Saint Olsen

Saint Olsen

© Gabriel Magno 1999

Abraham Olsen was a coal miner for twenty-five years. He was a simple, single man, who pretty much stuck to himself. An occasional "hello" or "how you doin'?", was about all you ever heard from him. One day, while working in the mine, a coal car full of dynamite and blasting caps was being sent downwards on tracks, to the end of the shaft, where eighty miners were at work. The car was attached to a steel cable, which in turn was attached to a large motor that slowly unwound it.

The men working in that area, which was near the shaft's entrance, were having lunch. Suddenly, one of them saw some of the cable shredding. He quickly stood up, pointed at it and shouted, "The cable!".

Everyone slowly began to rise, as more and more of the cable shredded. Standing nearest the coal car was Abraham Olsen. When the final few strands of the cable broke, the car was free. It started quickly gathering speed down the shaft. Without hesitation, Olsen threw himself on the tracks to stop it. The enormous weight of the dynamite and the car was such that it rolled right over him, instantly cutting off his head and both legs, half way above his knees. The car slowed some, but kept rolling. The mass of his bloody torso being dragged, kept the car at a slow enough speed, to allow several other miners standing nearby, the opportunity to grab onto it and finally stop it.

Eighty men were saved that day. The town’s people decided to make him their own saint. They also changed the town's name to Olsenville, in his honor. A statue of Abraham Olsen was commissioned by the mayor. The sculptor began creating it. The miners meanwhile, had a meeting and decided that the statue should have no head, and no legs from half way above its knees, down. They wanted anyone who saw it, to be reminded of the sacrifice Abraham Olsen made. The mayor approved it. And so, there it was... in the town square. Ever since the events of that day, all men who work in the mine, wear a pendant around their necks for good luck. The pendant is of St. Olsen, a perfect miniature replica of the statue.