BURIED ALIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6099, 4 June 1881, Page 7

BURIED ALIVE.

A Geneva correspondent writes :— W A' few days ago a well for supplying a manufactory with water was being sunk at Ballwyl; in Lucerne. When a depth of SO feet had been reached the upper portion, already partly walled, fell in, carrying with it a ! vast quantity of- stones, blocked up the passage, and buried under the debris a poor, fellow of the name of Mattmann, who.was working near the bottom of a wooden stage. Though it was considered almost impossible that the man could be alive," is was resolved, oil tho Yeihoto'chance of:his having escaped, to clear out the-well as-quickly as possible, iindtwo rescue parties, wTio.jvxouglit alternately day an night, were at once set to work, f The accident happened "on.. a Monday morning shortly before noon. Jft.noon on the Friday following,' when'"the-men had dug down nearly, to the stage, they. heard what sounded like' a,faint bleating, and 'shortly afterwards Mattmanii's head was uncovered, aud he was found still alive, and not much hurt, but so' fast" wedged in with heavy stones and earth that it- required nearly six hours more work before he could be liberated and hoisted to the top. When he had recovered somewhat from his exhaustion he : wrote an account of his five days' entombment and his escape, which was communicated to a' local paper." '"'" > : = 1