BURIED ALIVE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 923, 28 February 1882, Page 3

BURIED ALIVE.

The Erie correspondent of the Cleveland Leader says ; —While Mr Ralph Gore, the contractor, was superintending the work in the new sewer, and while he was at the bottom of the excavation, the earth began to give way. He stepped aside and let all in his employ escape ahead of him, and then the earth fell on him. His head could be seen just above the earth, “i think my legs are broken, gentlemen,” he said, “but set to work and dig me out of ray grave.” He spoke encouragingly and made light of the accident. While the workmen were digging the other bank was seen to be giving away. It was over the spot whereMrQore stoodwedged inasin a vice. Five or six hundred tons of earth and rock must come down unless a miracle intervened. The laboVers had cleared away as far as Mr Gore's shoulders, but now ■ they had to fly for their own lives. Next moment the man was alone. Above him was the tottering avalanche, and on the south bank stood a crowd of people with pallid faces- The look of despair that he gave when he took in the situation w : l never be forgotten. He made one more desperate struggle to extricate himself, and then resigned himself to his fate. He fixed his eyes on the slowly moving mass and watched it creep nearer and nearer to a point where he knew it would receive

safficidiit.imp' tus. to be hurled down upon Him., “ God help me !” he exclaimed, and the awe-stricken crowd echoed the wish. Then his lips were seen to move in prayer and the landslide moved faster. Ic received a temporary check, but again glided on toward the brink. The suspense at this moment was terrible. A large school opposite had Just been let out, and the teaehers and children had gathered on the brink. Men, women and children sobbed aloud, and some knelt in prayerThe avalanche was now within two feet of the point where the bank became steeper. Slowly it crept ; inch by inch the point was reached ; its pace quickened, there was a rush and the next moment 500 tons of earth plunged over the brink and fell with a crash on top of the man’s head. Later in the day the body was recovered a shapeless mass,