The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-11-04
"ROBBING THE PILLARS."
A Peril of the Coal Mines


then God help us! Oh, must my baby
die?-must we starve-must we
starve?"
mo, no! BY the God that made me,
no! Food III have, if it costs my life
to get it," answered the man, and
there was desperate energy in his
wild words that told he was terribly
in earnest
He pressed hurried kiss upon the
brow Of her who for love had given
| up a comfortable home to share his
! humble lot. and then he went forth
into the night, into the driving storm.
The wife pressed her face against the
pane, and strove to pierce the gloom
in which he vanished, while he
struggled onward onward through the
snow toward a light that glimmered
| like beacon in the distance.
| The way was rugged and huge drifts
! obstructed the pathway, but he brave
| ly breasted them, and at last, painting
and exhausted, he reached large brick
dwelling, that by contrast with the
miserable miners huts around it
seemed mansion This was the res
idence of Hugh Ashton, the proprietor
Of the colliery, and he was the man
upon whose employment all the min
ers of that little hamlet depended for
livelihood.
John Fayne, such was the starving
miners name, rang the doorbell, and
was admitted to the presence of the
king.
Mr.. Ashton said he. as he con-
fronted the wealthy operator, my wife
and child are starving; will you give
me some food for them tonight? l
have worked for you in the mines until
compelled by sickness to give up, and
although | am now able to work again,
the mines are idle, and | can find no
employment. | am willing to work,
if | only had chance. | would brave
the dangers of any honest toll, endure
any hardships to earn food for my
family"
Mr.. Ashton was at heart a kindly
man. but he had never experienced the
awful meaning of the word starvation.
He regarded John Fayne closely for
a moment, and then called to a SER
want.
Put up basket of provisions for
this man at once"
Thank you! thank yoa'" said John
Fayne, and the tears started from his
eyes,. for this was the first kindly act
that had gladdened his heart for many
day. When the food was produced
he was about to hasten home with it,
when Mr. Ashton said:
Stay. You say you are willing TO
work. and although the mines are idle,
| think [ can give you work If you
dare undertake it. You know the old
North Mountain mine that has not
been worked for several years?"
John Fayne answered affirmatively.
Very WE'LL" continued Mr.. Ashton,
Il will give you the job of robbing the
pillars from it,
What" cried Payne, in surprise.
would you SEND me there? The
North Mountain mine was deserted be-
because the roof was unsafe, and there
were so many lives lost by the fall of
10Y coal LuhJ no OuC WOuLu lOn5Sl
work in it, And to roo the pillars too,
Mr.. Ashton, if went there to work,
Their are 10 chances to l that would
come forth only as crushed and
mangled corpse. No. | cannot do it,"
Very we'll" answered Mr.. Ashton.
"The pay would enable you to support
your family in comfort, and l thought
l would mention it to you. You posi-
lively refuse my offer, then?"
John Fayne hesitated. He thought
of his loved ones. and the brave, no
ble-hearted man determined to take
the fearful risk for their sakes. He
was placed in a terrible situation, and
could any true man have done other
wise? On the one hand was starva-
ton for his wife and child, on the
other an awful danger for himself. He
chose the last.
II will accept your offer, and tomor-
row | will begin the work of robbing
the pillars from the old North Noun
tain mine," he said.
1t is early morning, but John Fayne
has already entered the gloomy cav
ems of the deserted mine. He had ia
ken the food to his house last night,
and told his wife of the work he had
obtained. She had tried to persuade
him to abandon the dangerous project,
but in vain.