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I published such an experience in the Enterprise； once； and from it I
will take an extract：
AN HOUR IN THE CAVED MINES。We journeyed down into the Ophir mine；
yesterday； to see the earthquake。 We could not go down the deep
incline； because it still has a propensity to cave in places。
Therefore we traveled through the long tunnel which enters the hill
above the Ophir office； and then by means of a series of long
ladders； climbed away down from the first to the fourth gallery。
Traversing a drift； we came to the Spanish line； passed five sets of
timbers still uninjured； and found the earthquake。 Here was as
complete a chaos as ever was seenvast masses of earth and
splintered and broken timbers piled confusedly together； with
scarcely an aperture left large enough for a cat to creep through。
Rubbish was still falling at intervals from above； and one timber
which had braced others earlier in the day； was now crushed down out
of its former position； showing that the caving and settling of the
tremendous mass was still going on。 We were in that portion of the
Ophir known as the 〃north mines。〃 Returning to the surface； we
entered a tunnel leading into the Central； for the purpose of
getting into the main Ophir。 Descending a long incline in this
tunnel； we traversed a drift or so； and then went down a deep shaft
from whence we proceeded into the fifth gallery of the Ophir。 From
a side…drift we crawled through a small hole and got into the midst
of the earthquake againearth and broken timbers mingled together
without regard to grace or symmetry。 A large portion of the second；
third and fourth galleries had caved in and gone to destructionthe
two latter at seven o'clock on the previous evening。
At the turn…table； near the northern extremity of the fifth gallery；
two big piles of rubbish had forced their way through from the fifth
gallery； and from the looks of the timbers； more was about to come。
These beams are solideighteen inches square； first； a great beam
is laid on the floor； then upright ones； five feet high； stand on
it； supporting another horizontal beam； and so on； square above
square； like the framework of a window。 The superincumbent weight
was sufficient to mash the ends of those great upright beams fairly
into the solid wood of the horizontal ones three inches； compressing
and bending the upright beam till it curved like a bow。 Before the
Spanish caved in； some of their twelve…inch horizontal timbers were
compressed in this way until they were only five inches thick！
Imagine the power it must take to squeeze a solid log together in
that way。 Here； also； was a range of timbers； for a distance of
twenty feet； tilted six inches out of the perpendicular by the
weight resting upon them from the caved galleries above。 You could
hear things cracking and giving way； and it was not pleasant to know
that the world overhead was slowly and silently sinking down upon
you。 The men down in the mine do not mind it； however。
Returning along the fifth gallery； we struck the safe part of the
Ophir incline； and went down it to the sixth； but we found ten
inches of water there； and had to come back。 In repairing the
damage done to the incline； the pump had to be stopped for two
hours； and in the meantime the water gained about a foot。 However；
the pump was at work again； and the flood…water was decreasing。
We climbed up to the fifth gallery again and sought a deep shaft；
whereby we might descend to another part of the sixth； out of reach
of the water； but suffered disappointment； as the men had gone to
dinner； and there was no one to man the windlass。 So； having seen
the earthquake； we climbed out at the Union incline and tunnel； and
adjourned； all dripping with candle grease and perspiration； to
lunch at the Ophir office。
During the great flush year of 1863； Nevada ＇claims to have＇
produced 25；000；000 in bullionalmost； if not quite； a round
million to each thousand inhabitants； which is very well；
considering that she was without agriculture and manufactures。
Silver mining was her sole productive industry。 ＇Since the above was
in type； I learn from an official source that the above figure is
too high； and that the yield for 1863 did not exceed 20；000；000。
However； the day for large figures is approaching； the Sutro Tunnel
is to plow through the Comstock lode from end to end； at a depth of
two thousand feet； and then mining will be easy and comparatively
inexpensive； and the momentous matters of drainage； and hoisting and
hauling of ore will cease to be burdensome。 This vast work will
absorb many years； and millions of dollars； in its completion； but
it will early yield money； for that desirable epoch will begin as
soon as it strikes the first end of the vein。 The tunnel will be
some eight miles long； and will develop astonishing riches。 Cars
will carry the ore through the tunnel and dump it in the mills and
thus do away with the present costly system of double handling and
transportation by mule teams。 The water from the tunnel will
furnish the motive power for the mills。 Mr。 Sutro； the originator
of this prodigious enterprise； is one of the few men in the world
who is gifted with the pluck and perseverance necessary to follow up
and hound such an undertaking to its completion。 He has converted
several obstinate Congresses to a deserved friendliness toward his
important work； and has gone up and down and to and fro in Europe
until he has enlisted a great moneyed interest in it there。
CHAPTER LIII。
Every now and then； in these days； the boys used to tell me I ought to
get one Jim Blaine to tell me the stirring story of his grandfather's old
rambut they always added that I must not mention the matter unless Jim
was drunk at the timejust comfortably and sociably drunk。 They kept
this up until my curiosity was on the rack to hear the story。 I got to
haunting Blaine； but it was of no use； the boys always found fault with
his condition； he was often moderately but never satisfactorily drunk。
I never watched a man's condition with such absorbing interest； such
anxious solicitude； I never so pined to see a man uncompromisingly drunk
before。 At last； one evening I hurried to his cabin； for I learned that
this time his situation was such that even the most fastidious could find
no fault with ithe was tranquilly； serenely； symmetrically drunknot a
hiccup to mar his voice； not a cloud upon his brain thick enough to
obscure his memory。 As I entered； he was sitting upon an empty powder…
keg； with a clay pipe in one hand and the other raised to command
silence。 His face was round； red； and very serious； his throat was bare
and his hair tumbled； in general appearance and costume he was a stalwart
miner of the period。 On the pine table stood a candle； and its dim light
revealed 〃the boys〃 sitting here and there on bunks； candle…boxes；
powder…kegs； etc。 They said：
〃Sh！ Don't speakhe's going to commence。〃
THE STORY OF THE OLD RAM。
I found a seat at once； and Blaine said：
'I don't reckon them times will ever come again。 There never was a more
bullier old ram than what he was。 Grandfather fetched him from Illinois
got him of a man by the name of YatesBill Yatesmaybe you might have
heard of him； his father was a deaconBaptistand he was a rustler；
too； a man had to get up ruther early to get the start of old Thankful
Yates； it was him that put the Greens up to jining teams with my
grandfather when he moved west。
Seth Green was prob'ly the pick of the flock； he married a Wilkerson
Sarah Wilkersongood cretur； she wasone of the likeliest heifers that
was ever raised in old Stoddard； everybody said that knowed her。 She
could heft a bar'l of flour as easy as I can flirt a flapjack。 And spin？
Don't mention it！ Independent？ Humph！ When Sile Hawkins come a
browsing around her； she let him know that for all his tin he couldn't
trot in harness alongside of her。 You see； Sile Hawkins wasno； it
warn't Sile Hawkins； after allit was a galoot by the name of Filkins
I disremember his first name； but he was a stumpcome into pra'r meeting
drunk； one night； hooraying for Nixon； becuz he thought it was a primary；
and old deacon Ferguson up and scooted him through the window and he lit
on old Miss Jefferson's head； poor old filly。 She was a good soulhad a
glass eye and used to lend it to old Miss Wagner； that hadn't any； to
receive company in； it warn't big enough； and when Miss Wagner warn't
noticing； it would get twisted around in the socket； and look up； maybe；
or out to one side； and every which way； while t' other one was looking
as straight ahead as a spy…glass。
Grown people didn't mind i