Year: 1860

Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Press. July II.


DuGIug tAe ilescut summer Iw Young
ladies rom the cay Of \ W I"rk wcy.
visiting at the residence ot the Sup rim
lendent of the great Forest Improvement
Conpanys mines in the Schuyikill coal
region. The younger was but eighteen
years of age, aud both possessed that love
of adventure which appears natural to Il
city belle, when relieved from the con
tractcd and contnin- influences of met
ropolitau life. After sojourning some
weeks amid the mild and beautiful scenery
of Woodslde,' they became anxious
for novel excitement, and determined
to $50 down into Il mine This idea
once conceived, could not be reasoned
away into IA mine they must 90, aud the
deepest one must be selected for the
excursion.


An intelligent and brave Scotchman.
whose practical knowledge of mining is
of the most thorough character, was ap-
pealed to, and he decided that old d,jit
Ga dritt, 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 a dis
tance of one mile and half, and had
been worked for years The dangers at.
tending the excursion were not conceal
ed, but these only added zest to the un-
dertaking. Two young gentlemen, also
from York, volunteered as escorts, and
the company was formed. 1t was ar
ranged that drift car was to be taken
to the entrance of tie mine, and that
this drawn by mule, and driven by a
miner, was to convey the party into the
earth's bosom while the Scotchman was
to accompany them as guide


Having equipped themselves for the
journey, 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 cham
Der, and their curiosity being thorough
y gratifed, they prepared to return -
Mounted on their novel conveyance, they
were proceeding merrily along, when one
of the young ladies expressed desire to
break off a pice of coal as a memento of
their visit. The car was stopped, aud
armed with stone, the lady commenced
batterlng at the granite like coal While
thus employed miner who had been
stationed at the outlet of the mine, en-
tered hastily, and informed the Scotch
guide that the earth over the passage
way had commenced to crumble.


This. to miners, is almost certain
indication that fall will take place-the
dropping pebbles being but the forerun-
ner 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. They
Rad gone but few yards when rumb.
ing like distant thunder was hcard-a
rush of cold air few over them, and then
all was still as the grave


There could be no doubt as to the
cause of this phenomenon the mine had
caycd in. Their mule was brought to
a stand, and the Scotchman accompanied
! by the miner who had served as the Jehn
of the party, proceeded onward to make
an exploration. In short time they
returned, and reported that the fall of
earth and rock was SO great that it would
take at least three DAYS to dig passage
way out; and that there was great dan
ger OF further falls, the earth being now
70 70 'senea Here was predicament -
buried beneath a mountain, beyond any
possible help for three days, with no
J wafer OF food, and the air so close that