THEIR HOUR WAS COME!

Otago Witness, Issue 2326, 29 September 1898, Page 18

THEIR HOUR WAS COME!

The la,to Edward Roberto, and David Kenny, Vho met such terriblo -deaths last week in their sand claims on the South Spit (Hokitika) had "both saved up competencies from the arduous and hazardous toil of over a quarter of a century, and at 1 o'clock p.m. of that fatal Saturday they had decided- to " jack " gold-getting, and enjoy the falling years of sere and yellowing leaves in retirement ; consequently, putting tho last tap to a prospecting jump-up, they sat down inside the last tunnel they would evei drive to have a final " smoko," end, sis the place was warm, to await the coming of their very last " knock-off." The two young mates in the adjoining drive, knowing this was to be their last associateship, lounged in for a inonnent of pleasant converse, all four lined out along tho drive — Roberts next the face, Kenny next, M'Kenna next, and Eastgate (survivor) l(tffc further out. Suddenly, whilst poor young M'Kenna was indulging in some harmless acrobatic feats, the roof caked off. Eastgate saw, called a warning, and ran ; Roberts and Kenny made for the legs of the false set by the face, and M'Kenna was ciushed as he ran. The latter' s body was got in that attitude, standing bolt upright. After 14 hours' hard digging by the brave rescuer 3 Roberta's body was got, still warm, and the hands holding a. candle. The poor fellow must have lived 12 hours of agony, and heard the rescuers at work a few yards off— lived till tho sand slowly filtered tip to his mouth and nostrils, telling him also that his hour was come.