River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-01-10

We all liked Jim, not a man in the
whole camp who was not his friend.
The first time Jim made his appear
ance was on a chill September morn
ing. l was walking to the mine when
| heard a CHEEKY whistle and, turning,
beheld a tall, stalwart young fellow,
dark eyes, smiling mouth, and at
once l took q fancy to him.
I smiled invo1untarily and held
forth my hand He grasped it eager
ly and, shaking it, turned his head as
if to hide his emotion. "You are the
first man to treat me like this, and
you amt never going to regret it."
/ raised my eyes, looking at the
firm, square jaw, and into the honest
face, and answered, Il know l shall
not"
From that day Jim remained. He
was always Jim; no one knew him by
any other name, and he offered no
explanations. No one asked who he
was, where he came from, what he
had done, or how long he intended to
stay They all met him quietly and
gladly accepted his presence, and
soon every man, woman and child
was his own particular friend.
Jim was no model, not by any
means. He loved to stand before the
Golden Gate bar, most of his earnings
going to that source, but he never
INDUCED too freely, and he was never
known to be seen under the influence
of liquor. He was fond of playing,
cards being one of his favorite amuse-
mentg He was much delighted when
he won, but he always played fairly
and squarely, and was never accused
of cheating.
The little children in particular
loved jim He was wont to sit with
a dozen or more perched about him.
one on each knee, some leaning con-
fidently against him; all eagerly list
ening to some tale which he could SO
skillfully invent. Many a trinket
found it's way into their homes, and it
was always Jim's deed.
One bright and sunny morning a
group of men were leaning and
lounging in the Golden Gate bar Jim
and | were at table playing cards.
"The devil! I've won again!" cried
Jim, slapping his knee in delight
Il bet that is the last game you
ever win" / retorted jokingly.
Scarcely had | spoken when the
door was flung open and man, pant
ing and breathless, threw himself into
the room. "The dam in the mine has
given way"
Great Cod" The cards slipped
from my hands as 1 realized the ter
rible meaning of his words.
"The miners will be drowned like
rats in trap; there amt no way to
get out" the man continued.
| saw Jim turn pale as he put down
the cards. He seemed to study for
a moment, then rose saying, Eyes,
there is way, only one way; they
can't get out of the east shaft, be-
cause that is blocked by the breaking
of the dam, but the wall, by breaking
that the pressure of the water will
be released, the water will rush
through the opening, and few hours
work will set them free"
do you know what it means to
break that wall? Death for the one
who attempts it. The water will surge
out with such a tremendous force,
taking everything in it's way, and the
mamie would scarcely have time to
realize his fate"
He did not finch; he acted as if
there were no need for excitement,
as if it were an everyday affair. "You
spoke truly when you said that was
my last game of cards. 1t is, pal, for
Jim will never hold another ace"
What do you mean?"
Il mean that that wall must be
broken, and | am the man to break it.
ever play after that
Jim, you are crazy!" The exclama-
ton fell from 20 lips in a single
chorus
"Oh, no 1 amt; but it's got to be
DONE"
We sprang forward, grasping him
by the arms, but he shook himself
free.
Let me go, boys, of what good am
| anyway? l never did anything in
my life. Why not let me do this?
You can't go; you have all got wives
and children. Think of them and of
the men in the mine, struggling for
life and freedom, with that awful
death in store for them. If no one
goes and helps, hundreds, your best
friends and all, will drown in the
mine, when they can be so easily
saved. What is the cost of one life
when it will save hundreds? Who
will mourn and weep when they
bring me back so cold and still?
There won't be any tears, because
there is no one who cares, and if
those hundreds perish, how great will
be the ruin and disaster You must
let me go. Look! see those mothers.
Listen to the songs upon their lips
and see their smiling faces. Will they
sAF1N~Ss-~~0N ~se-~~t1 H~ss-~~2fs nes-aase
That North Pole,