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ITHE SCRANTON TRIBUNE- SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 100D.
9
fr'HM'flfrvfrfrlvfri
Interesting Anal
usls bg President
Judge II. M. Ed
wards of the Six
Best Manuscripts
Submitted.
THE WINNERS
OF PRIZES IN
AS ANNOUNCED last
week, the task of pass
ing upon the relative
merits of the manu
scripts submitted in
The Tribune's short
story contest was, at The Tribune's
request, kindly assumed by Hon.
II. M. Edwards, whose fitness and
experience are everywhere conced
ed. Hut a sudden press of judicial
duties incident to his elevation to
the president judgeship made it, at
the last moment, impossible for him
within the time allotted to examine
personally each of the -17 manu
scripts. The Tribune, therefore,
rather than to incur delay, through
a council of its editors, undertook
to choose from among the 47
-torics, the mx that in its judgment
best dcervcd to be considered as
possible prize-winners. Judge Ed
wards thereupon took these six
under consideration and his award
as to their relative merits is as fol
lows: Judge Edwards' Award.
Kditor of The Tribune 1
Sir: Of Hie six stories submitted
to me, Kmerson's Is hardly within
the conditions of the competition,
because preference is to be given
to "stories tending to bring out the
lomancc and legendary lore of
the anthracite mining industry."
Kmei son's story is weird and
ghastly, depending for its Interest
on threo murders and n suicide. It
is well written, and Is not Inferior
to the prize stories for which the
publishers of the Black Cat have
paiil from one hundred to three
hundred dollars.
T shall refer briefly to the other
stories.
1. Pluto. This story is entitled
"Disentombed." It contains a veiy
vivid description of a "fall"
or "cave-lu" in the mines, and
discloses accurate knowledge on
the part of the author of the
inside workings of a mine. 1 was
afraid that the "form" which
led the entombed miners to the
light of day would ultimately be
come u monstrosity on the author's
hands; but the line drnmatlo end
ing snves the situation nnd has
greatly enhanced the Interest of
the story.
2. Jean Graham. "A Romance
or the Culm." Considered merely
from a literary standpoint thli
story stands high. The author Is
evidently accustomed to writing.
The plot In part Is somewhat hack
neyed; yet the story ends well and
with good dramatic effect.
3. Mark Tapley. "Jocktan." Al
though written In plain and or
dinary style, lacking the literary
polish of Jean Graham's story, this
Is a tale well told and Is graphic
In Its description of heart-rending
scenes.
4. St. David. "Rogers' Cham
ber." Ghosts, a subterranean
cave and deserters from the army
suggest the stirring incidents of
this story. I have heard more than
once of occurrences such as the
author describes. The story Is
written in good style.
.",. Juniata. "The Angel of Bald
Mount." A beautiful idyllic tale,
written in the form of letters and
unfolding the story of the suffering
and daring of one of the early
pioneers of this valley. The author
deserves honorable mention, al
though he (or she) has no chance
to win a prize.
I have no hesitation in awarding
the first prize to Pluto and the
second to Jean Graham. As to the
third prize, my judgment is that it
should be divided between Mark
Tapley and St. David.
I congratulate the authors of
these stories on their success in
writing readable tales, and I com
mend The Tribune for Its attempt
to unfold the rich treasures and
possibilities of a new domain in the
realm of fiction. There is no rea
son why the legends Interwoven
with the history of anthracite min
ing should not become as famous
In the field of literature ns the
EIRST PRIZE
"Disentombed " Pluto
SECOND PRIZE
"A Romance of the Culm,"
Jean Graham
THIRD PRIZE
"Jocktan" Mark Tapeg
j
vivid tales connected with the
deep-sea mines of Cornwall.
