Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-06-15
lrnprIsoned ~ 91e Tlda.


From the Newcastle Chronicle.
Eleven boys, ranging in age from II
to IA years. had most ordinary adj
venture on the beach at Seaman Har-
Dor recently. At the south side OF the
town there is a rock projecting from
the mainland known as Nose Point,
on the top of which is built the Vane
and Seaham blast furnaces. Under
meath is a large cavern. locally known
as the ''Smugglers Cave" which at
high tide is filed by the sea. Among
the boys referred to the exploration
Of this cave and the unearthing of q
treasure OF some buccaneer OF the
past had long been an object to be
accomplished, and q determination
was at last come to to carry out the
project at the first fitting oDporJu-
nifty.
A day was fixed for upon the search.
and they started of, headed by a trusty
leader, and provided with candles
lanterns, torches, a pick, and a shovel.
Entering the cavern at low water, they
commenced work, and soon were so
intent upon the object Of their iabors
that they never needed the turn of the
tide, and it was only when they found
escape from the cave by the way they
had entered impossible that they
realized their position. The water
drove them fur ther and further back
into the cave. until at length they
found it impossible to recede further.
To avoid the rise of the water, several
OF the boys climbed as high up the
walls Of the cave as possible. Others
had no alternative but to stand press
ed up against the end of the cavern
and allow the water to gradually
creep in upon them.
Higher and higher rose the water,
and deeper and deeper the lads be-
came immersed, until some of them
were covered up to the shoulders.
They all managed, however, to. keep
erect, notwithstanding their weakened
condition, produced by shouting for
help and numbness from being com
PEELED TO stand in the water. Now and
then a broken wave would dash
among them, rendering their position
still more perilOus. Moreover, the
cave was nearly dark, all the lads
lights having been put out except one,
which had escaped the wash of the
waves and continued to give forth it's
feeble illumination. One of the boys
was washed from his holding; but
soon another lad standing near CROPPED
in the dark, and, with nothing but the
cries Of his cOmrade to guide him, sue
ceeded in restoring him to his feet.
In the meantime the lads had been
missed from their homes and their
continued absence caused inquiries to
be made. This resulted in their where
abOuts becoming known. A rumOr
then got abroad that all the boys had
been drowned, and soon fathers,
mothers, brothers, sisters, and a large
body of other men, women and chill
dreu, rushed on IN eager haste to the
top of the cliff. There was no way of
reaching them from the shore. nor was
there any possibility of going down
the precipitOus face of the cliff with
ropes. Nothing could therefore be
done by the hundreds OF people who
had collected but to wait until the fall
of the tide would admit Of access to
the cave from the shore. Meanwhile
the imprisoned boys passed a terrible
night; but just when they thought the
worst had come the water stopped rIs-
ing. Slowly the water left the cave, and
in a short time they felt themselves in
comparative safety, although in dark
ness. 1t was, however, 1870 o'clock
that night before they were rescued.