THE ENTOMBED MINER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8786, 13 April 1907, Page 4

THE ENTOMBED MINER.

The entombed Italian miner Vari?cbetti was brought to the surface at S o’clock on, Thursday evening, March 28, after nine days’ enforced imprisonment in the lower depths of tho mine. Tho balers had continued working throughout Wednesday night without intermission, and in the mine the w’ater was lapping the roof of No. 10 level, showing that the ten days’ struggle was nearly over. It took a long time, however, to lower the water in the long drive sufficiently to enable Yarischetti to be brought out. Messages wore received at the surface from time to time for different materials, and once a shot was flredt o blast away an obstruction. The shaft was roped off to keep back the crowd, and a report that Yarischetti would be up by 5 o’clock evoked great applause. At 3.30 Hughes, without a diving suit, waded through the water to the rise, and joined Yarischetti. He subsequently returned, then went back to the rise and sat with the miner till the water was a little lower. Yarischetti ate some food while Hughes waited. There was an animated scene at the the men standing ready to haul the Union Jack and the Italian flag to the poppet heads the moment the cage appeared. The skip came at 5.30, the occupant reporting that Yarischetti 1 ad been brought to No. 9 level, where he was receiving nourishment. - The flags were immediately unfurled, and half an hour later the skip brought Yarischetti to the surface amid an immense outburst of cheering. Varischotti was pale and emaciated. forming a strong contrast to Hughes, who lifted him from tho cage. The Italian w T as wrapped in blankets, and had bis eyes covered with wool and dark glasses to protect them from sudden couact with tho daylight. With a fortnight’s growth on an absolutely colourless face, he looked as thougoh the severe ordeal through which lie had passed had played havoc with him. Yarischetti appeared on the point of collapse, and was taken to tho manager’s house and put to hod. Hughes stated that tho water was higher than ho expected. Ho made four trips altogether, having to swim the first time. Yarischetti met him, and they chatted cheerfully for over au hour, and smoked cigarettes. Thou Yarischetti said ho felt all right, aud hand in hand they proceeded to wade along the level. Diver Hughes, when lie stepped off the skip, was mobbed by the crowd, aud kisses were showered on him by many women. When Hughes with his half lifeless burden reached the bottom of the pass, Divers Hearuo ami Curtis, Inspector Orabbo, Dr. Mitchell, aud the underground manager were waiting, aud a little higher up were Yarischetti’s mate, Giuseppe Mariugoni, aud his brother, Natalie Varischetti. The sight of these faces seemed to revive Yarischetti, aud he actually clambered up au incline almost unaided, and on reaching his countrymen he shook hands, burst iuto tears, and seemed to faint. Mariugoni aud Hughes then bore him upwards to a level, where he was stripped aud vigorously rubbed aud clothed iu dry apparel. A mask was placed over each eye, aud his ears were stopped to keep out noise, The patient’s temperature was failing, aud a blanket was rolled round him. Bounie Yale was en fete. Immediately ou receiving news of the rescue tho Italian Consul despatched congratulatory messages to Inspector Orabbo aud Mr Eubisclmm, aud to Hughes tho following;—'“Your week’s heroic work, which has successfully resulted in saving tho life of a human being aud a follow countryman, fills me with the greatest admiration. It serves to demonstrate the valour of the British. I am taking great pride iu reporting the gallant conduct of yourself aud assistant divers to my Gove rumeut.

STATEMENT BY YARISOHETTI. Yarischotti has made the following statement; — On Tuesday afternoon, the day of the disaster, I had been down below about half an hour, when on looking down from the back of the stope in which I was working, into No. 10 level, saw water rushing past in a strong stream. What attracted my attention first was the noise made by a caudle box floating past the rise and along the level. I climbed down, and got into the level, and made for the shaft. I got along about 20ft towards the plat, hut the water was coming and rising higher and higher, until it nearly filled the drive before me. I [was compelled to turn back. I did not turn until the water was nearly np to my waist. I thou ran up into the rise again. In a minute or two the level appeared to be filled with water up to the commencement of the stope. I did not try again until an hour or so afterwards, when the water appeared to have gone

clown a littlo. This time I only got about 10ft. along the level, and on account of the dip of the level the water became too deep, and 1 was again compelled to retreat. I then remained in the rise for about 18 hours, when I noticed the water going down. It dropped to about the bottom of the shot, and I tried again but further on the level was full, and I turned again. This time I was in the dark, so I climbed to the top to the stope, and stayed there. I had

not seen or heard anyone. A few hours after the water first came I started knocking loudly on the footwall with a gympie hammer, and I knocked and knocked and knocked, Afterwards I hoard knocking indistinctly I counted nine knocks and then they stopped. I counted nine

knocks again, so began. I knocked 10, and then somebody else knocked nine again. This encouraged mo, and I knew it meant that the sign always given from No. 1 level. That’s why I knocked 10, as I was in No. 10 level. I folf a little bettor tiicu. I did not take any crib with me. I never take crib. When crib time comes I only spell half an hour. So I did not have anything to eat. I was still in the dark, because my watches were all wot. I had candles and I had a watch, but it stopped several times and I did not know for how long it had stopped. I simply wound it up, and sot it going again. I reckoned i t was about two days before Hughes came to me. (Note. — It was fully tliree days.) I kept on signalling with my hammer on the corks, and as long as I got answers I kept my spirits up. No. I was not much afraid when the diver came to me. I could just see a movement in the water, and bubbles on the surface before he came through|with the lamp. ”1 have soon plenty of divers before. I was much surprised and took the lamp, but could not see the diver’s face, and did not know whether he was Italian or English, but thought he was English. He did not stay long enough with me. I wanted his company. I came down to the timber and shook hands .with him. When I got a light I thought I would have to stay there until all the water was out but I wanted them to bo quick. I reckoned I was there altogether about six days. I slept a little sometimes, but watched the.

water in the level very much. I was always waiting for the diver to return. I did not see his face until the next day, when ho came in for me.

No, I shall never forget the diver. When I started to come out with the diver I thought I could walk, hut when we got into deep water I could not stand and Hughes helped me. Hcaruo, another diver, helped mo through the shoot, hut I don’t remember much of that, and I was wrapped up to go tojtlie surface. When I got to the surface and the men lifted mo out of the skip I just heard a noise of people cheering, and I did not know any more until I reached Mr Rubischum’s house. I feel grand now. My head is alright, and talking does not make it ache. I intend to go to work in the mine again.