Yours truly,
H. M. EDWARDS.
The identity of none of the writ
ers was known cither to The Trib
une or to Judge Edwards until
after his award had been received
and it became necessary to open
the sealed envelopes containing the
authors' real names, in order to
make arrangements for the pub
lication of" the first successful
storv. Then it was discovered that
"Pluto," the author of "Disen
tombed," was that well-known poet
and litterateur, Theron G.Osborne,
of Greenwood. A short biograph
ical sketch of Mr. Osborne, to
gether with the text of his graphic
story, appears elsewhere. "Emer
son," the author of the thrilling
story, "The Pyrosidcritc Com
pound.'' to which Judge Edwards
pays high tribute, but which, under
the rules, had to give way because
not built around the legendary lore
or romance of the mines, is John
A. Foote, of Archbald. tiow at
Georgetown university, the winner
of the $'Jii prize offered some years
ago by The Tribune in a short
story competition in connection
with an eisteddfod given by the
Robert Morris lodge of Ivorites.
It is highly complimentary to Mr.
Foote's ability that another story
from his pen, "Roger's Chamber,"
submitted under the pseudonym.
"St. David," formed one of the six
manuscripts sent to Judge Ed
wards for final adjudication. Judge
Edwards recommends that it and
"Jocktan" share third prize. In
the sealed letter which accom
panied it Mr. Foote makes this im
possible, however, by specifying
that if it docs not win second
prize or better it must be relumed
to him. An effort will be made to
secure from Mr. Foote permission
for The Tribune to print both his
excellent stories.
The author of the story which
captures second prize, "A Ro
mance of the Culm," is given in
THE TRIBUNE'S
STORY CONTEST
the envelope as S. Granger, of
Glcnburn. This story will be
printed one week from today.
The author of "Jocktan," to
which, as explained above, the
third prize will go, is Mrs. K. S.
Cross, of Factoryville. This storv
will appear in The Tribune of April
27.
There remains to be noticed the
sixth story, "The Angel of Bald
Mount," which just missed captur
ing a prize. From the standpoint
of literary finish this story is as
good as the best. Tt is a beautiful
love romance of the pioneer times,
exquisitely narrated in the form of
letters, lint it, too, falls outside the
rule which promised preference to
stories featuring the tradition and
superstition of the mining indus
try. The author of "The Angel of
Hald Mount" is M. C. lluslander
and if permission is not withheld
the story will appear in The Trib
une of May 4.
In the selection of the six manu
scripts for Judge Edwards' eye, the
editors adopted the following plan:
One careful reading of every story
was depended upon to subtract the
manuscripts without more than or
dinary quality. This reading re
duced the 47 to 20. A second care
ful reading reduced the 20 to 14.
The six which were selected out of
these 1-1 having already been men
tioned, it seems fair to mention the
other eight, which were nearly if
not fully as good as were those
submitted to Judge Edwards. They
arc:
"Between Falls," by Junius
Junior, who is requested to send his
name and address to The Tribune,
he having failed to do this as the
rules required.
"Dan Dermont in the Tower
Hill Cave," by Tom Aldrich.
"An Unrecorded Story," by Jas
per lifkins.
"The Black Maria." by Doris
Thranc.
"The Fantom Mule of the U
Know Mine," by Violet.
"The Mystery of the Pump
The Contest as a
Whole an Agree
able Surprise,
Showing an Abun
dance of Local Lit
erarg Talent. . .
House," bv Margaret Virtue Price.
"The Robbing of the Pay
master," by A.
"The Mule That Grew Up with
the Dump," by Lora Hill.
Of the contest as a whole, vc
, must say that it has been far moVc
interesting and successful than was
expected. Both the number and
the quality of the manuscripts have
surpassed expectations. We did
not look fpr more than half as
many as were received and we
should not have been surprised
had many of them been of a char
acter unfit to print. But of the en
tire 17 only one is unworthy of
type, while of the remaining 10 a
very large percentage not only
have something interesting to tell
but tell it in better than the average
fashion. Letters will be sent to
each contributor requesting per
mission to print these stores in The
Tribune, as an illustration of the
very considerable local literary
talent which is deserving of en
couragement and development;
and it is earnestly hoped that no
mistaken sense of modesty will
cause any contributor to hesitate to
grant this permission, together
with consent to the use at the head
of the story of the writer's real
name. Those who won the prize
awards arc evidently practiced
writers. There is consequently no
humiliation to an unpracticcd
writer in failing to compete suc
cessfully. What is lacked in most
instances is the facility that comes
with practice.
