Year: 1860

During the present summer two young
ladies from the city of New York were
visiting at the residence of the superinten.
dent of the great Forest Improvement
Company's mines, in the Schuylkill coal
region. The younger was but eighteen
years OF age, and both possessed the love
of adventure which appears natural to a
city belle when relieved from the contract
ed and confning influences of metropolitan
life. After sojourning several weeks amid
the beautiful scenery of 'Woodside," they
become anxious for a novel excitement. and
determined to go down into a mine This
idea once conceived, could not be reasoned
away into a mine they must 90, and the
deepest one must be selected for the excur-
sion.


An intelligent and brave Scotchman,
whose practical knowledge of mining is OF
the most thorough character was appealed
to, and he decided that an old drift, Ia drift,
reader, is an opening leading horizontally
into the side OF mountain) known as the
otto Mine,' was the most suitable for the
proposed visit. This drift extended into
the mountain distance Of one mile and a





The dangers attending the excursion were
not concealed, but these only added zest TO
the undertaking. Two young gentlemen
also from York, volunteered as escorts, and
The party was formed. 1t was arranged
that drift car was to be taken to the en-
trance OF the mine, and that this drawn by
mule, and driven by a miner. was to con-
vey the party into the earth's bosom, while
the Scotohman was to accompany them as
guide.


Having equipped themselves for the jour
ney, they departed at five o'clock in the
afternoon, and reached the end Of the mine
without difficulty. Here an hour was spent
in examining the coal formations and the
subterranean chamber, and their curiosity
being thoroughly gratifed, they prepared
to return. Mounted on their novel convey
ance, they were proceeding merrily along,
when one of the young ladies expressed a
desire to break off piece of coal as a me-
mento of their visit, While thus employed,
miner who had been ,tationed at the out
let of the mine, entered hastily, and inform
ed the Scotch guide that the earth over the
passage way had commenced TO crumble.


This, TO miners. is an almost certain indi-
cation that fall will take place-the drop
ping pebbles being but the fore-runner of
the crushing rocks and earth. The car
was Immediately put in motion with the
hope that the exit might be gained before
the danger arrived, but their efforts were
in vain. They had gone but few hun
dred yards when rumoling like distant
thunder was heard--a rush of cold air
blew over them, and then all was cold as
the gravel


There could be no doubt as to the cause
of this phenomenon the mine had caved
in. Their mule was brought TO a stand,
and the Scotchman, accompanied by the
miner who had served as the John of the
party, proceeded onward to make explora-
ton. In short time they returned, and
reported that the fall of earth and rock
was so great that il would take three days
at least to dig passage-way out; and that
there was great danger of further falls, the
earth being now loosened. Here was
predicament Buried beneath a mountain,
beyond any possible help for three days,
with no water or food, and the air so close
that unaccustomed lungs could hardly breath
1.-THE heart might well quail at the con-
temptation OF such condition. But female
heroism rose superior to the misfortune,
and the ladies of the party stood as those
who championed human fears One of
them declared that they could kill the mule
and live upon that for three days, or until
they could dig out


After a consultation among the miners.
the Scotch guide announced that there was
an air shaft ascending from the mine TO the
summit of the mountain, and that it was
barely possible that this might afford a way
ofegress. The party then returned 10 the
extremely of the drift, and the miner who
them was sent up the shaft TO
if it was open to the surface
For nearly two hours the company anx-
iously awaited the return Of their messen-
ger. AT the end of that time he came back
with the report that they had reached the
surface with great difficulty and tha; the
shaft was open but in very dangerous
condition. Time had roited away the tim
bers which kept It's sides from falling togeIh-
er. and the stones hung loose in many
places. ready to fall at the slightest touch.
Bot still there was hope of escape; and
when humanity is reduced TO desperation,
fsats can BE- accomplished which ia calmer