A gold-mine consists of more than a vertical hole or shaft. At points along the main shaft, long tunnels- crosscuts-which generally run parallel to the surface, are made. From one level thus formed a shaft may be sunk to another underneath it. This is called a winze. Again, the quartz may be taken out in such a way that an upward shaft-a stope or rise-is made. Thus, in a well-worked mine, there is a network of underground passages which are not easy to keep free from water.
One afternoon, while the men were at work, the water began to rise rapidly. Most of the miners, who were working at the No.10 level, noticed it, and made good their escape. One poor man in a stope was prevented by the fast-rising water from reaching the main shaft. He was an Italian named Modesto Varischetti.
Drawn by Allan T. Bernaldo
Diver Hughes reaches the Italian
In the shaft, the water rose about sixty feet above the level at which the men had been working. But the Italian was about thirty feet above this level, in a place that may be compared to a tube with a closed end. When the water rushed up the main shaft, it pushed the air before it. But the air in the stope had no outlet, and it thus kept the water from rising all the way up, for air occupies space just as water does. If you push a bottle, mouth downwards, into a basin of water, you will notice that the water will not rise all the way in the bottle, because of the air that cannot escape. Such was the case in the stope where the Italian was working.
Though he was not drowned, he was still in an awful position. Try to picture him there, just saved from a sudden death-only to await a slower and a more horrible one from starvation. Hundreds of feet down in the dark earth, away from the cheerful sunlight, away from his friends, with the murky water beneath him-what an awful position for a human being!
The men above thought that their mate had been drowned, but he could soon be heard knocking against the roof of his prison. When they found that he was alive, they set to work to save him, if possible. All the pumps were kept going full speed, but it was seen that, before the mine was emptied in this way, the Italian would be dead.
The Minister of Mines at Perth then sent two divers, Messrs. Hughes and Hearn, to the spot by a special train. They arrived on Thursday afternoon, and tried to reach the imprisoned miner with food. Their three attempts, however, met with failure.
The next day they made another effort. Down they went through the cold, dark water. Their work was full of danger. The sides of the mine were likely to fall in at any moment and crush them to death. If the air-pipes broke or became blocked, they would die of suffocation. Besides,the muddy floor of the level was very hard to walk on, and the pressure of the water was very unpleasant. All these dangers wereknown to the divers, but they were determined to try to the last to save their fellow creature.
This time Diver Hughes reached the Italian, who must hav e been much st art le d t o se e such a strange-looking object slowly rise from the water of his prison. The divercould not speak through
Drawn by Allan T. Bernal do
The Diver to the Rescue
his g re at he lme t , bu t
cheered the Italian by shaking hands with him. Leaving the prisoner some food, the plucky man returned to the mouth of the shaft. He was quite worn out, and had to be attended by a doctor.
Again and again did this brave man make his dangerous journey to the Italian. His visits, besides giving the prisoner food and light, also kept him in better spirits. A slate was taken down, on which Varischetti wrote many touching messages. This is one of them :- "I wish to tell you to be quick, and that I feel as if my bones were dying. Dear men, have pity on me. I send you my miserable greetings. I am your miserable friend, Modesto Varischetti."Meanwhile, the pumps were going night and day. The workmen did not ask for time for meals. After eight days, it was made known the Italian could be brought to the surface on the next day.
Great was the crowd that had gathered at the mine when, at half-past three on Thursday afternoon, Mr. Hughes went down for the purpose of bringing Varischetti out of his gloomy prison.
The crowd had been asked not to cheer, as the noise might prove harmful to the Italian; but when, at a quarter-past six, the cage came to the surface, containing the corpse-like Italian and his brave rescuer, the people forgot the warning and showed their joy by giving cheerafter cheer. Varischetti had been nine days and two hours in the shadow of death.
From many parts of Australia telegrams and letters were sent to Diver Hughes, praising his great deed; but, like the hero he is, he asked that credit be given to his fellow diver, Mr. Hearn, and all the others who had worked at the rescue.
Author.-The story is compiled from newspaper accounts.
General Notes.-Find Kalgoorlie on the map. Find the meaning of shaft, winze, stope. What is a Minister of Mines? Make the experiment with the bottle, as described on page 102. Draw a plan of the mine.
Lesson 31
THE mILLER OF THE DEE
There dwelt a miller hale and bold Beside the river Dee;He wrought and sang from morn to night, No lark more blithe than he;And this the burden of his song For ever used to be-"I envy nobody, no, not I, And nobody envies me!""Thou"rt wrong, my friend!" said old King Hal, "Thou"rt wrong as wrong can be;For could my heart be light as thine
I"d gladly change with thee.
And tell me now what makes thee sing With voice so loud and free,While I am sad, though I"m the king,
Beside the river Dec?"
The miller smiled, and doffed his cap.
"I earn my bread," quoth he;
"I love my wife, I love my friends, I love my children three;l owe no penny I cannot pay; I thank the river DeeThat turns the mill that grinds the corn To feed my babes and me.""Good friend," said Hal, and sighed the while, "Farewell, and happy be;But say no more, if thou"dst be true,
That no one envies thee.
Drawn by W.S. Wemyss
"I envy nobody, no, not I."
Thy mealy cap is worth my crown,
Thy mill my kingdom"s fee.
Such men as thou are England"s boast,
