THE ENTOMBED MINER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 86, 13 April 1907, Page 6

THE ENTOMBED MINER.

RESCUE OF VABISCHETTI

FIRST HOPES OF RESCUE

; The entombed Italian miner Varischetti was brought to the surface at '; six o'clock on Thursday evening, March 28, after nine days' enforced imprisonment in the lower depths of the mine. The balers had continued working throughout Wednesday night without intermission, and in the mine the water was lapping the roof of No. ]0 level, showing that the ten days' struggle was nearly over. It took a long time, however, to lower the water in the long drive sufficiently to enable Varisrhetti to be brought out. Messages were received at the surface from time to time for different materials, and once a shot was fired to blast away an obstruction. The shaft was roped off to keep back the crowd, and a report that Varischetbi would be up by five o'clock evoked great applause. At half-past three Hughes, without a diving suit, waded through the rise, and joined Varischetti. He subsequently returned, then went back to the rise and sat with the miner till the water was a little lower. Varischetti ate some food while Hughes wai+ed. There was an animated scene at the surface, the men standing ready to haul the Union Jack and the Italian flag to the poppetheads the moment the cage appeared. - ' The skip came at half-past five, the occupant reporting that Varischetti had been brought to No. 9 level, where he was receiving nourishment. The flags were immediately unfurled, and half-an-hour later the skip brought Varisehetti io the surface amid an immense outburst of cheering. Varischatti was pale and emaciated, forming a strong contrast to Hughes, who lifted him from the cage. The Italian was wrapped in blankets, and had his\eyes, covered with wool and dark glasses to protect them from sudden contact with the daylight. With a fortnight's growt'i on an absolutely colourless face, he looked as though the- seyere ordeal' through which he had passed had played havoc with lam. Varisohetti appeared on the point of collapse, and was taken to the manager's house and put to bed. Hughes stated that the water was higher than he expected. He made four trips altogether, having to swim the first time. Varischetti met him, and they chatted cheerfully for over an hour, and smoked cigarettes. Then Varischetti said he felt all right, and hand in hand they proceeded to wade along the level. Diver Hughes, when he stepped off the skip, was mobbed by the crowd, and kisses were showered on him by many women. When Hughes with his half-lifeless burden reached the bottom of the pass, Divers Heame and Curtis, Inspector Crabb, Dr Mitchell, and the underground manager were waiting, and a little higher up were Varischetti's mate, Giuseppe Maringoni, and his brother, Natalie Varischetti. The sight of these faces seemed to revive Varischetti, and he actually clambered up an inlcline almost unaided, and on; reaching his countrymen he shook 'hands, burst into tears, and seemed to faint. Maringoni and Hughes then bore him upwards to a level, where he was stripped and vigorously rubbed and clothed in dry apparel. A mask was placed over each eye, and his ears were stopped to keep out noise. The patient's temperature was falling, and a blanket was rolled round him.

Bonnie Vale was en fete. Immediately on receiving news of the rescue the Italian Consul despatched congratulatory messages to Inspector Crabb and Mr Rubisehum, and to Hughes the following:—-"-Your week's heroic work, which has successfully resulted in saving the life of a human being and a fellow country-* man, fills me with the greatest admiration. It serves to demonstrate the valour of the British. I am' taking great pride in reporting the gallant conduct of yourself and assistant divers to my Government."

STATEMENT BY VARISCHETTI

Varischetti has made the following statement: —

, <l On Tuesday afternoon, the day of the disaster, I had been down below about half an hour, when on looking, down from the back of*the stope in which I was working, into No. 10 level, I saw water rushing- past in a strong stream. What attracted my attention first was the noise made by a candle box floating past the rise and along the level. I climbed down, and got into the level, and made for the shaft. I got along about 20ft towards the plat, but the water was coming in and rising higher and higher, until it nearly filled the drive before me. I was compelled to turn back. I did not turn, until the water was nearly up to my waist. I then ran up into the rise again. In a minute or two the level appeared to be filled with water up +o the commencement of the stope. I did not try again until an

hour or so afterwards, when the water appeared to have gone down a little. This time I only got about 10ft along the level, and on account of the dip of the level the water became too deep, and I was again compelled to retreat. I then remained in the rise for about 12 hours, when I noticed ihe water down. It dropped to about the bottom of the shoot, and T tried again, but further on the level was full, and I turned again. This time I was in the dark^ so I climbed to the top of the stope, and stayed there. I had not seen or heard anybody.

•" A few hours after the water first came I started knocking loudly on the footwall with a gympie hammer, and I knocked and knocked and knocked. Afterwards I heard knocking indistinctly. I counted nine knocks, and .then they stopped. I counted nine knocks again, so I began. I knocked ten, and then somebody else knocked nine again. This encouraged me, and I .knew it meant that the signal was given from No. 1 level. That's why I knocked 10, as Twas in No. 10 level. I felt a, little better then A . 'I did not take any crib to work with me. I never take a ciib. When crib time comes I only spell half an hour. So I did not have anything to eat. I was still in the dark, because my matches were all wet. I had candles, and I had a watch, but it stopped several times, and I did not know for how long it had stopped. I simply wound it up, and set it going again. I reckoned it was about two days before Hughes came to me. (JNote.-—lt was fully three days). I eP* on signalling''with -my hammer on the rocks ,and as long as I got answers I kept my spirits up. No!* I was not much afraid when the diver came to me. I could just see a movement of the water, and bubbles on •Si BHT faoe before he came through with the lamp. I have seen plenty of divers before. I was much surprised. 1 toqk the lamp, but could not see the wV f, ace > and did no* know whether he was Italian or English, but I he would be English, lie did not stay long enough for me. i wanted his compamt. I came down ;■«? the timber, and shook hands with \ him. -When I got a light I thought r would, have to stay there until all the water was out; but I wanted them to be quick. I reckoned I was there altogether about six days. I slept a little sometimes, but watched the water m the level very much. I was always waiting for, the diver to relV Tn- I did not see his face vintil the last day, when he came in for me. ~ No; I shall -never forget tht> cuvers. When \ started to corns out with the diver I thought I could; walk, but when we got into deep water, I could not, and Hughes helped- me. ITearne, Another diver, helped through the t-hoot, but I don't remem ber much of that, and I was wrapped up to go to the surface. When I got to the surfaoa, and the men lifted me out of the skip; I just heard a noise of people cheering, and I did not know any more until I reached Mr Rubischum's ,house. I feel grand now. My heatl is all right, and talking does not make it ache. I intend to go to work in the mine again."