THE ENTOMBED MINES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3762, 2 April 1907, Page 2

THE ENTOMBED MINES.

Details of his Rescue.

Relates his Experiences.

Perth, 29th March

The miner Varischetti, who was imprisoned in the Westralia East mine some days ago by a sudden inrush of water, has been rescued. Pumping operations have been in progress for several days, and by yesterday afternoon the water had gone down sufficiently to permit Hughes, the miner who has dons such good work as a diver in the rescue operations, to make four trips to the entombed man without his diving dress, though he had to swim the first time.

At length, taking Varischetti’s hand, Hughes led him along the level, to a cage waiting in the shaft.

There was a scene of intense excitement as the long-entombed miner reached the surfaceHe was too weak to stand, and his eyes had to be protected by coloured glasses from the glare of light at the pit mouth. His face was death-like in its pallor. The spectators had been warned not to cheer, for fear of shattering the man’s nerves, and only a smothered hum was heard as the skip reached the surface, Varischetti’s head resting on his rescuer’s shoulder.

As the Italian was conveyed to the manager’s house, however, the pent-up feelings of the crowd broke forth in cheers for Hughes.

When Varischetti started from the mine he seemed well, but when the water reached his waist he seemed to lose strength, and Hughes had to carry him to the chute, where Hearne assisted him. The water was very cold. Count Junini, Italian Consul, telegraphed to Hughes as follows : “Your week’s heroic work, which has successfully resulted in saving the life of a human being and my fellow-countryman, fills me with admiration. It serves as a demonstration of the valour of the British. lam taking pride in reporting the gallant conduct of yourself and assistant divers to my Government. ” Perth, March 30. There is a whisper of some shameful neglect on the part of some British miners on the fateful day when Varischetti was entombed in the Westralia East Mine. If the story is true, two men have covered themselves with ignominy. An official inquiry will be held. Speaking of his own movements on the day of his imprisonment, Varischetti states that he fixed his machine drill ready to bore a hole, but found the supply of compressed air (the motive power) gone, and the machine would not work. He waited some time for the resumption of the air supply. Finally, he went down into the level, only to find a strong current of water flowing nearly thigh deep. He rushed towards the shaft, but the water seemed to gather force and depth and bore him backwards. Four times he essayed to escape, and each time was borne back by the current. When the water had risen to his chin, he retreated up the rise, resigned to death. There was a quantity of stone in the istope, and here he was left, with only stone to rest on, and about forty feet of space to move in.

At first Varischetti experienced a period of horror and suspense, not daring to hope for life. He could not tell how long afterwards it was when he heard blows in the rock somewhere above him, and he responded. Then he hoped for life.

He was scared at first when Hughes appeared, but soon recalled the fact that he had once seen a man in a diving dress at Fremantle.

Varischetti thought he was only three days entombed altogether. He did not feel hungry or thirsty till a short time before Hughes came with food.