A TERRIBLE UNDERGROUND FIGHT.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2505, 16 January 1877, Page 2

A TERRIBLE UNDERGROUND FIGHT.

A rery serious stabbing affray occurred in the Consolidated Virginia mine at 8 o'clock yesterday morning. Two miners, named Lous Barnes, a Finlander, and Ed* ward Flynn, an Irishman, came but ofa stope to the 1500-foot level to cool themselves. They sat down side by'stde\ and\ were getting along quite comfortably, when, seized with an odd whim, Flynn threw his feet into Barnes' lap, with his toes pressing against the Finlander's stomach; - Barnes told him to take his feet away, to which reasonable request Flynn made answer, that he would see him roasted first, and furthermore that he was " man enough " to . keep them there as long, as he liked; Barnes flung the feet away, and the mefi started to their feet. Both were powerful' men, neither weighing less than 190 pounds. After facing one another for an instant Fiynn suddenly let out.his fist and knocked Barnes to the ground. , The Fin.-, lander happened to have a miner's candlestick in his hand, and springing up he dashed at his assailant with this dangerous weapon.. The men clinched, and after.a short struggle both fell to the floor of- the drive. In a moment Barnes had inflicted * five severe stabs upon his enemy, one of them directly over the liver and the most dangerous of all. Flynn's cries soon brought other miners to the scene, -who speedily separated the straggling men. A messenger at once went up the shaft for a doctor, and orders were given, that no one should be permitted to leave the mine until the arrival of the police. Barnes' friends .below advised him to make no attempt at escape, as they considered him perfectly justified in what he had done, Flynn having picked the fight, and bearing the reputation of an ill-natured, quarrelsome fellow. Barnes said he would follow their counsel, but while the men were working over Flynn, who was bleeding copiously, the Finlander took the opportunity, to run along the C. and C. shaft, where he got to the surface and made his escape. Up to noon to-day no trace of him had been found. Flynn was taken on top upon the arrival of Dr Grant and is now lying in a dangerous condition,. The. doctor, however, has strong hopes that he Will pull through.—Gold Hill News. .-■ > . ,