Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-22
The T'readWe1l Mime
By Frederic j. Haskin

seventeen different languages are
spoken in the camp, and the unique
feature of the situation Is that the
superintendent can talk to only ~ per
cent of his men. To the remainder he
has to make signs or depend upon IN
terpreters, which is always unsatis-
factory. Few of the men are married.
They get from SO to $3.50 day ana
their board and lodging. Many or
them come direct from Europe TO enter
the employ of the company, ana most
of them save the greater part or thelr
wages. They cut their own hair, do
their own washing, and, in fact, get
along as cheaply as only Europeans
can. Their only regular expenditure
seems to be the purchase of cigarettes.
of which they are excessive smokers.
Many Of the men leave their money
with the company, the books at one
time showing that over $SOO'OOO III
wages was uncalled for. The company
pays no interest on the money put
agrees to pay any or all or II on ae-
mand The largest sum due any one
man was $4,000. He did not draw cent
for q year and half after he went
to work.
Slavs and Scandinavians predomi-
nate among the nationalities employed
in the mine. About the only express
sion in English that they can ever
master is "all right" and they work II
overtime. No matter whether one or
them Is called a liar or told that dln-
ner is ready, he invariably answers
"All right" Their inability to under
stand what is said to them often
causes trouble. One day new boss
was experimenting a big blast, and as
couple of workmen approached he
shouted, Don't go that way or you II
get your heads blown OFF, One of
them answered. "All right" and the
boss, supposing from their answer that
they understood English, made a break
for cover. They had not understood
him at all and walked right into the
blast receiving the full force OF II.
| There wasn't enough left of them to
hold an inquest over
Working with powder is always a
dangerous job, and 1t is particular so
| for these ignorant foreigners. The
principal blasts are made at noon and
at o'clock. An elevator goes down
the shaft to the level where everything
is ready but the lighting of the fuse,
and as soon as this is touched off
there is quick flight upward to
safety. Sometimes the men complete
their work before the elevator is due.
and in order TO get to the surface and
loaf a while before the whistle blows
ladders that lead from one level to
another. one day three men touched
off the fuses and ran for the ladders.
Two of them mounted safely. but the
third one missed his first step and be-
came 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
ba hnffAnc from hfG brooches and the
buckles from his suspenders.
Probably the most remarkable acci-
dent that ever happened at the Tread
well was when a Swede fell down
shaft 256 feet into ten feet of water
without being killed. Whenever this
story is told the hearer is naturally
skeptical, but, remarkable as 1t was.
he actually fell that distance and lived
to resume work in the mine. When he
fell he had on a slicker coat and
pair of gum boots. Both his boots
came off, one of them being found at
the 110-foot level and the other at the
220-foot level. He maintained an up
right position during the whole of his
awful fall and struck the water feet
| first. When the cage was sent down
after him IL was not with the intention
of performing a rescue, but to make
preparations for a funeral. He was
not even unconscious. An examination
revealed the fact that not bone was
broken by the terrible plunge. How
ever, his nerves sustained such a Sc
we're shock that he was confined to the
hospital for eight months and he did
not do any heavy work for two years.
In referring to his experience he said:
81 one big Jumper"
Although the men are extremely
economical, they. cheerfully contribute
dollar a month for the support of
the hospital and a like sum for the
maintenance of the Y NJ. c. A. The
company spent $4,000 for the erection
of a suitable building and the MEM
bership dues defray the running ex-
penses. 1t has a gymnasium, with
baths, besides a reading room contain
ing literature in all the languages
spoken in the camp.
1t is impossible to even estimate the
quantity of gold that is locked up be-
hind the rocky walls of Alaska's
mountains. Some say it is more than
equal to the riches ali the mines in
the world have yet produced. The
country that Uncle Sam bought from
Russia for less than cents an acre
has proved to be the greatest bargain
ever made in real estate. When Tread
well paid the freight on French Pete's
goods and took over the claim that
proved to be the "glory hole of min
ing history he paved the way for OPP
erations that will go on for years and
years adding, all the while to the
horde of wealth the world is storing
| in its treasure vaults.