DAY OF TERROR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

DAY OF TERROR

Girl and Six Men Trapped in Chasm

GRAPHIC story of a tragedy which occurred 300 ft. below the surface of the earth in a pot-hole on the slope of Gregareth, near Ingleton, Yorkshire, was told at an inquest on James Hudson Lambert, aged 25, of Nelson, Lancashire. Lambert, with other members of the Leeds Cave Club, was descending the pot-hole by ropo ladder when he slipped and fell, first on to a ledge 70l't. from the bottom, and later to the bottom. Torrents of Water Seven other members of the party, including one girl, Miss Betty Hatten, aged 10, were trapped for 12 hours and narrowly escaped" drowning when torrents of water flooded the pot-hole during a thunderstorm. Samuel Waller, who remained on the surface in charge of the life-line, stated at the , inquest that' Lambert shouted

that lie was going on to a ledge and asked for more rope. Waller let out from throe to five feet and at once In It a jerk. The rope began to whip through his hands. 1 About 60ft. or 70ft. of rope ran down the shaft and he realised something had happened. Then a member of the party named Sheard climbed to the surface and gasped: "Lambert is about all in." Robert H. Stowe stated that he saw Lambert lying unconscious on a shelf of rock. He and others moved him to a bigger ledge and rendered first aid. A storm broke over the moor, and water began to pour in great volumes into the cliasm. To avoid being drowned they had to leave Lambert after placing him as safely as possible. They returned to him at intervals, and, on making one visit, they discovered that he had disappeared. Stowe agreed that Lambert might have regained consciousness during their absence and have slipped oh the ledge while attempting to sit up. Dr. T. L. Dowel 1, of Bentham, stated that death was due to drowning, although Lambert had received injuries from which he could have died. A verdict of "Accidental death" was recorded. S.O.S. Answered Forty pot-holing experts, who answered on S.O.S. broadcast from the 8.8.C.'s North Regional station, reached the party lato at night and assisted the men to the surface. Miss Hatten, suffering from exhaustion and exposure, was raised on a stretcher. Then began a search for Lambert which lasted all night. His body was discovered at 7 a.m.., and was raised to the surface after the rescue party had been working for 17 hours. Pot-holes are deep chasms in limestono belts. Certain districts of Yorkshire, particularly the wild and picturesque valleys to the north and east of Ingleton, which are favourite haunts of pot-holing clubs, are riddled with underground passages.