The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-21

1 stand what is said to them often
causes trouble. One day "A new boss
| was experimenting big blast and AS
couple of workmen approached he
shouted: Don't go that way or you'll
get your heads blown off, One of
them answered: "Ali right" and the
boss. supposing from their answer that
they understood English. made a
break for cover. They had not under
stood him at all and walked right
into the blast. receiving the full force
of 1t. There wasn't enough left of
| them to hold an inquest over.
Working with powder Is always a
dangerous job, and II Is particularly
go Tor these ignorant foreigners. The
principal blasts are made at noon and
at o'clock An elevator goes down
the shaft to the ieve; where every
thing Is reay but the lighting of the
fuse, and as soon as this is touched
of there is quick fight upward TO
safety. Sometimes the men complete
their work before the elevator IS due,
and. in order TO get to the surface
and loaf awhile before the whistle
blows, they light their fuses and
climb the ladders that lead from one
level to another. One day three men
touched off the fuses ana ran for The
ladders. Two Of them mounted safely,
but the third one missed his first step
and became so confused that he
couldn't make his feet stick to the
rounds OF the ladder The blast went
off with a resounding report and about
all there was left OF the poor devil
were the buttons from his breeches
and he buckles from his suspenders
Probably the most remarkable ac-
cident that ever happened at the
TreadwelI was when a Swede fell
q int
OF water without being killed. When
ever this story Is told the hearer Is
naturally skeptical, but remarkable
AS IT was, he actually fell that dis
lance and lived to resume work in
the mine. When he fell he had on
slicker coat and pair of gum
boots. Both his boots came off, one
OF them being found at the 10 foot
level and the other at the 220 foot
level. He maintained an upright po-
sition during the whole of his awful
fall and struck the water feet first.
When the cage was sent down after
him 1t was not with the intention OF
performing rescue, but to make
preparations for funeral. He was
not even unconscious. An examina-
ton revealed the fact that not bone
was broken BY the terrible plunge.
However, his nerves sustained such
q SSNNte tAdt nc WAS tOnuHGu
to the hospital for eight months. and
he did not do any heavy work for
two years. In referring to his ex-
perience, he said, II one big yumper."
Although the men ara extremely
economical, they cheerfully contrib
ute dollar a month for the support
OF the hospital anu like sum for (
the maintenance Of the Y. III. c. A. I,
The company spent $4,000 for the /
erection of a suitable building. and /
the membership dues defray the run
ming expenses. 1t has a gymnasium, I
with baths. besides q reading room |
literature In all the Ian 7
guages spoken In the camp.
IL Is impossible to even estimate
tie quantity OF gold that Is locked up
behind the rocky wallis OF Alaska's Il
Some say II is more than
equal To the riches all the mines In n
the world pave yet produced. The
country that uncle Gam bought from
Ruasaa Tor lese than two cents an
.cse haS proved VI be the greatest
nAr1Ban eHSg mlAde = real estate.