The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-12-08
Dill, IN MUD
0oI"k.rs Arr H~'pi' s. t" Respond to The
C'.s Of I'm IS They '.
slowly SINK TO DEATH

Eve Geld Seekers Engulfed by Mud
Regions Danger Spots Are
Called "Honey.Pots''-Mining En-
ginecr Tells of Diggers Thi:owiug
Away Geld to Save Themselves.
S owly sinking in sea Of mud, as
least five men are known to have
gene down to death, swallowed up
by the "honey-pots" that lie around
FREDERICK House Lake in the newly
discovered god mining region of the
torcupine district of Northern On
lario. The story has been brought
rom the new gold fields by w. B.
niacleay, mining engineer and pros
pector OF Montreal, who has spenA
the summer in the Thinning district
and who, emaciated and gaunt vis-
age1, has come back to civilizations
~ recover his health.
Mr.. Macleay says that just before
! ke started outbound on his tramp
Inc fall rains had converted a large
Part of tine district into mud slougns
and wide deep patches of yielding,
! SHAKING soil. All kinds OF vehicular
tra f1ic was stopped, thus cutting of
he food supplies that usually reach
he camps from Disco, the nearest
station When he left camp, little
more than two weeks ago, nearly
~ erythins edible had been eaten,
and starvation stared the miners il
The face. They were therefore con-
fTonted with slow AMI miserable
death, II they remained In camp,
and until the frosts hardened the
surface of the swamps they would
encounter a no less terrible fate In
Striving to reach the outside world
unless acquainted with the trails.
Some in desperation faced the
peril Of the long and dangerous
tramp to DISCO to bring back food,
the general load being 100 pounds of
provisions per man, strapped on the
rack. Packing through supplies n
this way or death were the only
alternatives. At best, 1t was a slow
and laboriols process as the trails,
&c in any direction the packers
/ might, led through swamps that sep
lrated the northern or richer parts
of+the gold FIELD. from the ground that
lad solid surface. The most diff
cult and deadly part OF the journey
"as along the shores of Frederick
iIouse Lake, where there was an OLD
Hudson Bay post
1T was ON this part Of the trail,"
said Mr.. Macleay, that saw, on my
way out, two men with loads ON
their backs slowly sink down in the
mud and disappear. from sight. Their
cries and shrieks were frightful ID
lear. There were several others
around, but we could do nothing for
the two unfortunates, who were
gradually en2ulfed before our eyes
ds we stood near by absolutely help
iess to afford them any assistance.
Nobody had any ropes. Branches
Ct the alder and tamarack were torn
from some solitary trees around, but
ihe sinking men could not stretcn
out their hands to grasp the suc-
cory. The sight and sounds were
forrifying. 1t was raining hard than
and dusk was beginning to fall, and
had we remained longer it. would
Lave been death for all OF US. 1t
was with the utmost difficulty thl:
we at last succeeded in getting on
edfe ground
9:ticks made out Of boughs OF
The trees were pushed down 10 probe
the depth Of the mire, and it was a
legend that in many parts you might
SO down twenty feet OF more before
solid ground was touched when The
.ains came in such quantity as had
then fallen. One man told me THAI
ne witnessed two stalwart fellows
sink to their death Under circum-
stances similar to those I have de-
ecribed, while another told of a
rouny lad who went to his doom in
like manner lower down the trail.
1t Is quite probable there were sew
eral others who met like fate, as
1t was the easiest thing in the world
TO wander Off terra lrma and get
hopelessly mired in "a treacherous
bog. Some Of those who were COM
Ing out had to savet their lives at
the expense Of tho" geld they car
rled that represented their labor for
the summer"
Yet the knowledge Of all these
terrible difficulties, the suffe:ings to
be undergone and the death traps
that lurk ON every side, does not ap-
ral the seeker after. hidden wealth.
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| NEGRO SHOT TO DEATH