The bee., 1901-07-25

AFTER they had partaken of the
refreshments so bountifully fur
nished on the surface of the earth,
they were invited by the proprietors
of the mines to feast under the
earth that rivalled in splendor the
dreams of Aladdin. They were con-
Quoted to the main entrance of No.
ii vein of coal, where cars, drawn
by mules, had been provided in
which to take the journey; and TAX
ing their seats, each one having pro-
vided himself with little tin min
er's lamp, they were whirled into the
bosom of mother earth through a
solid vein of coal eight feet IN thick
ness, around curves and up grades
for at least q mile-the miners blast
ing in the vein beneath, mo. 81
sounded like salute of welcome
from distant cannon. Approaching
their destination, away off through
the dark cavern could be seen twink
ling lights, like stars on the brow of
night, which, on nearer approach,
were discovered to be a thousand
candles lighting up magnificent
chamber or Hall. The contrast be-
tween the narrow and dark tunnel
through which they had been con-
veyeu and the lighted chamber was
grand and inspiring; but when. on
approaching nearer. the ear was
greeted by the notes of the "Red,
White and Blue" from brass band
stationed at the extreme end, it be-
came overwhelming, and the souls
that had been hushed into awe and
silence by the wonders of the Jour
ney and the grandeur of the scene
broke forth into loud huzzahs that
made the Railways ring. 1t brought
to memory the tale of some rObber
chieftain returning with his booty
to his home in the cave. Getting
out of the cars they found them
selves in a large and spacious room
cut out of solid coal, with chanda-
liers of candles pending from the
roof and jetting out from the sides;
two long rO VS. of tables, capable of
seating two hundred persons, COW
cred with white cloth and laden with
the fat of the land-mutton, hams,
the incest of u.ter, bread and cakes,
the purest old Java and the richest
of cream to give it favor and color.
Attentive walters under the direc-
ton of the proprietors were busy IN
making each guest whet his appetite.
Several ladies added to the scene
their presence, leach editor should
have had wife and had her with
him. among the number Mrs. John
b. Atkinson, the wife of the super
intendent of the St. Bernard mines,
a lady whose noble face and pleasant
and graceful manners marked her
at once as the person who had
planned, executed and carried into
effect this most delightful denOu-
ment to a most elegant entertain
ment. Col. Sebree, President OF the
mines noted for his indOmitable en-
ergy and perseverance and Jolly dis
position-accompanied by his gem
tlemanly and effective aids, Mr.. John
b. Atkinson and Mai. NJ. NJ. Kim
NELL, the superintendent respect
fully of the St Bernard and st.
Charles mines, were everywhere
present, adding to the pleasure of
the day and the comfort of their
guests.
The occasion will be long remem-
bered, and the trip into the mines
with it's pleasant contrasts and sur
prises will be recounted time and
time again around the fireside and
in the business circles. Very few of
the editors had by occular demon
stration any idea of the vast coal
resource of Southern Kentucky un-
til this trip. A vein of coal in which
the tallest man may walk upright,
extending for miles in inexhaustible
quantities, was something they had
read of but never seen. There are
others beneath the one they entered
averaging from four and half to
five feet in thickness, and these are
underlaid by the finest block coal
all of which when fully developed
will make this section the richest on
the globe.
1t is to be hoped that attention
may be called more frequently by
the press to our magnificent resour-
ces that immigration may be in
duced and they fully developed.
H. c. Bats said in the Clarksville
Chronicle:
Thursday, at 0 O'Clock, a. m, we
got aboard the special train, pro-
vided by the st. Louis & South
western Railroad Company and in
an hour found ourselves
AT THE COAL MINES,
whittier we went on the invitation of
the Hecla and st. Bernard Mining
Companies. About 15O persons COM
posed the excursion party. After re-
freshing the spiritual liquidism we
were put in charge of Col. Foard,
who gracefully did the Furguson for
us in showing us through the mines.
We were LOADED up" in little cars,
pushed upon the platform and let
down the shaft 80 feet into Cimmer-
ian darkness.
These mines employ l76 men, and
produce annually 2,225, 900 bushels of
coal. After exploring the mines,
seeing the miners dig and "blast"
we got In our cars and were drawn
back to the foot of the shaft, and
aagin drawn up into daylight. We
refreshed again, (the refresh
ment consisted of lemonade and ci-
gars). We were then escorted up to
the mouth of the st. Bernard mines,
where several trains of cars stood
ready to receive us. We were In
blissful ignorance of the very
GREAT SURPRISE
A 1. 4 Il sv1