Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-09-07

iu one OF bne uflIbS or The Nelly BY
mine, 10 which two men had o close
escape from death. About thirty feet
OF the drift filled up with the stun
that came down from the roof OF the
drift. Jesus Soto, who has charge OF
the underground work, and Florentlno
Fuentes, one of the miners, were 10 the
DRIFT at the time the ground came
down. Soto vas caught by the falling
ground, and was buried up TO his hips,
but was on the side next the shaft.
He was soon extricated. Fuentes was
further in the drift, aud it was not
known whether he was buried in the
caved ground or not. All hands who
could work we're Immediately set TO
work to clear out the drift, and and
Fuentes. 1t was slow work as the
ground was soft, aud kept coming
down as fast as it was taken out.
Tlmbers we're put 10 as fast as room
could be made for them. The drift
was narrow, and there was little room
for work, consequently the work was
slow. Friday the workers established
Communication with Fuentes, and
found he was safe, and not hurt by
the cave. He had been close enough
to the other end of the cave so that he
bad got clear Of the falling ground.
The drift extended about fifteen feet
beyond the cave so be had plenty Of
room. Foreman Soto lead the rescu-
log party, and never left the work. He
was anxious to save Fuentes not only
because he was the foreman, but also
had a personal interest, as Fuentes
was his nephew. The men worked in
relays, but there was little sleep for
them, eve when not working. Super
intehdent Weaver lent every assist.
ance, furnished all the supplies need.
ed, had teams travelling at uight to
get tlmbers, and cooks working night
and day to keep the workers well fed.
Saturday night the workers broke
through and got Fuentes out about
eleven o'clock. He was pretty hungry,
but the FIRST thing he asked for when
be got ont was a cigarette. He said
he had not suffered much, had slept a
good deal Of the time, and although
be had been 10 the drift for some fifty
four hours thought he had been there
but twelve. Physically he was in much
better shape than the men who had
been working to get him out. He was
carefully fed, and the next day vas all
right. The men working ia other
mines In the camp offered their SER
vices to help rescue the men, but the
force OF the North American company
was enough to do the work. The drift
was SO small that only a limited mum
Der of men could work, and Foreman
Soto, who is a giant In strength, had
the endurance to stay by the work till
nan was out. There vas a great deal
OF interest in town over the mans
fate, and every one who came ln town
from the camp was eagerly questioned
regarding the situation. There were
numerous stories regarding the work,
proved not to be true. One was
w NhG CAkOb un0b AbaA hkh BABO ~
been driven through the loose ground,
and Fuentes had been furnished food
through it. 1t would have been i'm
possible to get a pipe through the
rocks that composed the cave. AT
only one time was Fuentes in any
danger, and that was when the water
up in the drift. II got up to
bis neck, and then secured an opening
through the caved matter, and drain
ed away. Owing TO the exhausted
condition Of the miners work vas not !
resumed in the mine until Tuesday
morning, when cleaning up COM
nenced. A great deal of the caved
is good ore, and the company
will be partly recompensed for expense
It was to in resculng Fuentes, by the
in powder in breaking this
yround. {