MEN IN MINE CAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 86, 11 April 1935, Page 9

MEN IN MINE CAGE

SUBMERGED AT BOTTOM OF

SHAFT

REMARKABLE ESCAPE

(From "The Pdst's" Representative.) . SYDNEY, March 28.

Eight men had remarkable escapes from being trapped and drowned 2000 feet underground when a cage in the Great Boulder mine (Kalgoorlie) in which they were tieing lowered, overran the bottom level and plunged them into water at the bottom 'of,, the shaft.

The first warning the men had was the shock of cold water, and in an, instant they were submerged. As experienced miners all were familiar with the construction of the cage,"and in ,the inky darkness every man promptly concentrated on lifting the hinged flaps at the top. ■

Although they were packed tight in the cage, all managed to climb through the openings. They, crawled to the top of what had threatened to be their tomb, 'or clung to the shaft timbers. The rope, they could feelj was hanging slack. None were hurt, although one man had his flannel shirt torn off in squeezing to safety.

With lamps gone and enveloped in darkness they were still in a dangerous situation, as they were likely to slip off the cage and be caught between it and the timbers, Presently the rope became taut, and; the cage was hauled slowly clear and stoppied a little above the proper drive. One man leaped down in the dark and managed to obtain, a light, which enabled the rest of the men to get;out safely. They then signalled to be hauled to the surface. , !

All were shaken by their terrifying experience, and some were violently ill from swallowing, the foul salt water, but they were back at ..work the next day, when the happening formed the subject of good-humoured banter between them and the rest of the men at. the shaft head.