Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-09-16


were busy below, the alarm had been
given. and, throwing DOWN their tools,
/ the men dad rushed up the ladders, while
/ simultaneously they heard a rush and
| roar like the sound Of the entering sea
! that as they assembled in wild alarm, the
/ lower ladder broke beneath the weight
Of some Of the men. wao were precipi-
/ tated with it into the darkness; and that.
| finally, when they collected at the mouth
of the mine, they missed, besides several
Of their comrades, both George Rudruth
! and my uncle.
| rushed to the door. BY this time IL
] was quite dark and It was blowing hard
from the southwest, with hail and rain
thought with horror Of that .dbmarine
darkness, and Of those who were lying
| even then within it, alive or dead. My
mind was made up in a moment. | did
not even wait to speak to Annie or my
aunt but, calling on the men to follow
me, ran right away in the direction Of
the mine.
The men followed me In a body When
we reached the cliffs, we found the a'ild
news had spread, and an excited throng
was gathered at the mine head, some car
rying torches. which east urid CLEANS on
the rainy darkness A heavy sea was
rolling In on the strand beneath, and the
white pillows were flashing and crashing.
Suddenly light hand was placed upon
my arm, and turning. saw Madeline;
close to her, like a gaunt specter. Mrs.
Redruth
THANK heaven, you are herer cried
my darling. is there any hope?"
I looked into her white face. and saw
10 its wild anxiety only love for my rival;
but at that supreme moment l felt no
jealousy-Only supreme pity for him.
Then / glanced at his mother, aud heard
her quick cry Of supplication:
Save him! Save my SON.
| walked to the mouth Of the mine. and
threw open the wooden iii. Then, kueel-
Ing down, | held my ear ever the mouth.
and listened, A sound like thunder--a
horrible rushing and roaring from
below. / had no doubt now that the
worst had happened.
There was only one chance for those
below, IL by any possibility they sur
vived. Some one must descend and make
an inspection, cycc .. the risk Of his
life; and, without a moments hesitation.
| determined 10 volunteer for the task.
Strange to say, my head became quite
cool aud clear directly my resolve was
made,
Listen, lads I said. There's hope
yet, and I'm going down"
| explained my plan. Several of them.
Michael Penmaur among the number,
agreed to Descend with ME to the plat
form. and to lower me thence down the
bottom shaft. In less time than it takes
to write these lines. the messengers re-
turned with several Gods of rope and
candles; | stuck several Of the latter
about my person. Then / was ready.
had set my foot on the first rung Of ths
ladder, and was about to descend, when
Madeline bent over me.
God bless you" she cried. and bring
you safe back"
| reached up. and taking her hand
pressed il to my lips.
IF he lives" | said. I'm restore him
to you. and 70 his mother. Don't cry,
Miss Graham, There's Il chance YETI
Scarcely realizing the significance of
what had occurred, | descended rapidly,
followed by Michael am the volunteers
As / went. the roar from below increased
and the solid rock on which the ladder
was set seemed TO shake as with earth
quake. In pitch darkness | reached the
first platform. Here paused, and. strik-
ing a light. lit the candles on my person.
My companions did the same. The lurid
light lit up their pale. anxious faces, and
shot faint rays down into the mine.
Now, then. lads" | cried descending
the second stage Of ladders. Some Of
these were very shaky, and | had 10 use
great caution; but knew the way blind
fold, and all my old experience of the
place stood me in good stead
At last. with no harm done to anyone.
we reached the central platform. Here
the roar was deafening, aud the solid
rock seemed splitting with the sound.
bent over the abyss and held down the
light. using my hand as reflector Sure
enough, several of The ladders had brok-
en- away. l strained my eyes Then |
shouted--but my shout was drowned in
the suhterranean tumult.
On the central platform was wind
lass. with portion of an old disused
crane. Round this | passed one of the
ropes, instructug the men To hold one
end and gradually give way or draw in
as | should direct. Then | took the 9th.
er end. and fastened 1t securely under my
arm pits.
1T be nav use. Measter Hugh" cried
Michae! Penmaur. "Dawn't 'ec 90. It
be gawiug TO your DEATH"
But finding that | was not 70 be per
suaded. the brave fellow wrung my hand.
and promised TO do his best to help me
nor were the others less kindly and sym
pathetic. As they lowered me over the
platform. | partially supported myself
against the Shiny rocks. but the next
moment ! was suspended in mir. Slowly.
carefully, they let me Down At last.
some twenty yards down my foot rested
on ladder. descending which | reached
the lowest platform Of all, | released
myself from the rope, and prepared to
look around,
suddenly my f,ot struck against some
thing soft, like q body. aud. stopping
down, light ~ hand. l say two Of the
miners lying among the debris Of the
broken ladder. stone dead, and dread,
fully djsfigured one was Jem Tredgar.
colossal young fellow from pcnzance.
six feet high. and weighing over fifteen
/ stone. The fall had smashed him like
| an egg. and death had been instauta.
ueous
| Right under me. flooding the bottom Of
/ the nine roared the sea. boiling back
1 ward and forward with Wild pulsations
+ along the shafts and galleries through
/ which it had broken in. From the point
+ whore | stood. the last ladders had been
eatirely washed or broken away. The
roar was deafening but | shouted with
all my might | paused and listened.
Suddenly from the darkness beneath.
heard faint voice answering me. My