mean n cessation Of labor A
huge block OF earth, thousands Of tons
IN weight IS being operated upon. Tie
worbmen labor as II for their lives for
70 dtach this monster pecc Of carth
from the mountain side means the cul.
minatlon Of many days anxious work.
The pressure on the hydraulic pipes ls
enormous: the great tube, on unnal -
feet in diameter, Is discharglng every
second hundreds Of tons Of water The
gauge Is rising gradually, indicating an
enormous pressure, when suddenly
there Is an ear splitting crash, col
umn OF water spouts high IN the air
and hoarse cries Of dismay and terror
echo on every hand
The water main has burst Frantic
men rush hither and thither. Ruin,
destruction, perhaps death, stare them
IN The face
How can the water be arrested? Only
by closing tie slulces az the bottom OF
the reservoir a huge hrlcked tube,
like sewer, leads down 10 the ma
chlnery that controls the sluiccs. The
descent to The bottom 3 gradual and
at the bottom Itself q perpendicular
shaft leads up TO the top Of the rescr.
yoir.
Who viii go along and operate The
machinery?
Tie chief mining engineer steps for
ward ne 81 John Sulman an Eng.
lishman who has spent many years Of
his life In quest Of the golden metal in
Siberia lie seizes a lantern and a
ROPE and prepares 20 DO his duty The
safety of The mine, the lives 81 his fel.
low worlimen rest n the balance
He makes his way % the slaniing
shaft II Is six feet or more III Diane
ter aud descends FOR nearly a quarter
Of mile Ills lantern IS lighted.
Heartfelt wishes for his success pour
upon him from all sides. and he com
mencps his task
Down the steep and Shiny pas.
sage Nc cautiously creops. Everything
Is dark. nolsome and foul lie slips
aud stumblcs along. hoping against
hope that the water, which has already
burst the pipes, will not overflow into
the shaft
lie reaches the bottom and rests his
lantern on a ledge. Before him he sees
the wlndlass Of tho great slulce, Like
n Trojan he labors Mt his taslS The
sweat pours from him IN streams, and
his breath comes In gasps. The work
Is heavy. but lac faltcrs not. and sigh
OF qualification escapes him when the
wlndlnss will turn no more ana lie re-
allies that the slulces are closed and
the eneroaching waters damned back.
With cheerful heart he picks up ais
lantern and prepares TO retracc his
footsteps when suddenly bis face
blanehcs ana his legs tremblc beneath
him even as the splash of water sounds
IN his ears.
What Inns happened? Hc raises MS
lantern and ga2cs around Water b
falling from The sides 81 tho pcrpndic.
uiar shaft The reservoir itself has
burst and although the distributing
pipes are closed. the water will force
It's way through the shaft and an hig
efforts VIII be IN vain
lie must hurry 10 the entrance. close
the gates and so keep the water back.
He hurries up the incline az bis top
most pace Assistance must rs 81.
eured TO barricadc the gates for strong
hs they might be, the water may prove
fhe stronger.