Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-03-04

Then, one by one, We CROPPED through
the first door-all Of us--and then
through the second. My helmet had
leaked and my head reeled In n misty
sort of way from the time left bot
tom, and as the bright. gray world
outside streamed in through the sweat
streaked buIlscye it semed more like
pleasantly swaying picture than a
reality. Some one pulled open my air
valve, and in u second my helmet was
off, and drew into my lungs air that
had seemed never so sweet or fresh.
Already another crew was preparing
for third descent to carry our inves-
legations still further
For one long week we continued our
work ut the air shaft. and almost ey-
cry hour Il crew of helmetcd men was
lowered down in the swinging box to
the bottom Working in the darkness
by the feeble light Of their torches.
knee deep in water and climbing over
the rotting bodies Of the mules. they
erected stoppings across the openings
of the two air courses which led from
the bottom of the air shaft The small
door connecting the mir shaft with the
escapement or stairway was then open
ed. and a few hours later the biz fan
at the fan house began slowly to turn
over and force pure air down the air
shaft. which-as our stoppings proved
to be tight-fourd no escape Into the
mine and returned up the stairway,
making a single loop at the bottom In
half an hour both compartments or the
shaft were clear. and men. with SAFE,
ty lamps and helmets readytn case OF
danger. descended and found the
smoke gone and the mir clean on the
bottom. That night the bodies OF the
nearest mules were hoisted out. ana
everything was put IN readiness for a
trip OH the following morning into the
tunnels of the mine nearest the alr
shaft. With clean air at bottom 1t was
now possible to put on our helmets
there and go directly into the NINE
avoiding the danger and discomfort OF
the long helmeted trip down the smoke
filed shaft
II was about 8 o'clock In the morning
when four of US prepared for this hrs'
investigation of conditions existing II
the mine surrounding the air shaft
Our helmets were adjusted OH top
leaving the air valve open. to be CLOSED
when we passed through the small dool
at the foot Of the stairway Into the
mine. Delmer stayed in the box, ano
the three of us left him and. splash
Ing noisiy In the water, craw'eo
through the small door into the door ol
the escapement and then, suddenly
opening the door into the mine. passed
through It MS quickly rs we were able
We realized that fire might exist be
yond. n possibility which made 1t nee
essary for us to crawl through as quick
ly as possible in order that the pun OF
air which would accompany us mgh'
not be of sufficient volume 10 mix witt
gas and form an explosive mixture
which the fire would ignite. was tn
last to 20 through the door. turning
my shoulders sideways In order to pas:
my knapsack through the narrow aper
ture.
From the comparative GOODNESS OF th'
shaft we stepped out into b entry, ant
our first impression was one OF heat
| for the mir was hot beyond our expec
tation. We had supposed, from TIT
| volume Of smoke that had been In tn
air shaft before 1t was blown out. tina
B entry and probably most Of the res
| of the mine would be In like condi
ton. but the conditions were almOs
worse than they uau Dreh -. the III
shaft. The smoke WAS thick us foi
bunk. Cropping blindly through th
blackness, upon which our lights seem
ed scarcely to make an impression, w
reached the other side Of the entry,
distance of about twenty feet. The
through the sweat strcaked glass III IN
helmet | saw n dull red glow. first al
most imperreptible and then brighte
Us we udvanced-a tinge Of tnwny CO.
or smeared into the thick black smoke
The entry was still on fire, aud Ie'
steps more brought Us 80 close 10 I'd
flames that the heat on our unpro'ecte
hands and necks became almost VI
bearable. There was nothing now tba
could be accomplished. and after fe'
brief words from MACPHERSON. below
ed through his helmet. we turned nm
felt our way back to the small doo
way.
It was now doubly necessary thf
our exit should be made as quickly o
possible. for We were standing ID
gas filed entry. An open tire. demo
ing the presence of oxygen. was bur'
ing actively behind us. and every Sc
ond that the door remained open as v