The power plant and coal processing equipment, chutes, and dump for the mine were situated about 2 miles or so due west of Novinger a1ongside the old #6 highway and the railroad tracks which came close together at this point. The farm of Sam Novinger was about a block or two to the northeast. The mine tracks were approximately two or three stories above the ground and started about over the highway. They ran straight southward over the railroad tracks and then over Spring Creek. Shortly after passing over Spring Creek, the tracks dipped down sharply to about 10 or 12 feet above the ground and continued straight south for another 2 or 3 miles over the flat "bottoms" before disappearing into a hole from which the coal was mined. Inside the mine entrance the tracks sloped downwards which probably gave the mine its name. When our family lived at what I call the FALLINI farm west of Novinger the best way to travel to our house from Novinger by horse and wagon was to go west on the old #6 highway, past the mine complex and on towards Danforth. Just before reaching Danforth, we turned left and crossed Spring Creek on an old steel bridge and continued on home past the farm of Joe Novinger, the Wallace farm, and the Mabis farm. This was a long way to travel so we usually took a short cut whenever we walked home. At the Slope mine complex we waded across Spring Creek and followed the overhead mine tracks to the mine entrance and then along a path going roughly southwest to our house. One year when I was 10 or 11 years of age, heavy and continued rains caused severe flooding throughout the Novinger area especially of all bottom lands. A carnival or medicine show was in town one Saturday and I spent the afternoon there fascinated by it all. When daylight began to fade I suddenly realized I had better get back home. I had already stayed too long. Since the highway was very muddy and flooded in spots, I hurried along the railroad tracks until I arrived at the Slope mine. It was dark now and a light rain began to fall and occasional streaks of lightening lit up the sky. I became a little worried now and decided to take the short cut home and walk the mine tracks over the flooded bottoms instead of taking the longer way home. In the dark, I climbed the long ladder to the top where the mine tracks were and gingerly followed them southwards across Spring Creek and downwards to where they leveled off over the bottoms. The going was slow because the railroad ties were wet and slippery and I had to pause quite frequently to await another lightening flash to illuminate the area. When the tracks leveled out over the bottoms I became frightened. A lightening flash revealed the angry, muddy waters only a few feet below the tracks carrying all sorts of debris as it rushed and swirled past underneath. All I could see to the left and right was water. Should I go back or continue? During a lightening flash I could see the far end where the tracks entered the mine so I decided to continue. Placing one bare foot carefully one after the other on the wet railroad tie~ and pausing in mid-stride to await another lightening flash, I slowly inched my way across the flat and flooded bottoms and after what seemed ages I finally arrived at the mine entrance. The waters stopped there and I was safe. I made it! The rest of the way home was easy. This incident happened over 60 years ago but I'll never forget it. I guess you could say I stayed too long at the fair. John Yauk 11-12-90 |