TRAPPED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 September 1924, Page 5

TRAPPED.

PRISONERS BY ACCIDENT.

SAVIfD BY WIRELESS

(BY TELEGRAPH —PEERS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. One of the best wireless stories told for a long time relates an escape from prison, accomplished last night. Fortunately for the interests of justice the escapees were prisoners by accident’, and the escape Was connived at, or rather assisted by, the police. In the wing of the Mount Cook military hospital, which is established in a big building .originally intended as a prison, the wireless equipment of the defence forces, is set up. An officer and three mechanics were engaged in overhauling the main installation,: which was “all to pieces,”, even the aerial being down. During, the eyenirig the door of the room became closed, perhaps by the high wind, and locked itself. No -efforts on the part of the impris.oned men could prevail over the locks, and the thick walls were impervious to sound

The wireless gear in the room was “the last resort.” A small transmitter was assembled and'ten feet, of'“aerihl” was strung up in the room. As the military equipment is designed for long waves,- some difficulty was experienced in getting down to the 600 metre wave length Which' it was desired ,;to . use; but it was done, and VLWiU’adio station on’ Tinakori Hill was successfully called up. : . ‘

Government telegraphists answered the army’s S.O.S. with promptitude, called the police to the rescue, and the victims of the mishap were released .without loss of life or other injury •soon after midnight. They were glad to get out <jf the prison walls,, which make cold blankets.