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2014-03-16T12:38:46+00:00
http://www.maderatribune.com/columns/gold-mining-madera-county-
took-its-toll 2004-12-21T12:01:47+00:00
2012-01-06T10:02:22+00:00 Gold mining in Madera County took its
toll webmaster  The dirt cascaded down the mine shaft with a
sickening roar. Splintering, old timbers offered no resistance
and became indistinguishable from the rest of the debris that
filled the hole. Someone from below the billowing dust cloud
yelled, “Get to the top,” and James Lester scrambled up the
ladder. Twenty feet from the surface, he paused to look down.
His men had been buried alive. The mine superintendent hurried
on up the ladder and sent word to Raymond to get help and to
announce the great Gambetta Mine disaster.  Meanwhile,
underneath the rubble, lay Frank Wilson and James O’Connell. It
was pitch dark. O’Connell called for Wilson. There was no
answer. He groped and groped, and finally he foun