Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-12-25
and 1t was saying things to me.
The Welcome Pine.

ana II was saying things to me.
The Welcome Pipe.
Ihen, one day or one night the
pipe the men drove down came
through TO my dirt bunk. could
feel the rush of air, and it was
IKE more whiskey. | was pretty
weak by that time. with nothing
10 eat. hardly any water to drink
and little sleep that was regular
nightmare, | didn't understand just
what the pipe was for at first, but
found out when fresh water ana
soft food began to come down.
when the pipe burst through
above me had the most awful
moment OF the whole time. They
Kept driving. | seized stone ana
hammered. grabbed the pipe and
tried to hold it, but on she came.
tore my hands into the rocks. 4
loosenei Il big rock and struck blow
after blow on the pipe. For hours
they kent on; ages, 1t seemed. Then
came silence.
Once more | seized the rock and
beat the pipe Thon dropped to
listen. 1t was almost with de.
l!rhm of joy that answered the
INST signal they made by striking
the side OF the pipe. answered
the signal Then came more OF the
code. tore at the end OF the
pipe and picked the gravel out OF
the slot. laughed like loon he
fore u storm. cried like baD..
shook hands with Lindsey Hicks.
and said, Now, old sport, If you're
game yon will come out Of this all
right The first food that came
down was most appropriate. 1t
seemed like baby food, but II was
good. Then | could talk to the old.
boys above.
When lit my matches ana saw
that bowlder over my head, that
match probably snved me, though 1t
delayed the liberation several days
1T seemed years. BY aid of that
Information | was enabled to direct
the shaft.
II have not much more to tell.
You know the story OF heroism of
the boys, have thanked every one
I copld see. bnt what are words?
Do the boys know ] am grateful?
Would ] not dig for them? would
Blt am not going to- They don't
need that proof of my debt to
them.
Had Sense Enough to Eat"
The phonograph pieces were
great, but | had to shake and pinch
myself TO know that the music was
real, Now come to think of 1t,
the cross words OF tho men above
We're the best things for me. They
made me mad every time and then
would cool down ana feel good
deal better and stronger. 1t was
n good thins had sense enough to
eat too.
"l'hey tell me bubbered and
talked like a crazy man sometimes.
guess | did. man don't know
what lie does when all the nerve
lis taken out of him. reckon
! decided a thousand times that 1t
was no use, that l wouldn't get out
after all ana | might as well lilo
back and die. could have died just
as happy rs going to sleep If {
hadn't been iollled and kidded all
tho timey'
"Towsud the last. though, when
l cnulT hear the. digging better and
knew they were getting down where
\. wits, | took hrnce. and funny
thing. when | beard the picking ana
inbbing wanted chew Of tobac-
&C. i wasn't afraid something above
me would fall aul XII me. I ,hou"ht
everything else was as fast as |
was. When they got to me at last
We'll, guess the other fellows
know more about what happened
than | do. am out or 1t ana
no more working underground for
me. think II ever went down
into any kind of hole again I
would go dafry, A common cellar
would give me the shivers."