PAINFUL EXPERIENCES OF Two Days in an Abandoned Shaft.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 282, 18 July 1888, Page 4

PAINFUL EXPERIENCES OF Two Days in an Abandoned Shaft.

A Ballarat tole^ran^ of July 9 says :— A young lady named Mary Jane Porm fell down.an old shaft, 3 feel wide and 30 feefc deep, at Winter's Flat, in the neighbourhood

of Sebasfcopol, and remained underground for two days and nights. Her non-arrival at her father's residence naturally caused a good deal of alarm, as it was feared that she had met with foul play. Search parties were organised, andamongthe places visited in quest of the missing young woman were water holes and dams, all of which were dragged. The search was continued until Friday af bernoonj when all hope was abandoned. Before dark, however, the girl was noticed walking among the old diggings, with clothes dirty and mud stained and hair dishevelled. The mother of the girl was called, and on her approach the girl, overcome by excitement, fell into a swoon. When consciousness had been restored, Miss "Perm, who was in a weak and exhausted state, told her story. It was to the effect that she was crossing the diggings for the purpose of seeing a horse belonging to her father, when she walked into the shaft, which lay in her path. Her fall to the bottom rendered her insensible, in which state, she says, she remained for a long time. On consciousness returning she, in her dungeon-like apartment, endeavoured to attract the attention of passersby, but failing in this she scratched holes in the side of the shaft, and by this means formed steps which, after a ter-l-ible ordeal, assisted her to regain the surface. In the effort Lo gain "the top the toes of Miss Perm's boots were wore through. How the young woman escaped without serious if not fatal injury is sur prising. At the bottom of the shaft she tound an old candle, but in the absence of matches hhe could not übc it.