The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-06-18
VlNDlCATI0N OF TOXIC KATO
AT THE SILVER BELL
By ID. H. STOVALL.

the night, and all alone, Toxic went
bitterly.
Judd saw it all and understood
When supper was over he called
Croskey to the office and gave him
| MS time. While he wrote the check
messenger ran to the door and told
MN ne was instantly wanted at the
NINE. He hurriedly signed the pink
/, slip, thrust it into Croskey's hand
ana rushed up to the trail to the
shaft house.
mere was great confusion about
the collar of the dark shaft. The
ehtlre crew of the night shift was
frightened from the mine by a cave
IN on the main tunnel of the lower
level. The timbers bracing the thou
SANDS OF tons of earth and rock. were
giving way, threatening to fill up the
tunnel and choke the mine by cutting
on the ore supply. 1t was the fear
OF being caught in an underground
trap that drove out the men. They
STOOD In huddled group near the
entrance, but not a one of them
would go down.
peterson, tall Swede, and acting
shifting boss, vainly ATTEMPTED to
md two men who would go below
with him and prop up the breaking
jumpers. Not man would respond
IL was TOO much like certain death.
Judd charged into the crowd
quick" he yelled to Peterson. "get
on the cage and let's go down. Here.
we want another man"
Ihe crew held back. There's no
use," said one; 1--WE can't hold 'er
up. The whole mountain is caving"
"Cant?" Judd yelled angrily
How do you know you can't when
you haven't tried? We must hold
'er. II the tunnel fills, the mine will
be closed for month. Be quick"
Not one of the crew would respond.
Judd and Peterson leaped on the
cage to go down alone. They sig
nailed the engineer, and just as the
cage dropped, a shadow, seemingly
lifted through the group and stood
between the two men. 1t was Toxic.
AS the cage dropped down the SUI
perintendent and the boss lighted
their candles. A cry Of surprise es-
capped the big Swede when he held
his light aioft and recognized the lit
tie Jap.
The cage stopped suddenly on the
lower level. 700 feet below the sur
face of the earth. Ordinarily the
stations and tunnels were lighted
with electricity, and the conclusion
had severed the wires and black
darkness filed the underground pas
sages. The three stepped from the
cage into the thick gloom Of the tun-
mel, poising their candles to get their
bearings. All around and about
them the mountains heart throbbed
and palpitated. The underworld
trembled as if in the grasp of an
earthquake, Ioosening earth and
rock, and showering shattered quartz
like hailstones.
The roar of the quaking mountain
was deafening. The timbers support
ing the tunnel were crying and
grooming like dying monsters i'm de-
spair. Now and then a smaller stull
broke with a snap and a crack like a
rifle shot The entire roof of the
buunbi was HlnklnE last.
Little wonder the crew fed from
under the settling mountain. Though
lear was unknown to them. the two
men stood immovable, held by
strange terror. Toxic stood between
them and wondered why they did not
move forward.
Finally Judd regained his self con
troll and ran forward under the hang
Ing roof. lie thrust his hand pick
into the breaking quartz. "she
hasn't opened yet, but she's hanging
only by a thread" he cried, above
the laundering roar. She's coming
down fast, and we will have TO block
'er quick. Wen ring for timbers and
drive new wood under 'er. It's the
only chance" He rushed to the sta
ton and pulled the bell wire. The
cage shot up almost instantly and
almost as quickly returned with new
stulls, jacks and wedges.
The crying and grooming increased
In fury, and the three few to the
task Of propping up the mountain.
Peterson carried the timbers from
the cage 20 the tunnel, Toxic chucked
them I'm, and Judd drove them home.
As each load was used, Peterson rang
for more, and the cage few between
the lower level and the surface.
1adly, bravely, the three worked.