we’d let the brake cool. Then we’d do it again, and we were coming down all right. Then Schramm—a big fella, weighed about two-twenty-five—he pulled the chain so hard the brake-arm broke. And, Boy! Rrrooommm! Down we went! Foreman Matt Riley happened to be at the hoist house at the time, and with great presence of mind he levered a piece of two-by-four against the spinning cable drum and slowed it somewhat. Otherwise the accident probably would have been fatal. As it was, the cage struck, smashed, and flung its passengers willy-nilly onto the loading platform. Valdez seemed to be unhurt.
...more