The Author of " Disentombed."
Theron G. Osborne was born at Lake
Winola. in Wyoming county, and edu
cated at Wyoming seminary. At an
early age he exhibited literary ability.
Vers.es from his pen have appeared at
varying intervals In many of the lead
ing periodicals. Mr. Osborne has done
little story writing. This, he assures
us, is almost his "first offense." Mr.
Osborne Is a school teacher and iour
nalist. He has 'been principal of the
schools of Miner's Mills and Mooslc,
and managing editor of the Wilkes
Barre Leader. He Is now one of the
assistant editors of the Lackawanna
School News.
.Sallv
St. David
Red Jacket
Emerson
.Mark Tapley
.Jasper lifkins
.Christian Hope
List of Stories Submitted.
Name of Story. Pen Name of Author.
"The Avon Strike" ,. . I. S. D.
"Avenged, or The Miner's Daughtor" . . Beatrice
"Archer Trcvford, Jr., Editor". .La verc Ernesti
"Little Dick, the Driver Boy" Goldfish
"A Breaker Boy's Ambition". Mildred Vaughan
"O'Connor's Substitute" Alice L. Elliot
"A Romance of the Culm" Jean Graham
"The Little Silk Weaver". .. .Yrogcrg Yevrah
"Disentombed" ' Pluto
"The Miner's Pride" Rcgina Hethcrtou
"Victor, The Breaker Boy". . . .Martin Vincent
"Dick, The Driver Boy" Leon Paul Mack
"A Summer Holiday" Abigail Grcnough
"Between Falls" Junius Junior
"Dan Dcrmot in the Tower Hill Cave"
Tom Aldrich
"And a Little Child Shall Lead Them".
"Roger's Chamber"
"Trapped by the Iroquois"
"The Pvrosideritc Compound".
"Jocktan"
"An Unrecorded Story"
"The Haunted Spriglev"
"Cousin Bill" P. R. Ovid
"Misunderstood" Glenn Lomond
"Number Eleven" Anssan
"The Hero of the Grange Disaster" . . Doubtful
"A Romance of the Clear Spring". Mollie Ward
"The Angel of Bald Mount" Juniata
"Quakley Slope" Milton Howard
"The Spectre of the Coal Chute". Common Sense
"A Peep Behind the Curtain" Uncle Bill
'The Story of One Miner's Life"
Francis Ernest Mackay
" 'Jack, I Envy You' " Gabriel Shugcrmalt
"Brave Lads" Elaine Brierton
"The Black Maria" Doris Thrane
"A Timely Rescue" Tilda Jane
"A Christian Man" Howard Lc Grande
"An Incident of the Satan Mine" Wasador
The Phantom Mulcof theU-KnowMinc".Violct
"The Mystery of the Pump House"
Marg. Virtue Price
"Wanted A Cook" Laura Smithcrs
"The Story of the Mines" Ruben
"Won His Bride in a Coal Mine" Lionel
"The Woman in Black" Little Willie
"Chester Lloyd's Curse" Dan Dclav
"The Robbing of the Paymaster" "A."
"The Mule That Grew Up with the Dump"
Lora Hill
--
A ROMANCE OF THE MINES.
"DISENTOMBED."
FOUNDED PARTLY ON FACT.
Ai
t 'i'w SB
8a
T WAS in the old "Groundhog" mine.
Aleck Graeme, the foreman, lingered
late along the gangways carefully exam
ining each chamber, cross-cut and man
hole, indications of a "squeeze" had be
gun to show a few days before and the
utmost vigilance was necessary.
