New-York tribune., 1902-12-29
IN 4 CORNISH TIN NINE.
Past Chamber He1eed by Man an the
B0zceLs of the Earth.

If the reader cares to descend q tin mine $50
fathoms below the earth's surface 1t will give me
all the pleasure in the world to act his guide,
saws Harold Begbe in THE London Post" But
he must first go change those fine clothes Of his.
for the land whittier we bound is a place OF
darkness. with slippery paths. dripping walls. and
an atmosphere heavy with penetrating dust
We walk down gritty road. and reach at last
the shaft-a wooden building somewhat like small
mill with a wheel like huge spiders web at It's
side TO which rope from the distant engine
house. Inside this building find tall iron box,
something between a coffin standing end and
sentry box We step into ii. grasping the iron rod
that down the centre and leaning shoulders
against the back. while fasten bar across the
opening to prevent ourselves from turnblng out.
We are ready to descend. The signal is given;
bell rings in the engine house. and pressntlywhile
we hold our breath-the gig begins TO descend
1t goes slowly and smoothly slipping down the
shaft with a rustic. then the pace increases.
begin TO rush-but still smoothly and easily
going straight down a stone falls from the top Of
q clir to the rocks below. We grasp candle by
the miners encrclipg it, and. holding hand
behind it to throw the fame forward.
glance at the rushing rock in front of as we go
falling through the earth Presently, as though it
were a live thing the gig begins 70 dance in the
descent Jerking almost bounding like a mare
beneath US. filed with the Joy Of the descent and
OF its The pace increases: are go
ing straight down. straight a line. But
prepare for a change The course of our journey
is to alter; in a minute the gig will irnpinge
rock, and then shall shoot of diagonalIy. roar
iEg through the earth away from the shaft, away
from the buildings atop. under the railway station,
under those cottages where the gay clothes
line fiuttertng in sunlight-away and away, till
are under that great hill which far away
from us when alighted the station
Bang! The moment has come With
and rush and a grumble rafting away
dagonally, grating. bobbing and shaking along
through the darkness. while candles flicker
and the rock sweats like torrent as we rush past
II. We a quarter of mile underground
and with another hundred and twenty yards We
shall pull up for first stop-2S0 fathoms below
the earths surface. The gig slackens. the candles
steady their hame. and trace the color
and the abrasious of the rock Down go. sloping
away through the darkness. slowly, slowly. slowly
till at last the gig slackens almost 10 STOP and
with jerk and a fall finally pulls up in front OF a
little gloomy 1t all very silent and ghost
like.
rock to rest ourselves after that rushing journey:
against hard hats till the candle sticks there
shadows the walls. Then we arise and go for
ward.
1t is like SEA cave, this tunnel. and we creep
slowly along. STOPPING under the low roof with our
oar feet As We 90 We hear the drip dip drip Of
water, and far of in the distance the cnk OF mai
tunnel winds ard twists and presently in front of
US rises gray mist OF @ oaSsneSS T s Tem
a thin. insubstantial darkness. dinly luminous
Ray We appToach nerer pckng CS our steps
till at last feet strike on boards loose chain
our side, and pull Gp. gazing with
amazement into yawning space. Far away in the
distance little lights twinkle and move far below
so that have to kneel down and necks
over the abyss to them-lttle lights twinkle
and move; and far above US. high in the unseen
dome of this vast ehasm. the same little lights
twinkle and move. And we look there comes
our the rhythmic cnk of the mallet striking
the drn. sounding like church bells heard across
a misty valley. aid then sharp crack followed
by that rolls up through the darkness.
shaking the rock -hewn walls and filing the place
with echoes Far away from uS-so far to be
safe-they are blasting, and again and again rolls
up that reverberatng roar like the sound of dis
tant battle.
Think what working of LEO feet means when
into such a cavernous space you could pile st.
Pauls Cathedral atop of st. Feuis Cath sdral and
once more St Paurs Cathedral atop OF that. and
only then scrape the roof with the golden crossf
And this vast space. hewn out of the rock reach
ing down TO $50 fathons below green fields, hutter-
ing clothesine and the roaring "Cornishman'
screaming over the main line to PenZanee is the
work of a mans hands unaded by catacysm OF
nature. himself the architect and builder and all
done that he may piunder the earth of her tin for
the box that holds your tobacco!