Year: 1877

An Editor Vtslls o ssC0ve," end
Gets Some Expericncean Mining


Below the groupings of the Gould
4 Curry Mine is to be seen u larg,
cavity. or sink, which marks the spoi
under which q great cave occurred
during the superintendency of Char.
ley Bonner. Happening to pass over
the ground yesterday, we were strong.
ly reminded of a rather perilous trip
which we made into the underground
region of the mine At the time the cave
occurred.


Luckily ample warning had been
given by the settling of the ground
within themine and the swapping and
splintering of timbers, therefore no
lives were lost in the cave. News oi
the grand crash in the mine spread
rapidly through the town, and all who
heard of the accident gave sigh OF
relief when told that the miners es-
capped uniniured. The full extent oi
the cave and the damage done there
by in the interior and in the mine
was not known for some time but
from the cavity formed on the surface
was judged to be very great. Being
desirous of obtaining, If possible, full
particulars in regard to the condition
Of the underground sections of the
mine, we called upon Mr.. Bonner and
made known to him our wishes.


II have not been in the mine for
three or four hours, and therefore am
unable To give an exact account of the
present condition of the cayed por-
tions. However, if you will venture
with me-" said Mr.. Bonner. I'VE will
go in as far as possible and see how
things look"


Having agreed to Mr.. Bonner's prop
osition, two lanterns were procured,
and we soon found ourselves on the
level where the greatest damage had
been done. The ninerse had all left
that part of the mine. Nowhere was
to be seen the friendly twinkle of
either lamp or candle; all was dark as
the caves Of the Cimmerii, save where
the light of our lanterns fell upon the
walls Of the tunnel along which we
were advancing, or where the rays
streamed far ahead, and were reflected
back by points of pyrites or bright
quartz crystals.


At first, too, all was silent as the
tomb, butas we moved forward the snap
of a falling timber or the dull boom of
heavy fall of earth reached our ears.
These sounds constantly grew more
distinct. Soon was heard sort of run
ming fire of sharp little snaps from the
bent and splintering timbers, with ev-
er and anon startling musket-like re-
port, as some large timber broke in
twain or was rent asunder.


We were now fast nearing the scene
of the cave. As yet the ground about
was sound and all timbers stood intact
in their places. Our advance was
slow and cautiously made. At times
some unusual commotion caused US to
halt and listen half a minute, with bod
les inclined forward and eyes strained
to penetrate beyond the light thrown
out by our lanterns. Few words pass.
ed between us. wait btu or "Now
let us novel, on from Mr.. Bonner,
was about all that was said.


Presently we came to drift leading
from tunnel we had been traversing.
The swapping and grinding sounds
were now more distinctly heard.


1T is in this direction said Bon
ner, leading the way into the drift.


We had not proceeded far before we
came to where the umbers of the drift
were badly bent and displaced. We
were in spot where. the ground was
settling. A kind of ticking noise came
from the tagging overhead and along
the sides Of the drift. and dirt sifted
down on our bats.


Soon we reached 4 place where the
posts on the sides Of the drift were bent
like bows. The backs of these bows
projected into the drift, and were full
of splinters, some of which were formed
snapped out-before our eyes. Short
ly We came upon two posts bent out
from opposite sides OF the drift till their
backs were mt more than foot apart.


This looks bad" !" said Bonner.


Every. Let US go back }" said we.


ut cannot be far to the edge of the
cave. We want to see that. Suppose
we venture? Timbers are still strong
when they snap"


"Then move on" said we, but our
legs wanted to go the other way.


In passing between the two beat
posts j, was necessary to turn our body
edgewise. Ali about US the timbers
were working and groaning, but still
stood some distance apart. At the end
of the drift we came into large open
space-what seemed long and broad
chamber-and turning westward across
this We were soon as near the edge Of
cave as 1t was thought prudent to ven
ture.


Holding our lanterns above our
heads, wesaw before us black and
yawning pit or chasm. The light OF
the lantern failed to show us either
the top or the bottom Of this pit, nor
could we see across TO the further side.
1t seemed to have neither top nor bot.
tom-seemed but shapeless, bound.
less region of darkness.


Into this frightful pit there fell ev.
cry half minute, FROM somewhere in
the darkness high above, great masses
Of earth and rocks. At times, judging
from the thunderods sounds, hundreds
of tons at once tumbled from the root
and sides of the chasm. Smaller mass.
es were almost constantly dropping in
some direction, while the spiinteriDg,
swapping and groaning of timbers in
all directions was something frightful.


Suddenly, as we stood quaking in