The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-24

direction, then another, but not a sound
could he hear, not breath, indicating
that the mine had been used for hun
dred years.
But he dared not go back and ask to
be released, SO he decided to risk it
little further, and the descent to the
earth's center, as he believed continued
Finally he came to flight OF steps,
where the water dripped and oozed
from the ceiling, the steps were Shiny
and slippery. His courage ebbed. He
turned to go back. AS he did so he
gave twist to his right ankle straining
it severely. The pain caused him to
lose his balance and he slipped down
the flight of stairs. In his pain he found
it impossible to climb, so he continued
to stumble and slide down flight after
flight. Suddenly as he rounded a corner
he came on a level space, lighted and
clothed only in a breech clout and san
dals were going to and fro, some enter
Ing and some coming from this chapel.
No one said a word. And Mr.. Lockrfdge
believed that he was losing his mind
and this apparition was but the picture
of his disordered brain. But he followed
the crowd and entered the chapel
church was fitted out as other and
larger Catholic churches. The altar was
there, the incense, the candles, the cruel
Ak and priest The murmur of the
mass as read by the priest convinced
Mr.. Lockridge that this was no dream
d
he followed the Mexicans they
descended the new well lighted way into
the mine. No one interfered with him
but every peon wished him good after
noon.
Still there was no sound of nor sight
OF labor. Every man seemed intent
merely on attending service. He fol-
IoWed in their wake, and presently he
heard the sound of cable. 1t came
nearer and nearer and at last he saw
IL just below him down two more
nights of steps. One end of the cable
went down a shaft, SO he followed the
other end and it led him to the en-
CINE room. When the engineer caught
sight OF him, and said, Hello, strang- |
er, where did you come from?" Mr..
Lockridge says he felt as if at last
ne had awakened from some frightful
Those words in his own |
tongue and in a friendly tone made |
about the most eloquent and brilliant |
peech Mr.. Lockridge had ever heard
The engineer gave him drink and |
warned him not tell how he obtained |
the stranger If he would select him a |!
piece Of ore from the mountainous pile |
where they stood. The man COM
piled. He said Mr.. Lockridge had |
come down $500 feet by the steps
and they still continued a thousand |
feet, which distance he would have to |
in order to go up the shaft |
With the miners. Mr.. Lockridge con-
stone steps, hewn centuries ago by the |
Aztecs.
When he reached the last elevation, |
and was again wondering how he /
could escape he was tapped on the |
shoulder. The mine superintendent |
stood there He questioned him Sc
yerely as to his entrance, but Mr.. |
Lockridge said he found the door
open and entered, but that he would |
De only too glad to exit If the superin-
endent would show him how. The
said he would send a
punch of miners up in half an hour
md Mr. Lockridge could accompany |
hem.
The car finally came down. It con-
sisted OF four pieces of sheet iron, one I
IN each side of a platform coming
7entive from slipping off OF the depth
# the mine. 400 feet below, was an
ron railing which came about as high
IS an average mans waist. Onto this
olatform the unwelcone guest was
crowded with about two dozen miners.
And the frightful ascent began. Mr..
Lockridge said this part of the trip
down the steps. 1t took
wenty minutes to go up.
Once on top Mr.. Lockridge stag
yered into the hands of the general SUI
an Englishman. Lock-
-idge was held for half an hour, ana
inally released with the information
hat not one stranger in a hundred
escaped death. Lockridge went to the
Woods hotel, and while he was laio
Up he attracted so many people to
he hotel to hear his adventure that
he proprietor did not charge him any
hing for board.