LOCKED IN A SAFE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1918, Page 4

LOCKED IN A SAFE.

CLERK’S TERRIBLE ADVENTURE.-

A clerk named Walter Gardiner, employed at Usher’s Wiltshire Brewery, Trowbridge, recently survived a terrible ordeal. He had placed the firm’s" books in the safe preparatory to leaving for the night, and was about to close the door when he realised that the gas inside the safe was not turned oft’ He stepped inside to extinguish the jet, wlipn to his horror he heard the massive door close with a snap. There was then no otherperson on the premises, and Gardiner’s calls for hedp and Ids hammering on the side @f the safe were unavailing^ The atmosphere soon became so heated that the imprisoned cleric found it almost unbearable. There was no ventilation, but Gardiner secured temporary relief by cutting away with his knife a piece of flooring near tire door. He persisted in his efforts to attract attention,- and presently passers-by in the street who heard mysterious muffled rap pings in the brewery and suspected that thieves were at wo)k fetched the police, who entered the premises by a window.

They failed tor some time to locate the continued rappings, but eventually traced them to the strongroom, when it became evident to them that someone was imprisoned. The safe was eventually opened, and Gardiner was found in a state of collapse.