The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-05
CHAPTER XVII.
"Tha Pits a fire -

There was but one way to the sur
face-at least one way that a man
could use. John Roy knew that one
we'll of it was already dangerous.
Only a few props. some light wood,
inflammable as matches, and long
strips of bratticing protected the
other. 1t was a matter of a few sec
onds at the longest before the air
aft should be attacked. A man has
but one life. He will save that. All
that he hath will he give for it. And,
for the first time, John Roy knew how
dear his life was to him, when he
glanced upwards and saw that dull red
glow in the heart of the binding reek.
Yet, doubtless ESQ conscience ar
gued), 1t was his duty to abide by his
signals. But his life-his life! He
was the only man who knew the bells
the only man who could reply to
them The 'bottomer" is the man at
the helm. Only he can communicate
up that long incline, nearly third of
mile in length, with the men in tn Q
engine house on the surface, whose
steel levers, wire ropes, and electric
signals control, In their turn, the
movements of the cage by which alone
safety can be reached. But his life
his life
But John Roy did not happen to be
very brave man-less SO than his
fellows-and the necessity of choice
came upon him very swiftly indeed.
Stunned, bewildered, not knowing
which way to turn, amid the binding
downpour of sitting smoke, and the
cracking of the fire eating it's way
upwards among the timbers of the pit,
John Roy acted as his master had
done, and leaped into the cage. He
would have saved all, If he could. But
himself first of all.
He stood for long moment with
his hand on the bell lever, which on
that side was still working.
Three boys were running towards
h inn, crying out to know what was the
matter. They had just arrived with
their pony-loads, ready, for the trucks
on which they were to be conveyed
up the Dock.
1.-The pits afire, lads" cried out the
"bottomer," come away with me!
Jump in! Quick with you"
But these three lads land this is a
true tale) whose names deserve to
be written in golden letters. though
no more than children in years, re-
turned to the faltering "bottomer" the
answer of brave men.
no" they said, 1--WE will gang back
and warn the men!"
But fear had fallen on John Roy.
The helmsman forsook his post. Thrice
he jerked the lever, and was whisked
away just in time, for the fire had
caught the ventilating shaft. He es-
capped and left hundred helpless men
to face their fate--and with tn EN- a
| girl.
| The three boys sped on their Way
The weight of many lives oppressed
their eager boyish hearts. The main
| workings were far away. Breathing
deeply to give them vigor, bending low
! to take the awkward corners, leapine
aside to avoid some laden wagon run
ming toward the well" they ran
| through the increasing smother. Fol-
already the air passages were tainted
| and. instead of feeding the great pit
with pure air, the downdraft was
pushing the deadly smoke, which men
cannot breathe, along all the working
| faces of the pit
| The boys raced, their backs bent
from their hips, as they took one dark
arch way after another, or scrambled
| over dangerous heaps of rubbish in
their zeal to be the first to warn their
| comrades
1.-THE pits afire-run, mentor your
| lives! Leave your picks"
! The last word clench ed the matter
| The men knew that only in the most
perilous necessity would such an ad
| vice be given them. So, at the word
all along the lines of half-naked men
| each man and boy dropped the tool he
| was using--pck or drill or hammer
| or "jelleck,' and ran as best he nigh
| for the bottom of the incline.
| But, when they arrived. they found
| only the red fire glowing sullenly from
| high overhead down upon the dul
| waters of the stump" and the cage
which ought to have taken them t.
| safety, gone with the pilot on board.
! And yet. to the credit of their man.