He finished at last, and, seated upon nn accumu
lation of rock beside the track, smoked meditatively,
vltl now and then a word to an old miner who was
likewise testing ftom'his labor. In every direction
could be heard the sound made by small pieces of
rock falling from the roof and the crackle of the
sides of the supporting masses of coal as particles
were expelled by the mighty pressuie from above.
"There'll be bod trouble here afore mony days,
Michael, or I miss my guess," said Aleck, rising and
picparlng to depart.
"Faith, It's mesel' as be thinkin' that same," returned bis
companion, with ominous gravity.
The rumble of wheels and nolso of hoofs betokened the ap
proach of a trip of cars from the shaft. Tho flare of a lamp on
a driver-boy's head lit up for a moment the darkness into which
they gazed, then the trip came to a standstill at the branch
leading to Michael's chamber. The driver threw the stretcher
over tho mule's back and the animal wheeled to his accustomed
place. Tho two men, usslstlng tho boy In the work of detaching
n car and pushing it to Its place, heard not the sudden rumble
In tho distance. They heard only the wild, blood-curdling bray
of tho mule as ho dashed into tho track and ton down the gang
way. Then they were thrown violently to the ground, every
sense for the time paralyzed,
"Workmen uhove ground felt tho earth tremble, heurd a crash,
saw the timbers and machinery of that portion of tho works
above the shaft hurled far Into the air. They know too well
what It meant.
An extensive euvo-In turns every passage, bo it gangway or
shaft, Into a glgantlo air-gun. Acres of tho mlned-out under
ground are in n twinkling tilled with solid rock. The compressed
nir must find n way to freedom and it clears its passage with
tho force of exploded gun-powder,
Tho "Oroundhog" was a wreck. Cars wero piled In the gang
ways, Mules, dashed against the "rib" or pillars by tho forre
of the shock or In the mad rush occasioned by fright, lay dead
or dying In tho darkness. The hoisting carriage was twisted
and torli Into uselessness; unci when the workmen from other
parts of the inliio begun to guther at tho foot of tho shaft they
found that, although they were in no immediate danger, It would
bo hours before they could bo reached with ropes from the
surface.
When the shock had passed and the nlr-prcssure subsided,
Aleck Graeme slowly returned to consciousness. Ho clutched
one of the rails that met his grasp, rose upon his knees, stag
gered to hts feet, then sank to the ground again, overcome with
a dizzy, sickening weakness. In a few minutes Increasing
strength brought a partlul awakening of the senses and he began
to realize his surroundings and what had happened. It was pitch
dark. He thought of his companions and crawled about In search
of them. Ills hand rested upon a man's face. He shuddered.
The beard told him It was old Michael. Was he dead? He
rubbed his hnnd on the wet ground and applied it again and
again to the old man's brow. Soon his efforts wero successful
and he was overjoyed to have his wrist grappled by bony fingers
and old Michael rise to a sitting posture; at the same tlmo a
sound of sobbing reached him from nearby and he knew that
Jerry had also regained consciousness.
Relieved of his fears for his companions, Aleck now searched
about for his lamp. This found, ho "struck a light and tho
smoky glare that followed lit up the place.
"Coom, Jerry, lad, bo a mon and thank God yc'ro a llvin'.
This is nae sic a bad plight. I doubt not but we'll find a way
out in good time. Cheer up, lad!"
Jerry, encouraged, quieted down and Aleck, taking tho lump,
began to make explorations. Tho gangway through which the
cars had been brought by Jerry was entirely filled, making prog
ress In that direction for more than a few rods Impossible; but
besides this passageway there were, or had been, several others
that might afford means of egress, with lamp on hat and pick
in hand, Aleck grouped about, now near, now far, examining
every cavern of tho dismal place, his movements followed eagerly
by the eyes of tho others who sat mute and miserable.
Any considerable fall of roof In a "working" area Is like
the giving way of a keystone. Restraining pressure Is relaxed
in every direction, nnd places already weakened by tho action
and Influence of air and water and tho never lessoning burden,
thus sapped of ultimate support, sink down Jn obedience to Un
laws of gravity.
