The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-25 00:00:00

WONDERFUL RESCUE 01 THREE MEN.

A shocking occurrence was recorded in our
columns a few days ago of a number of miners
being buried alive in a pit at Kelvinside, near
Glasgow. In the course of mining operations an
old working was broken into on Tuesday last,
which contained such a quantity of water that the
mine was completely flooded, and three or four of
the men drowned at the moment. In the belief,
however, that some of the poor fellows might pos-
sibly be still alive, every effort was made to draw
the water from the shaft. This operation was con-
tinued up to Sunday last, when success crowned
the labour, and three of the remaining men were
delivered from a living tomb where they had been
immured for nearly six dismal days and nights.
The three men had not been in the pit more than
five minutes when the accident occurred ; but,
strange to say,Tthey did not discover it for several
hours. They continued to work away unconscious
of the peril of their position, until one of them went
for a piece of bread and butter which he had taken
down with him, when he saw what had occurred.
He returned in alarm, and communicated the terri-
ble fact to his companions, and the three men pro-
ceeded down the eloping side to the edge of the
water, which had been forcing its way into the
upper working. The extent of the calamity then
burst upon them in full force. They returned and
proceeded along the passage till they had again
reached the level part of its course, and went down
the opposite slope. The water was forcing its way
up that side also—a putrid, stinking flood that made
them almost recoil. Our readers may picture to them-
selves the terrible despair of the poor fellows when
they found themselves thus walled in between the
two floods 'forty fathoms below the surface of the
earth. When they had recovered from their first
shock of consternation, they began to watch the
water, which they were able to do for about two
days by the aid of their lamps. They had about
two days' oil with them, and thus managed in some
measure to compute the time. At first they
thought they could not exist beyond a few hours.
They kneeled down, and, in the anticipation of cer-
tain death, commended themselves to their Maker.
For the two days during which their oil lasted they
watched the water closely and eagerly; onward
came the putrid mass with awful certainty and
rapidity. Hope the poor fellows had none. The
three slices of bread which one of them had taken
down with him had been divided among them, and
a little well of pure water, which was fortunately
in the workings, furnished the means of quenching
their thirst. They did not anticipate death by
starvation, but the alternative seemed inevitable,
that they would either be drowned or die by suffo-
cation in exhausted air. Strange to say, with the
latter dread upon them, they kept their lamps burn-
ing as long as they would burn. We dare say it was
some consolation to them to see each other as long
as possible. The progress of the water, which seemed
for two days to have been marching steadily on to
engulf them, became gradually slower. At last the
flood paused. What were they to make of this ?
Was it a ground of hope? They did not know.
With anew excitement theywatched the water again.
It seemed to be retiring. At first the diminution
was scarcely perceptible ; then the water retired au
inch or two only, but still it was retiring. They
began to hope after hope seemed to have deserted
them. The water still retired, andthey knew from
that tune exertions were being made to save them.
They did not hear the operations until what they
understood to be Saturday morning. When their
light failed them the men placed a stone at the edge
of the water, and after watching the rate at which
the water was diminishing for, as they thought,
several hours, calculated that they would be re-
lieved on the Sunday morning. The water seemed
to them to fall at the rate of a foot per hour. The
air was for some time at first close and suffocating,
but as the operations progressed, the movement of
the water, caused by the pumping, produced a con-
tinuous undulation, which made the air more agree-
able. The men had never felt the pangs of hunger,
but they became very weak and were oppressed all
the time with an unquenchable thirst, whicyth. a:
not yet left them. They were in the habit of sit
_ment,
side by side to keep themselves warm, and
svh
the one in the middle had reached a high." tem-
perature than the others, he
or left hand neighbour, who in due time _
gave way for his right
make way for the third. They slept also closo

together upon logs of wood, and covered themselves
with a piece of oilcloth which had been found in the
working. On Sunday night the men, though still
weak, were doing well, but they are now beginning
to suffer a little pain from their long abstinence
from food. There is no doubt that a few days' care-
ful treatment will restore them to their wonted
strength. They were visited by large numbers of
their fellow-workmen, who manifested a sincere joy
at their deliverance.

LAW .111, TELLIC.;ENCE.—IuIy 23.
•
COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
(Before Sir C. Cresswell.)
KNIGHTS V. KNIGHTS AND PAYNE.

In this case the husband prayed for a divorce on
the ground of his wife's adultery with the co-
respondent, and there was no defence.
From the evidence it appeared that the parties
were married several years ago, and that in 1853
the respondent, who was a professional singer at
the Grecian Saloon, in the City-road, became ac-
quainted with the co-respondent, who was a private
in the Guards, and that she eloped with him to
America, where they had been living as man and
wife. The co-respondent had been turned out of
his regiment for misconduct, and there were no
means of tracing him or the respondent to where
they were at present residing. The case came on
for hearing on Saturday, when some witnesses were
called, who proved that a female, answering the
description of the respondent, had been engaged as
a singer at the Grecian Saloon in 1853, and went
by the name of Dais, but the Court considered the
evidence of her identity was not sufficient.
The following, among other evidence, was pro-
duced to-day.
Maria Harper stated that she was a niece of
Mr. Knights', and was staying at his place in
Herbert-street, New North-road, Hoxton, in
August, 1853. Her uncle was absent from home
for about a week, and during that time she remem-
bered going with her aunt to the Grecian Saloon,
where she sang, and was announced in the bills by
the name of Dais. After the performance they were
joined by a man whom her aunt addressed as Mr.
Payne, and he drove them in a dogcart to a house
near Bow-street, where they had some supper. They
afterwards went to another house in the neighbour-
hood, where they remained the night, and the next
morning her aunt came to her bedroom and said that
Mr. Payne wished to speak to her. She went with
her to a room where Mr. Payne was in bed, and he
shook hands with her. She perceived her aunt's
bonnet, gloves, and other articles lying on the table.
They breakfasted at this house, and Mr. Payne went
and pawned his watch. They went away in a cab.
and Mr. Payne, before leaving, gave her aunt a
ring, which he had purchased out of the money
raised on his watch, and kissed her.
In reply to the learned Judge,
Witness said that she did not tell her uncle what
had occurred during his absence, but that she told
him lies on being questioned by him.
Two other witnesses were called, who gave cor-
roborative testimony, but
The learned Judge deferred giving judgment
until he fully considered the case.