VERICHETTI'S RESCUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 2 April 1907, Page 2

VERICHETTI'S RESCUE.

HIS feUFFEKLNGS. RUMOUR OF SHAMEFUL NEGLECT. Perth, .March DO. J hore is a whisper 0 f some shameful neglect on Iho part of some of the British minors on the fateful day Veriohtli ra entombed. If the story is true. the men have covered themselves with ignominy. An ollieial enquiry is to b« Speaking of his own movements on the day of his imprisonment, Yerichetti slates Hint he lixcil his machine drill ready to hore. n hole, hut found the com. pressed air supply pone, and the drill would not work. He waited some time for resumption of (he air supply, and finally went down into the level, only to lind a stronj,' eurrent of water flowing nearly thigh deep, lie rushed towards the shaft, but the water seemed to gather force with the depth, and hore him backwards. Four times lie essayed to escape, but each time was borne back by the current. When the water had risen to his chin he retreated up the rise, resigned to death. Here he was lett with only a stone to rest on, and about .10 feet of space to move in. Verischetti began a period of horror and suspense t daring to hope. He could not tell how long after it was when he heard blows on the rock somewhere above him, and he responded then and hoped for life. i| c was seared at Inst when Jluphes appeared, but soon iMulled the tact that he had once seen men in diving dress at Fremantle. Verischetti, though then only three days entombed, did not feel hungry or thirsty till a short time before Hughes came with food.