Thus had spread tho cave-lu that now shut the.s( three Into
what might easily prove -n living tomb. Ono after another Aleck
found tho avenues of cscapo locked with bars no human hand
could move save by long and laborious toll. He paused at last,
his shoulder against a giant prop of oak, and gazed Into tho last
placo remaining to explore. Cold sweat lay upon his forehead.
He turned and gazed up tho track where he had loft the others,
He had not told them his fears, only that ho was looking for
tho best way out. Failure in so many directions mndo him al
most despair, and 'ho dreaded the knowledgo of further search.
Ho was just about to turn to his task when a blow from
behind sent him sprawling Into tho middle of the passage. He
scrambled to his feet and ran up Urn ttnek, for his light had
been extinguished. Iteochlng his companions, the three crouched
trembling together, A rush of cold nlr Into tho cavern told them
a chnnge had occurred In tho condition of things, Something
scnmpeied over Aleck's hand. It was a rat. Another, Htopped
in Its flight, run half way up his body. Ho lighted his lamp.
Tho place fairly swarmed with great, gray, long-snouted rodents
seeking refuge. As the imprisoned ones shrnnk away from this
loathsome horde thus suddenly thrown upon their sorry hos
pitality, a fierce crackling sound assailed their eais and they
felt that to compass their destruction the solid walls of coal
on either sldo were on the verge of being crushed to powder.
Aleck, stout-hearted ever, doubly so in time of gieatest dan
ger, groped down the track, keeping cjose to the rib nnd hold
Ing high hia lamp. The others, too much terrified to remain
behind, followed, clinging to his clothing.
And now they Baw a strange and awe-lnsplring sight. The
huge oaken prop, where Aleck had stood a few moments before,
was bursting Into shreds under the weight of tho gradually
descending rock and, even as they gazed, was crushed to tho
level on which It stood. It was a splinter of this, having sud
denly given way, that dealt Aleck the blow.
Would tho fall extend to them? They shrank back In dread,
ever keeping their eyes upon the place from which they were
retreating. All at once Jerry shrieked and clung to Aleck as
for protection. Old Michael burst forth In an agony of prayer
and supplication as one in the extreme of mortal terror. For
an Instant Aleck knew not the fresh cause for alarm, then he
descried against tho blackness and crouching against tho rib a
Shape!
What it was ho could not Immediately make out, dim ns was
the light extending to it. His hair stood on end, hut he stayed
and gazed. He was soon aware that it had eyes eyes that
gleamed and closed alternately ns though struggling with the
undue light. Then came the outlines of a hairy face shoulders
draped with what looked like an old blanket, ragged and tat
tered, half covering ftlaok nnd bony arms that thrust fingers
Into tho ground; legs, so much ns could be seen of them, cramped,
twisted; the back, humped until It reached above the shoulder."",
forming a background for the head.
Wns It u human form drawn by rheumatism, dwarfed by
groveling, clad in blackness, or a gruesome fossil forced from
tho surrounding depths and quickened again t- life tho creation
of some prehistoric age?
Tho great fear that Tor n tlmo filled Aleck's Inmost soul hud
passed away as a flra burns to ashes. Ho hud been and still
was face to face with death. Nothing could be worse than that.
Man, beast, demon whatever might bo before him should no
longer appal or terrify". If ho wns to meet death ho wanted to
meet it with clear vision and sane mind. Ho turned to his com
panions. Old Mlchnel had relapsed into silence, but his oyes
were closed and his lips moving us If In prayer. Jerry was
crouching hohlnd him trembling as with ague. Tho cool draught
still drew through the place. It breathed hope.
Aleck again regarded tho strango Shape. It was still In the
sumo position of body, but had turned its eyes toward tho outlet
of tho air-current. In a moment It began to move. With a
peculiar hobble It crossed tho gangwuy to tho face of the fallon
rock, scrambled up the sldo and disappeared through an open
ing that Aleck now saw hud been left nbove the mass, He
grasped old Michael and shook him,
"Ha' dono wl' prayln', mon, nnd lo' us get to work. We'll
follow If t tak' us to the' dell's don. Coom, Jerry, oot wl' jo'io
snlvollu", Coom!"
