THRILLING MINE ADVENTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 47, 24 February 1923, Page 19

THRILLING MINE ADVENTURE.

BOYS CLING TO PLANK IN MID-AIR FOUR HOURS. Tbe escape of two youths named Hargrcaves and Wilson, aged 17 and IS respectively, who were imprisoned in a Pontefraet pit. is described by experienced officials as the most miraculous in the history The lads were being drawn up Id a cage travelling at the rate of 37 miles an hour, when it collided with a downward cage running at the same speed. The shock broke the cable and head-gear of the upgoing cage, impelling the lads to the roof. Then the cage began falling down the 1200----feet deep shaft. After falling some hundreds of fppt it was lironaht up with a jerk by an obtruding arm of the conductor up and down which it travels. Both lads were rendered unconscious by the shock and their lamps were smashed. Hargreaves on recovering consciousness found his companion senseless and hanging half out of the case. lie pulled him into the middle, where both remained for some time. Wilson recovered consciousness and then both began shouting for help. Their cries were heard above, and arrangements made for sending doirn a rescue party. Presently nuts and bolts dislodged 800 feet above began crashing into the cage, or passing with the shriek of discharged bullets. In view of this bombardment and the imminent peril that the cage might break from its jammed position and resume Its terrible journey the lads decided to leave it. •They clnmbered upon the framework, and inch by inch made their way to a β-inch beam of one of the stays. Drenched with freezing water from the shaft wall the lads remained standing on tbeir narrow plank for four hours, when help came to I horn in the form of a basket lowered from tbe mouth of the shaft. In this were Mr. Lee, the engineer, and a shift man. They succeeded in dragging the lads into the basket, and all four occupants were drawn to daylight and safetyOne man engaged in colliery work for a lifetime declares that 09 times out of a hundred a cage broken loose dropped sheer to the bottom.