STAMPEDE FOR LIFE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 92, 18 April 1908, Page 3

STAMPEDE FOR LIFE.

CAUGHT IN UNDERGROUND TORRENT. SPLENDID HEROISM. Forty miners' had a thrilling race rpr life with a rush of water in the Brewerton colliery, near Rugeley, btattordshire. They were at work when, without warning, a great tor.rent swept into the gallery. Tools were dropped, and the men, some of whom were stripped to the waist, fled at headlong speed for the shaft. As they ran the flood lapped their ankles. Second by second it rose until it reached their knees, their waists and even their necks. Pieces of floating timber impeded them, bodies of dead horses blocked the way, and the runners were many times carried off their feet by the flood. Almost all reached safety when death was only a matter of inches, but three were overwhelmed and drowned. They were : William Jarvis, who leaves a large family; Albert Curtis, a single man; and Isaac Harvey, pit boy. A number of horses

Deeds of the finest heroism were performed during the mad stampede. A miner named Gaten heard a boy named Bell utter a despairing scream as he disappeared in the water. ' He turned and seized him. and managed to drag him to safety, although the water was up to his own chin. On hearing a second cry he again dashed into the water and succeeded in reaching Harvey, who had seized. a post. The boy was too frightened to let go, and Gaten was washed back without being able to rescue him. Loud cheers were raised by the other miners when they learnt of Gaten's bravery. He is suffering from extreme shock.

One man. owed his life to the force of the flood. He was swept away and carried to a higher working, where he was able to regain his feet. Bell's father searched for his son in vain, amd was overjoyed when he heard that he had been saved.

' 'The water rushed in like the breaking of a door," said one of the miners who escaped. "I shouted to the others, "Run for your lives," and in -a moment we were struggling in the flood. I scarcely know how we escaped."