The Underground City | Page 4

rails along the galleries,
subterranean tramways, frames to support the shaft, pipes--in short, all that constituted
the machinery of a mine had been brought up from its depths. The exhausted mine was
like the body of a huge fantastically-shaped mastodon, from which all the organs of life
have been taken, and only the skeleton remains.
Nothing was left but long wooden ladders, down the Yarrow shaft--the only one which
now gave access to the lower galleries of the Dochart pit. Above ground, the sheds,
formerly sheltering the outside works, still marked the spot where the shaft of that pit had
been sunk, it being now abandoned, as were the other pits, of which the whole constituted
the mines of Aberfoyle.
It was a sad day, when for the last time the workmen quitted the mine, in which they had
lived for so many years. The engineer, James Starr, had collected the hundreds of
workmen which composed the active and courageous population of the mine. Overmen,
brakemen, putters, wastemen, barrowmen, masons, smiths, carpenters, outside and inside
laborers, women, children, and old men, all were collected in the great yard of the
Dochart pit, formerly heaped with coal from the mine.
Many of these families had existed for generations in the mine of old Aberfoyle; they
were now driven to seek the means of subsistence elsewhere, and they waited sadly to bid
farewell to the engineer.
James Starr stood upright, at the door of the vast shed in which he had for so many years
superintended the powerful machines of the shaft. Simon Ford, the foreman of the
Dochart pit, then fifty-five years of age, and other managers and overseers, surrounded
him. James Starr took off his hat. The miners, cap in hand, kept a profound silence. This
farewell scene was of a touching character, not wanting in grandeur.
"My friends," said the engineer, "the time has come for us to separate. The Aberfoyle
mines, which for so many years have united us in a common work, are now exhausted.
All our researches have not led to the discovery of a new vein, and the last block of coal
has just been extracted from the Dochart pit." And in confirmation of his words, James
Starr pointed to a lump of coal which had been kept at the bottom of a basket.
"This piece of coal, my friends," resumed James Starr, "is like the last drop of blood
which has flowed through the veins of the mine! We shall keep it, as the first fragment of
coal is kept, which was extracted a hundred and fifty years ago from the bearings of
Aberfoyle. Between these two pieces, how many generations of workmen have
succeeded each other in our pits! Now, it is over! The last words which your engineer

will address to you are a farewell. You have lived in this mine, which your hands have
emptied. The work has been hard, but not without profit for you. Our great family must
disperse, and it is not probable that the future will ever again unite the scattered members.
But do not forget that we have lived together for a long time, and that it will be the duty
of the miners of Aberfoyle to help each other. Your old masters will not forget you either.
When men have worked together, they must never be stranger to each other again.
We shall keep our eye on you, and wherever you go, our recommendations shall follow
you. Farewell then, my friends, and may Heaven be with you!"
So saying, James Starr wrung the horny hand of the oldest miner, whose eyes were dim
with tears. Then the overmen of the different pits came forward to shake hands with him,
whilst the miners waved their caps, shouting, "Farewell, James Starr, our master and our
friend!"
This farewell would leave a lasting remembrance in all these honest hearts. Slowly and
sadly the population quitted the yard. The black soil of the roads leading to the Dochart
pit resounded for the last time to the tread of miners' feet, and silence succeeded to the
bustling life which had till then filled the Aberfoyle mines.
One man alone remained by James Starr. This was the overman, Simon Ford. Near him
stood a boy, about fifteen years of age, who for some years already had been employed
down below.
James Starr and Simon Ford knew and esteemed each other well. "Good-by, Simon," said
the engineer.
"Good-by, Mr. Starr," replied the overman, "let me add, till we meet again!"
"Yes, till we meet again. Ford!" answered James Starr. "You know that I shall be always
glad to see you, and talk over old times."
"I know that, Mr. Starr."
"My house in Edinburgh is always open to you."
"It's a long way