The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-01-01
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die of a sentence. There was a rumb-
ling. terrifying sound from within the
mine, accompanied by several sharp
explosions coming in rapid success
sion. Both Casey and Nan started in
fright What did this unexpected turn
OF affairs mean2 Was it more of Won
Blocks work. Their minds were
working with lightning quickness.
Suddenly the signal for the cage to be
lowered worked frantically. Casey ran
to the donkey engine and ordered it to
be sent down Immediately.
The five minutes which followed, be-
fore the cage was lifted, were filled
with mental agony and suspense for
both Casey and Nan They were nerv-
Ously trying to imagine the scene
when the men from below, who had
given the signal, would reach the sur
face. And then, wrapped in a little
film OF smoke, the cage appeared at
the top of the shaft. The forms of
half a score of staggering, weakened
men. almost fell forward. Casey and
Nan rushed forward to meet them,
and saw, lying prone on the floor of
the cage, the forms OF q dozen uncon-
scious victims OF the catastrophe. To
these they went and brought them
out, one by one, where miners could
work over and revive them. AS Casey
carried the last man out of the shaft
Nan, her eyes wet with tears. cried:
"Gwynl Where is Gwyn? He didn't
come up in the cagei"
1--WE tried to make him come up
one of those who had been rescued,
answered but ne wouldn't Said he'd
stay down and try to save some
others Better send the cage right
down again to him."
what happened? Casey demand
ed
big explosion" was the reply.
Tried to wreck the mine. 1 guess.
Most of it was in the cid part, where
no one was working. The biggest
dangers from the smoke. The whole
mine is filled with That's what got
us-the smoke-heavy. black stuff
that'd smother you in a second"
The words seemed to burn Mans
very soul. The thought of her hus-
band imprisoned below in the suffo-
eating smoke terrified her. She rush
ed to the cage. but it was already de-
scending for another load of humans.
Standing beside the spot where the
cage was located, Casey and Nan
waited many anxious minutes for it
to rise again, hoping chat Gwyn would
be among those in the second load.
But, when at last the sage was again
hoisted to the surface, Gwyn was not
to be seen. Only a mass of huddled
men, more dead than alive, emerged
One told Nan that Gwyn had saved
the majority of them and, when the
cage had been lifted, he had gone
back for more OF the imprisoned min
ers.
Tin going down." she screamed tc
Casey Hes down there and I'm go
ing to help himl Don't stop mel"
"Don't!" Casey shouted back to her
l"Let me go ] can help him more
than you can"
But Nan, as he spoke. had already
run to the cage and vanished in thC
smoke that now curled out of Tho
shaft in heavy clouds. Her voice wa'
heard coming from the cage, as Case.
rushed forward to check her brave Du
seemingly futile descent.
"All right Let me down. Quick
The man in charge of the dOnke,
engine which controlled the cage obey
ed the order Hogans dog, attracted
By the sound of Mans voice. rushed
into the smoke, and when Case,
reached the shaft he arrived just il
time to see it being lowered, envelop
ed in smoke, to the bottom of th'
mine
The dense. black smoke rolled
through the web-work of tunnels tina
wove and Intervene under the ground
until every subterranean passage o
the mine seemed filled. To one i'm
prisoned there escape must seem i'm
possible. Even should he escape