A LONG ENTOMBMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8544, 26 March 1908, Page 6

A LONG ENTOMBMENT.

Very different from the experience of Varischetti, the miner who' wao entombed in Western Australia, was that of three men who were buried in the Giroux Mine at Ely, Navada, on December 4th. Conveying food to Varischetti meant a perilous passage under, water, and the man's experience was about as harrowing as could be imagined. The entombed Nevada miners, however, had a very good time underground, and though they were imprisoned for no less than 45 days, ccmo out well and cheerful. The men were working 1000 feet below the surface, when supports gave way and cut oft' their exib. Their communication with the upper air was by means of a six-inch pipe and a telephone. The telephone was broken by the accident, but they managed to repair it. Attempts to send down water and food failed at first, but the prisoners were finally supplied by means oE sections of iron piping with closed ends. The sections were filled with condensed food and water, and reached their destination safely. Perhaps the most interosteing, example of the ingenuity displayed by the rescuers was in the matter of supplying ted'ling It was obviously impossible to send blankets through a six-inch pipe. The men below suffered great discomfort until son-.c genius couccived the idea of cutting the blankets into strips four inches wide which wore then lowered separately, with needles and thread. The men sewed tho blankets together, and were able to sleep comfortably. They were supplied with tobacco, whisky, soap, and other luxuries, and presents <-f food wore showered on the relief committee. The Gi I't-ir.qr of Nevada sent them a Christmas turkey and two bottles of whisky at Christmas, and they had a sumptuous dinner 1000 feet below the surface, by the light of six tallow candles. Relays of watchers were always on duty at the surface end of the pipe, and kept up iho spiiits of rh-3 prisoners by telling them humorous stories. Sometimes a phonograph was attached to the end of the telephone, and ihp men enjoyed a concert. . One man's wife spent most of her .time at the telophona, talking ■with her husband. Two of them put on weight during their 45 days' impiisonment, htving nothing io do but eat aaj sleep, and one of them described his experience as an ideal ro.t cure.