Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-05-18

A SCLND that hill which overlooks
Ia the sasquehanna river and from
which one can see Wilkesbarre and
other mining towns; stand there at
the Woodward shaft, formerly and for
years the deepest shaft in the anthra-
cite region.
Ten by So feet in size, it gives
room for four hosting carriages, a
pump carriage and an air shaft But
take away that timbering at the sur
face and picture the shaft as 1t was
when the rockmen completed the work
of sinking it. Imagine that a single
bucket swings in that black, yawning
cavity. To be flung from that bucket
is to fall 1900 feet.
Fancy, If you can, the horror OF
that sheer descent through the echo
ing darkness. Then hear the story
of Mark Moore, pitman, who was saved
in a second, as by a hairs breadth,
from the fate of his two companions.
The shaft itself was just finished,
and John Griffith, Evan Hughes and l
had been cleaning up the bottom to
put in the oak platform for the car
riages to land on. The shaft was not
yet timbered. There were just the
four walls, the rope and the hosting
bucket.
We finished our work early that day,
and were never in better spirits than
when we stepped on the bucket and
Evan called out to the head man to
hoist us. But somehow 1t happened
that the first words he said, as we
started upward, were, Funny to think
Of, Ell, that our lives depend on the
strength of that roper"
l looked up at the rope that seemed
mere thread at the top Of the shaft
Griffith, who was watching me,
laughed at the troubled expression
on my face.
Listen! See how far from the Dot
tom we are already" he said, reck-
lessly.
He sprang into the bucket, and
picked up a bit of rock, and let 1t fall.
l held my breath. There was mo-
ment of dreary silence; then the rock,
striking far below. made a dismal
echoing sound.
"A sorry distance to fall" said John.
mo worse than If 1t were 80 feet" !
answered, thinking to give the talk a
pleasanter turn; land, anyway, there's
life for us above on solid earth"
"And the engineers jerking us up
out Of here as If he was in q hurry to
get us on that same solid earth." Evan
said.
noticed as he spoke that we were
indeed ascending rapidly. TOO fast
for safety" l said, holding out my
light so that l could see the side OF
the shaft nearest me. Look, how
fast!"
We did not need to look. The rapid
motion Of the bucket could have been
detected by blind man. We were
being hoisted faster than we had ever
been before. Already the skeleton
framework Of the head-house could be
seen clearly outlined against the blue
sky.
II shall report that fellow" Evan
said, angrily. "He has no right to en-
danger our lives by such recklessness.
As it few upward the bucket swayed
from side to side. 1t took all our
strength to keep our hold. At any
moment we might be shaken on and
hurled to the bottom Of the shaft.
l cannot explain how ! knew,-im-
pressions are mysterious things but
| was sure then Is am now that
something had gone wrong with the
hosting machinery. That meant, that
no human power could save us The
bucket would be drawn up to the cross
timbers supporting the sheave-wheel,
the rope would break. and We would
be dashed to the rocks 1900 feet be-
low.
Yet. as It seemed, John and Evan
had one chance, q narrow one, to save
themselves. We were within 200 feet
Of the landing, and | said as quietly
as could, "Be ready to Jump"
l saw them pale. Evidently they, too,
IN the few seconds that had elapsed, had
formed the same conclusion l had
reached.
was standing a-straddle Of the large
bail Of the bucket. Evan was on one
side. John on the other. There was No
room for me to jump, but when ! saw
them turn their backs to the center Of
the shaft knew they were going 70 take
their only chance. They might reach
and be able 10 cling 10 the timbers thai
Framed ne edgss Of the shAft 1t Was q
ShoFt Jump. but taken from q sWayinl
ioothold. thsy knew e. vel - ] that !
w. q most uncertain onA
'wAst are yoa going 70 DOR hvan
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