NEARLY BURIED ALIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 24, 27 January 1906, Page 13

NEARLY BURIED ALIVE.

BOYS AWFTL EXPERIENCE IN AN OLD PIT SHAFT. George Rhodes, a lad of eljlu years, residing in Hanley, Staffordshire, hns nar rowly escaped being buried alive. He was ratui'uing: hump Jrom the direction of Northw'Tid Collipry at. night when, In crossing ji field, liv stumbled In the darkness into an old disused pit shaft that was in process of being filled up. H<? fell to the bottom, a distance of nearly 100 feet, but, marvellous to relate, sustained only a few bruises and a sprained ankle. When he came m himself In the darkness, after being stunned by the fall, he groped round the walls of the shaft, saturated with damp, to find that there was no means of reachIng the top. In despair the poor lad shouted as loudly as he could, but his cries only died away in gloom, and brought no friendly echo. At last he grew tired, and his voice failed him through hoarseness. All night inthe cold he crouched in terror, hut as the long hours went by, his eye looking upwards saw as morning broke a faint gleam of light. Then he heard sounds and movement, and onoe more he shouted for dear life. Thi.s time a voice answered him. It seems some workmen came at seven o'clock, and had actually begun to ail in the pit shaft with earth when they were startled by hearing cries from below. On discovering the lad tbey speedily had him brought to the surface. The boy is still suffering from the shock of his terrible experience.