Suiting tho action to tho word, ho mudo husto to the opening.
Tho others would have stnld, but could not enduro the absence
of Aleck. So they clung close upon his heels. As they passed
through tho opening they caught sight of the twisted legs mov
ing In tho gloom. Tho layer of rock upon which they made
their way had parted from tho layer above and left u spacu of
several feet. Sometimes loose musses of rock in tho way caused
the Shupo to pause and change Its course, sometimes to retreat
n few yards, but, ever (hiding, nportures sudlclently largo for
admittance,. It passed on. At last they descended over a mass
of jumbled rock and struck what uppeurcd to bo a more regular
track. Yes, It was nn old gungwuy! They knew It by tho re
mains of ties they stumbled otkr and the rows jtf fun&us-cnvered
props on cither side ghostly spectators of the faintly-lighted
expressions of pain nnd suf-
ilonion. The life of a humnn
aside the thin slabs of rook
procession. The way, too, led upward. They were surely mak
ing toward tho outcroppings on the hillside.
Suddenly the Shape stopped and for the first time east n
look behind; then it moved to the right wlif-re another passage
way was seen to lead off, turned again and, with a flashing of
those strangely gleaming eyes, motioned them forward In the
course they had been pursuing. But, even as It did so, from the
dripping root a shower of rubbish descended, them was a quick
cry, a gurgling, gasping moan, and they saw their strange
guide had been struck down,
Aleck leaped forward. Those
ferlng were of neither beast nor
being was being crushed out.
With strong- arms he threw
and dragged the limp, emaciated body to a place of safety; then,
raising It on his arms and calling on the othets to follow, he
pressed forward. In a few moments they i cached the mouth
of the passage, a place where the surface had dropped in former
dayc, and stood in the free open air once more. Tho ground
was white with snow lately fallen and the stars were shining.
".Vow, Jerry, away for the doctor. Ye hau been little enough
use heretofore. Mak' ye're legs fly, lad!"
A light glimmered in tho window of a house nearby. Aleck,
with his burden, rapped impatiently at the door. There was a
shuflle of feet and a frightened voice asked who was there.
Without replying Aleck brought his knee firmly ugnlnst tho
door, which Hew open, revealing an old woman, with pallid face
and gray hair, standing In the faint light.
"No huun, dame, but wo huo a mon here sulr hurled In the
mine."
Ho deposited his burden upon the floor, knelt by It, tore
asldo tho matted rags, placed his hand over tho heart. It still
beat, but faintly. At tho same instant there was a wild, piercing
scream. Aleck sprung to his feet. The woman hud sunk to a
heap upon the floor. He stared wildly about. Ho wns alono
with the two, for Michael, unwilling to enter that house, whose
history ho knew too well, was hurrying across tho common ns
fast as his stiffened legs could curry him.
Aleck placed the unconscious woman upon u bed In tho Inner
room nnd did all thut ho could to restore her, Ho brought snow
and bathed her brow. Rut she moved not, At last ho took hli
lamp from his head and held it close to tho withered, curovyorn
face. The eyes wero flxed and staring. Was she dead? Tho
thought appalled him. He reeled and sunk upon a chair, for tho'
time utterly oblivious of his surroundings. ' '
After it time he hethought him of tho poor wretch lying In
tho next room. Ho drugged himself to his feet and passed out.
At the same tlmo tho outside door opened and tho doctor entered,
A hasty examination revealed tho fact that ho was too late,
Uoth wero dead.
"Who was this woman?" asked the doctor, with the nlr of
one who stands within the presence of u Destiny no human
power can thwart or undei stand.
"Sho wero Mary Grayson, sir, wife of him who, folk say,
killed tho paymaster twenty-odd year ago and was never heard
of after," said Aleck, simply,
"And this man?"
Aleck shook his head.
But the two were buried side by side.
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