The Carlisle independent., 1917-02-08

OWuST OI the SupeTSLlJlOH ft0lJl08 OH the way, he dashed up into Seagrue's room and told him what had happened.
 "The main tunnel of the Supersti- tion mine has collapsed he cried. "We're on the way out in car. Rhinelander, Storm and a crew of the men are caught inside"
 Sorry to hear that" said Seagrue, shortly. "Go on. Don't lose any time. I'll follow" He called to his servant for his coat and hat as the doctor ran out. Putting on the coat he hesi- tated. changed his mind, and decided not to go. He threw his hat and coat on the table again and sat down.
 In the tunnel the men had been caught like rats in a trap.
 Serious as their situation was, none of them lost their heads, and Rhine lander and Storm, in particular neither of them unused to great peril were calm. But what to do in cir cumstances so strange to them, the inaticn of the cave-in showed their exit completely cut off. This misfor tune, however, did not paralyze their activities
 With the two railroad men encour- aging them, the men worked hard to get through the obstruction in front of them They toiled unremittingly, knowing how every hour within their prison would lessen their chances for life. One of the men, exhausted by tie labor picked up water eanteen. It was broken. A canvass was made of the situation and it was found they had no water Gloom settled for a time on them. Thereafter, question ing the foreman carefully, Rhineland- CT picked a place where the experi- enced miner thought they might, with little work, get through and turned to the men. Dynamite through this wall" he said.
 The men began. The moment the blast was ready, 1t was set off and they were back again at their drills preparing for the next. Working thus with frenzied energy, they tore great 1 holes into the tunnels side, but seem ingly with no hopeful result. And the work was beginning to tell on them. By the time they had gotten what they hoped might be the final shot ready, Rhinelander and the miners-all in the tunnel except Storm-were on the verge of collapse.
 Nerved to a final effort by the hope l of life the shot was fred No ray of daylight greeted their straining eyes as the smoke thinned away. The air, now foul. had so overcome them that few could crawl forward to examine the shattered wall One grizzled fel- low, sturdier than his mates. stag gered to it. He looked for moment at the rock and cried cut Animated by fresh hope, the exhausted men re- sponded by dragging themselves to 1 him.
 The blast had not given them the l hoped-for avenue of escape. But broadly lined across the jagged sur face now dislodged, they saw staring at them as if in mockery of their state, the lost vein. the lead of pre- cious quartz again before them. Un- told riches confronted them.
 Seagrue, in his room, had heard the distant report of the explosion. but he had Teen drinking of late and his nerves were on edge.
 He strode up and down the room re- | volving in his mind the situation of | the men imprisoned within the big tun- nel He knew enough of the mine to understand perfectly the peril of their position and the necessity of quick rescue if their lives were to he saved. Further than this, he charged his mind with nothing of responsibility; indeed he would hardly have walked across 1 the street to save one of the imper- fled men. Yet. strangely persistent curiosity moved him to want to know more of the fate of those who were thus struggling for their lives. l A decanter stood on the buffet and he turned to it. While he poured brandy into glass, he heard strange noise in an adjoining room--a sound as if of a miners doublejack. Ii startled him unpleasantly. He called to his servant and the man. thus ab ruptly summoned, came quickly, car rying an ice pick.
 Whats that noise? What are you doing?" demanded Seagrue, harshly.
 The man in half-frightened way began to laugh. Only picking a lit tie ice, sir" he said, apologetieally
 Seagrue. without answering, snatched the ice pick from his hand. Give me my hat and coat" he exclaimed with anger. And as the man hurried ly produced them. he added curtly: Get out" And serving himself, he made ready to start for the mine.
 Attempt after attempt on the part of Rhinelander, Storm and the miners to open a way of freedom was failing and overcome by the foul air, the men one after another. had sunk down from exhaustion.