The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-11

After being entombed in the earthen
vault of the st. Patrick mine in the high
mountain side of Heughs canyon for fifty
hours, Jerry and George Peterson were
dragged out feet foremost through a hole
barely large enough to permit their exit
Scores of men worked increasingly for two
days and two nights to accomplish their
rescue.
During all those fifty long hours, the
minutes of which were like hours, the two
miners underwent an experience that few
men could survive. Without closing their
eyes in sleep or tasting food, quenching
their insufferable thirst with the seepage
water OF the mine, breathing foul air and
more than half the time in the darkness
of the blacklist pit, through what seemed
an impenetTable wall of earth, they ex-
changed words of encouragement with
those who were straining every nerve to
break down the barrier. Always tn the
shadow of death these men pluckily made
their fight, accepting the odds against
them, ard with their indomitab bic nerve
and the assistance of devoted workers
woT, the battle for life
within an hour after their rescue from
the prison chamber of the mine the two
brothers were lying side by side IN a bed
in a slumbCr as deep and peaceful as that
OF their boyhood days.
Strange to say, the two brothers showed
little iIl-effect of the terrible privation and
mental torture through which they had
passed. After the lOng entOmbment- dur
ing which shey had worked as hard as the
rescuing party, their physlcal condltlon
was surprising. With the support of
strong arms, they were able TO walk out
of the tunnel to the wagon, which con-
veyed them to their home. The physician
directed that the men should be given not
- ont arm in no
A Dramatic Climax.
The rescue Of the entombed miners
formed a climax to one Of the most dra-
matte scenes ever enacted in the noun
tains of Utah.
II was about ) O'Clock when DR.. ". z.
Ferrebee arrived that the waiting crowd
of hundred or more felt satisfied that
the rescue of the men was soon 10 De &C
ConpIished. The hopeful feeling was
again dispeled with the gloom Of the
nonotonous announcement of another
cave-in, told by a worker as he emerged
from the tunnel. Despair was again avert
ed with the oft-repeated assurance that
it would only take two or three more
hours but at the same time 1t began to
be noticed that the two wives who had
been almost constantly at the mine from
the time of the discovery of the entomo-
ment had slipped away. 1t was also no
tfced that a wagon was being prepared,
its bed being lined with blankets. Then
came a call from the tunnel for the doc
tor and instinctively the crowd gathered
around the entrance to the mine Then
followed another call for overcOatsy which
were taken into the dark, winding tunnel
For minutes not a word was said Dut
all eyes were fastened on the tunnel S
mouth With telepathic suggestion every
man present and there were women, too,
knew that the rescue had been accom-
plished, but not word was spoken. Here
and there throughout the thrOng gathered
about the hole I'm the mountain a sobbing
tone was heard, and a passing glimpse
caught many glistening eye The sus-
pense Of that moment was almost mad
dening.
Suspense Is Broken.
The first real announcement of the res
cue was given In the smile upon the face
of one of the rescuers as he came out OF
the tunnel. Following him was NJ. NJ.
Johnson, begrimed with soil and with the
tense lines of his face relaxed in a happy
smile Walking up the slope to where
Samuel NewhOuse stood he spoke the first
words, We'll, they're out"
The hands were. barely gripped in re-
Spouse when the tenseness of the situa-
ton was broken with the appearance of q
strange, weird-lOokins figure led in his
faltering steps by two men. 1t was George
Peterson. but so swathed in quilts and
handages that he was unreCOgniza To
the crowd he was simply one of the men
whom they had worked for two days and
nights to rescue. and the recognition was
given in one long-drawn breath that was
heard above the wind whiStling down the
ravine The sudden relief from fear and
suspense seemed too great for vocal eX-
preston and not a word was uttered.
With a sudden impulse. however, dozens
of hands were Outstretched almost at the
same moment to assist the men who had
been so near to death. As he was lifted