A NARROW ESCAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6948, 23 February 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

A NARROW ESCAPE.

The Echo dn Nord gives the narrative of an adventure which, save for a providential chance, might have resnlted in a dreadful to the parties most concerned. Inree youncc men of Lille, on a holiday excumoo, rtsolved to explore the famous subterranean recesse3 at Lezinnes, and for that purpose sought one of their friends, a resident of the locality. The friend referred -nem to another mdividnal, who protested to be well acquainted with the way through the caves, and offered, to: guide the visitors. Provided with. a common candle, of small size, and a box of matches, as if he was merely going to look for something in.a cellar, the cicerone led .the!three young men conhdently into the very curious but someiimss dangerously intricate underground labyrinth It did not need the gift of prophecy to foresee what occurred.: At first the volunteer guide who after all had but a Very imperfect knowledge of the- tortuous, windings of the cavern depths, found that h'e'had lost his way, and, becoming confused, 'strayed .hopelessly about with his companions.;; Feeling more at a loss than ever;' they:,perceived'"w'ith dismay that their candle was nearly burnt to the end, aod this rjiiV ;■■ length '"- entirely"! consumed,'reconrse':wass hadito;! the"bbx of "matches^ .which ; were *lightedVand> : ;burQt. '■ All 'the ! pieces of,, paper they. : :had.. about them were next,,consumed,' then.; their;; pocket-handker-. chiefs and all the lin'en'they could spare were" put under contribution'and'burnt,' until'they ;had ; them'that-would furniah the necessary^/illuminatibn^and*they : were left tin. darkness and terror.?,, A seem-" ingly interminable period of anxiejy' : and fear succeeded, jand : the? feelings of the' ■explorers' may.bemore readily imagined than described. i : ;. Plunged in the damp acd pitchy gloom of :■ what ■ to , ' be an : *immense sepnlchre,-:pf. nnknown sdepthJJinvthes bowels jot the -earth,, .withbut;;food,:;and. probablyi ;;dbomed to one.of the^mbst.frightful. forms of death, there was;bufc;}one hope.remainingi'to" ;.them; ! friend who had been left above iricludedi'whb ; iinight. be cognisant' 'of in*the'' .cavern,. and , , .who^^^."would^!becbme ; '.soli3it6iis ; . ; about :thieir,.no6-reappearance,;and ; /institute. ;;a search, ;seemedHtbeoDly,,'charice ; of.'rescue' reserved:tb,them; .; : ;Tdadd to theifapprehend sions theyvwereSwell a.ware. : of Hhe sad. fate■..which had: befallen 'M.liPuy, the mushroom, cultivator, who had'entered the same caverns: in 184S, and had never returned to his home or been ; since ,fonnd; ; .-::ilany?.weary? hours': were thus; passed,:in?mortal ./anxiety, : ,.and! terribly long they most have appeared to the captives. : At length■ they could scarcely re-v press their screams iof joy, at the appearance of a. faint,: glimmering;light;,in' the;far-off: darknt-sa,. between ; the; massive;,' columns ■ of•■ chalk that supported the roof of the limestone \ :cavern; . The rush; ; to::th'e. saving/light was a "maddened race;for: the benightea explorers, ■ •who, to their-transports'of delight;:ehcoun-r tered hi. llathias, a farmer of.the neighbour-:; hood, who had descended.the cavern to looks after his beds of chicory.roots.,, .The thank--fulness ofithe/.wholei.party. at their: escape. :from what might haveresdily proved a living , deathi-will-need no:fartherr.recital,-but the recollection ; oJ: their.; trip.:to >the: caves\ of ;Lezinaei,.will most; Hkely;. be. engraved upon, ■theK - ,mempry;forinany years.to come.'' " : "..' '