Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-10-16
THE LITTLE N|PPER
How In Time of Trouble Col
Iiery Boy Proved Himself to
Be Best Man of All.
BY cAsPAR DAY.


Manek's clearinghouse was the
last of the row, and the November
storm, swinging down the hill, struck
1t with full power. The wind howled
around the corner and shook the door.
Volleys Of sleet ratified on the window
panes. The boardera, fair, big men
with sweeping blond mustaches, sat
indoors and spoke with disapproval
of the weather.
The kitchen was warm, and crowd
ed. The card-players had grown tired,
for 1t was nine o'clock, and their time
Drowned pack lay on the table.
Marnek's six-year-old sat on Poul
Lepka's knee. Now and then he
rammed resolute square fists into his
eyes. He must keep awake, for to-
night Wescavage-the wise, splendid.
experienced Wescavage. giver Of ba-
nanas and pennies-had condescended
to tell him stories.
"And now another" josie de-
manded.
The boarders, thlck-set Lithuanians,
settled into their chairs In silent ac-
quiescence.
1T was at the Buttonwood that this
happened which | tell you. It was
long ago, when was young and did
not care how I behaved.
81 was a laborer then. worked for
Dutchman whose chamber was in an
out-ofthe-way corner of the bottom
vein, two miles from the shaft, mar
row block of coal that the company
had just begun to mine, though there
we're old workings on both sides Of
us. There were only five chambers
out that way in my time.
Along in the fall, only the week
before Chicken day Thanksgiving
day., sort Of sickness took the rocks
and the mine began to break and
shove and squeeze. II went on for
three days and nights. By the fourth
day, many people took out their tools
and sant word they we're sick. All the
men who worked in our part stayed
away; only my Dutchman and I. for
the moneys sake, put off quitting.
Time went on. The rocks got no
better and no worse, so that we grew
used to the noises. We were 700
feet from the surface anyway, 30
there was no use In worrying; you
could chuck your Job, or you could
put the danger out OF your head al
together.
Then came Friday. A track-bots.
an old man, ran to the landing as
we got off the cage. He wanted men
to set timbers, for he thought the
mine was getting little worse. We
took It because OF the pay. And all
that morning we worked where we
were needed. and the Job led us
farther and farther from the shaft,
and on and on toward the branch
where the Dutchman's chamber was.
AT noon we stopped for bite or
SO and drink. had five fried pork
chops In my can and ate two OF them;
the Dutchman ate bologna, and the
third man had herring. For hours
afterward you could smell Bologna
and herring In our part OF the nine.
"The Dutchman was in the middle
Of story when the caving began.
THE falls came one after another,
some near. some far away. The air
blew on us this way and that. each
time the rock came down. The floor
shook and Jared with II. The noises
were horrible. Our lights went out In
the wind. We tried to run, and fell
down. and lay waiting for the roof to
drop and finish us. But II did not
come.
After long time OF quiet, my
Dutchman got up. lighted his lamp
and filled his pipe. My lamp was
empty. so filled II from my oil.can.
and lighted II from his. The man who
was a good Catholic and ate herring
for Friday was on his feet before
either Of us. walking always softly for
fear Of jarring the roof with noise.
Finally he came back.
1.-THE bottles corked,' says he In
English.
"'You know surer the Dutchman
asked him.
And he answered. Sure
80 that was all there was to Il.
I'VE looked round ourselves, but
there was no way out. Choosing what
looked like safe spot, we took up ties
and rails, and got all our spare tim.
bers. and built a wall OF ribs and PROPS
around the place TO make II surer.
There was drip OF water in our wall
that was not 30 strong Of sulphur as
most mine water. and the Dutchman
said he could drink II II he had TO. In
that place we sat down to walt, and
old Max smoked. gave myself to
my dinner-pail, not fearing. TIL the
herring-eater stopped me.
"'Save what you can,' says he.
There's tomorrow. Think OF tomor.
row. He said II in Polish, but the old
Dutchman understood.
Long after, well on In the night. n
man and boy came to US. The man
was Irish and the boy was a little
nipper-one OF our people.
blow out yer light like hell!' yells
the nipper TO us. He always spoke
English at work. 'There'il be gas any
minute
"'At dis mine Ia lIddle gas, says
Mar. chewing on. Why you scairt,'
1--WE come from your own cham.