Four Days in a Tunnel.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 230, 7 April 1874, Page 3

Four Days in a Tunnel.

The Guilford correspondent of the Mount Alexander Mail gives the following account of an underground episode in the life of a miner :—" An adventure of a most unusual character was encountered last week by a Greek miner, residing near Tarilta. The man is what is technically termed a ' hatter.' that is, working by himself, and in pursuit of his calling, he went down an old abandoned shaft to get into a neighbouring drive that had an outlet. Finding the communication filled up with headings, he began to shovel back in the shaft, and thus slowly worked his way to where he wished to go. After hours of hard work he found his candle burnt out, himself cramped for room, and the drive overhead, which had previously been supported by the headings, giving way slowly, and dropping on and about him, and filling up the small space he had left. He went down the shaft on Tuesday, and emerged from his tomb on Saturday. His his fears, and his struggles during that time it is impossible to describe. Owing to kind and unremitting attention of (Mr Botterel and his family, the man has nearly recovered from the effects of his incarceration under ground. In justice to the man's neighbours it must be stated that when he was mißsed search was made, and the very shaftTte had gone down was looked into, but, as the bottom was filled, and no signs of a drive, it was passed by. The burled man heard the footsteps above, and repeatedly cried out, but was not audible, the surrounding earth drowning his voice to those above."