ORDEAL IN TUNNEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 3 (Supplement)

ORDEAL IN TUNNEL

WASHED THROUGH MOUNTAIN Old Madame Pleasant, of Colomars, near Nice, has had an adventure that was anything but pleasant, but had fortunately a happy ending. She was washing clothes on the edge of the Vesubie Canal, and spreading them out after a vigorous scrubbing, when she missed her footing and fell into the water. Before she could get her breath and cry for help she was whirled by the current toward the tunnel which carries the water through the mountain. The poor old lady could not stop herself. Inside the mountain it was pitch dark, arid the water sounded ominous. At last a tiny shaft of light appeared, and presently Madame Pleasant was washed through the opening on the other side of the mountain. There, however, greater danger awaited her; she was being carried toward a steep and rushing waterfall. At the point of being swept over she managed to grasp an iron railing. At 75 one is still young in that part of France, and this hardy old countrywoman, instead of collapsing, kept her hold and her head, pulled herself out of the water, and called for help. Even then it was two hours before her cries were heard and she was rescued. In a day or two she was at her accustomed place by the canal, washing away as if nothing had happened.