A LONG ENTOMBMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9089, 7 March 1908, Page 2

A LONG ENTOMBMENT.

Very different from the experience of Varisohetti, the miner who was entombed in Western Australia, was * that of three men who were buried in the Giroux Mine at Ely, Nevada, on December 4th. Conveying food to Varisohetti-meant a perilous passage under water, and the man’s experience was about as harrowing as could be imagined. The entombed Nevada miners, however, 1 had a very good time underground, and though they were imprisoned for no less than 45 days, , came out well and cheerful. The men were working 1000 feet below the surface, when supports gave way and cut off their exit. Their communication with the upper air was by means of a six-inch pipe and a telephone. The telephone was broken by the accident, but they managed to repair it. - Attempts to send down water and food failed at first, but the prisoners were finally supplied by means of sections of iron piping with closed ends. The sections-were filled with condensed food and water, and reached their destination safely. Perhaps the most interesting example of the ingenuity displayed by the rescuers was in the matter of supplying bedding. It was obviously impossible to send blankets through a six-inch pipe. The men below suffered great discomfort until some genius conceived the idea of cutting the blankets into strips four inches wide, which were then lowered separately, with needles and thread. The men sewed the blankets together and were able to sleep comfortably. They were supplied with tobacco, whisky, soap, and other luxuries, and presents of food were showered on the relief committee. The Governor of Nevada sent them a Christmas turkey and two bottles of whisky at Christmas, and they had a sumptuous dinner 1000 feet below the surface, by the light of six tallow candle's. Relays of watchers were always on duty at the surface end of the pipe, and kept up the spirits of the prisoners by telling them humorous stories. Sometimes a phonograph was attached to the end of the telephone and the men enjoyed a concert. One man’s wife spent most of her time at the telephone, talking with her husband. Two of them put on weight during their 45 days’ imprisonment, having nothing to do but eat and sleep,' and one of them described his experience as an ideal rest cure.