Problems for Riddle Readers

PROBLEMS FOR RIDDLE READERS.

BY R. W. SLOAN.

During the later part of the winter just past, 1 went through one of the mines in this State in which a man had been accidentally killed the night preceding my visit. Circumstances surrounding the unfortunate event were singular enough to attract much more than usual attention. The man had been employed in the mine for perhaps a month. On the evening of his death, he had walked up the mountain side in company with several other fellow-labor- ers. No one seemed to be acquainted with his antecedents— even the name he went by, it was not believed was the one he should have acknowledged. On the way, he said to his companions that he did not feel like working that night. A few seconds later, he said he believed he would not work — all the time still walking toward the mine entrance. A third time he referred to the sub- ject,and still more emphatically expressed the feeling that he — would quit that he ought not to work. But he still went on, entered the mine, was assigned a place at which to shovel up ore, and then proceeded beyond this point still farther in. As showing that he had not intended to labor, it may be stated that he had failed to take with him a shovel, and later turned and walked toward the entrance and secured that tool. Then he went back into the mine, and again passed beyond the place he was told to labor at. known as the "caving" sys- This mine is operated on what is tem. By the "caving" system, an ore body is opened up to a point beyond which it is not intended to go on that level — and the ore is mined out, only pillars of it being left to support the earth and rocks above, and to keep this from caving in. Then these

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pillars of ore are also mined out, and the earth allowed to "cave in."

An open space there was, perhaps one hundred and fifty feet from where this man had been told to work. This space had been — there for months waiting for the earth naturally to fall in and fill it up and during all that time, there had occurred no cave. Then this ;

unfortunate man, who had disobeyed orders as to where he should work, walked, shovel in hand, into this open space — perhaps thirty feet across, and twelve to fourteen feet high— and at that moment part of the roof — about eight feet in diameter — fell squarely on his

head, killing him instantly, and with such an absence of noise that the attention of a miner taking out an ore pillar within eleven feet of the unfortunate person, and on a level with him, was not attracted by any unusual sound. Later, when inquiry was made as to his whereabouts, he was found, arms outstretched, beneath about two tons of earth and rock that had fallen at the exact moment he stepped under it, and which instantly killed him. A second second later, perhaps, and he would have been earlier, a

unhurt. But all circumstances combined to a mathematical exact- — ness and the man was killed. During all the preceding months that two tons of earth had been suspended, and had not fallen; why not? What prompted the man to say he did not feel like working that night? Why did he hesitate? Why turn back for his shovel? Why go past the point at which he was told to stop? Why not have gone under the danger point a few moments earlier, or a moment later? What spirit or premonition sought to warn him of the impending danger? What was this that seemed to know that everything would conspire to his earthly destruction, — and yet sought to admonish him of his peril? an admonition he ignored. Will some knowing one kindly explain? At the same plant, but several months previous to this lamentable occurrence, another man was accidentally killed unlike the one just referred to, this man had worked for some time about the property, and he was comparatively well known. His duty was to empty ore from mine cars into an "ore chute," whence it was taken to the cyanide mill. One morning, while engaged in his usual occupation, he suddenly turned to a fellow laborer and said,

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"I'm going to quit!" It then lacked perhaps one hour and a half of noon — the half shift; and if he ceased working before that time, he would receive no credit for the hours he had already worked that morning. "What's the matter?" asked the party to whom he had spoken. "Oh, nothing; but I'm going to quit." "Well, I'd work the half shift out, if I were you, anyway," said the companion. The man thought a moment, and then said, "No, I'm going to quit, and quit right now." And, suiting the action to the word, started to put his coat on preparatory to stopping, even with the loss of about three hours' labor. As he was doing this, the fellow- laborer turned away and left him. An hour later, the man was found dead at the bottom of the ore chute at which he had so decisively declared he was going to quit, and at once. The impression or warning received by him had been unheeded, after all. What caused the change of mind in him, or how he came to fall in a place so well-known to him, no human being knows or is likely to be able to explain. What was it made this man feel that, in the middle of a half a day's labor, he must cease work at once, even at a loss to himself, and failing in so doing lost his life? Both these instances occurred substantially as they are related here. They are susceptible of ready verification. I should be glad to have one of those knowing readers of riddles, calling themselves "materialists," explain what it was made the last man to feel to quit work, and the first one warned to keep from work. Do I hear any response— a materialist's response?