IMPRISONED IN AN ICEBOX.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 241, 13 October 1886, Page 3

IMPRISONED IN AN ICEBOX.

Saved From Freezing To Doath Only

by His Great Strength.

A South Norfolk (Bonn.) dispatch says: On M_in street, noar depot, stands a large wooden.building, occupied by Wilbur Ayors a? a wholesale and retail provision market. In tho roar of tho market is an icebox aud patent refrigerator for storing meats about 9 feet high, 13 foet long and 10 feet wide. The box is composed of heavy 13J-inch chestnut planks outside, and with a li.iing botwoen tho planks of 12 inches of powdered charcoal, and, as a further protection, haa heavy lining of zinc inside tho box. Tho door locks with a patent snap-lock, and can bo opened only from the outside. Yesterday, Mr Ayorß, having occasion to inspect the refrigerator, oponcd the door and went in. A sharp click, and in a moment he was a prisoner in the great icebox with the temperature at zero. His clorke had all gone to dinner, not to return fortwohours, and there was .nobody to notice what had occurred. M r Ayers, who is a large and powerful man, weighing 200 pounds, exerted his immense strength against the door without avail, at the same time Bhouting until he became hoarse. Filially he became so exhausted that ho was compelled to rest, and, leaning against the box, tried to devise some way to liberate himself. Then ho began to feel sleepy, and in a moment it flashed through his mind that he was freezing to death. He threw his body violently against the door time and time again, walked around, closely examined all parts, and then came back and tried the door for the last time. To his joy he perceived a crack in the plank and throwing his body again and again against it he finally widened it so that he could get a hold with his hands. Then he tore out the inside planks and layer of charcoal, leaving o»ly the outside of the door between him and liberty. After repeated trials he broke through that barrier, however, and crawled out nnd fell on tho floor, being found there by some customers. A physician was summoned and an examination revealed the fac that Mr Ayers's muscles on the right side were severed and his side and arm paralysed. Hiß body was one mass of bruises.