THE COMSTOCK M^ES. 121 



is supported, are fixed at one end to the upper part of the lifting rod, h, while 

 the other end passes around the shaft, a, as seen at i, Fig. 2, and is attached to 

 it, so that the tendency of this chain, while there is any strain on the cable, is 

 to revolve the shaft, a, in such manner that the eccentric teeth are turned away 

 from the guides. If, however, by the breaking of the cable or other reason 

 this strain be relaxed, the springs, f, f, act upon the shaft, a, and turn the 

 eccentric teeth toward the guides, thus preventing the fall of the cage. This 

 movement is assisted by the spring, j, which is interposed between the bottom 

 of the lifting rod, h, and the ring, k, through which the rod passes. 



This style of safety attachment has been repeatedly tested by accidents 

 which, but for the efficiency of the contrivance, would have proved fatal to 

 life. 



The cage is sometimes furnished with a hood or covering of iron, usually 

 made of boiler-plate, for the purpose of protecting the men from the danger of 

 the cable, if broken, or other bodies falling in the shaft. Such a hood is shown 

 in Figs. 1 and 2, Plate VII. It is usually, though not in the case illustrated, hinged 

 in the middle, so that the two sides may be turned up when it is desired to send 

 down long timbers on the cage. The necessity, for other reasons, of having 

 the hood made in two hinged parts was shown by an occurrence in the Gould 

 and Curry mine, some time since, when two men, who were being lowered to 

 the bottom of the mine, found themselves descending below the surface of 

 the water, which had risen higher than they had supposed. They endeavored 

 to climb upward, but the hood not being a hinged one they were securely 

 imprisoned in the cage. Fortunately a signal reached the engineer in time to 

 save them from drowning. Iron hooks underneath the hood serve to keep it 

 securely closed when so desired. 



When the cage arrives at the surface it is desirable that it should be 

 sustained at a fixed point, on a level with the floor at the landing of the shaft, 

 so that the car may be easily run oif or on. For this purpose there are sup- 

 ports arranged, on which the cage may rest while standing at the shaft-mouth. 

 These supports consist of four tappets, two on each side of the shaft, just 

 below the floor. They are fixed upon a light iron shaft which may be partly 

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