TERRIBLE ORDEAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1923, Page 4

TERRIBLE ORDEAL.

A. I.L-NHHi i’ IN ENDERGROEND CHANNEL. SYDNEY, April 11. 11l the hi-t stages of oxhtl II s t nil.. -.it just able to call faintly for in Ip, ,i Russian woman was rescued on Ytittr.'dav from an underground water channel in a Sydney timber yard, after a leriihlc ordeal. The channel is constructed of cunoreie, and after running for a long distance as an open drain for the reception of -iormwater, il disappears under I lie limber lard and deboueia-s into the harbot’ir at a. part known as Box II • Bay. Some 11isi:iili.;- above tin- poini at which it: di-appears undergrotiml there is a footbridge, and on Wednesday night the Woman had ecca simi In cross i(. !i wax a w ild night. with the w ind almost a gale, and the rain coming down in a torrential downpour an if, as manv people kept to their homes that night remarked, to make up for the long drought which, so far an the city was concerned, had only that day broken. And, in those wild elements, the woman became fearful on | the Inin-lv. narrow bridge, and slid- | dniily in the middle lost her foothold, and plunged into the raging torrent, like a mill-race, beneath. The force of the water swept her onward, and attempts which she made to stay her progress were useless against the slippery sides of tlie channel, and in a few moments to a horror that was still depicted on her haggard face it lieu she told her story the next day lo a Russian inlorprefcr, she felt her- ,

self plunged into the underground tunnel which carries the channel under tlie timber yard. Giving lic-r----sell up for lost, as she related, she had ceased to struggle, when she felt herself dashed against a pile which supported the roof of the low tunnel, ami bruised and half-drowned as she was, a sudden accession of strength horn of despair enabled her to cling to the woodwork, and slowly and painfully drag herself partially our ot the swirling water. She was about 100 yards from the entrance of the tunnel, but had neither the strength nor the confidence to attempt to make out when a cessation of tlie rain an hour or two afterwards minimised the strength of the current. 80 she desperately clung to the piles, and remained in her agonised state, hut with wonderful endurance, all night She had heard footfalls above as tlie morning wore on. and had cried out for help, hut without avail, until, at about half-past ten two Water and Sewerage Board employees, who were passing, happened to hear a taint cry, and on making investigations, discovered the woman's plight, and rescued her. After treatment in the nearest hospital, she showed no serious effects of her experience, and was. able disjoint])- to relate the facts to the police through the interpreter. j