Richland beacon., 1888-06-09
APERILOUS ADVENTURE.
Eleven Boys Shut in Cave by the
Incoming Tide.

More than thrilling was the adventure
of eleven boys as told by the Newcastle
(Eng.) Chronicle recently:-At the south
side of the town of Seaham there is a
rock projecting from the mainland
known as Nose Point, on top OF which Is
built the Vane and Seaham blast fur
naces. Underneath is large cavern,
locally known as the "Smugglers Cave,
which, at high tide, is filled by the sea.
Among the boys referred to the explora..
ton of this cave and the unearthing OF
treasure of some buccaneer of tho past
had long been an object to be accom-
plished, and determination was Mt last
come to to carry out the project. Sat
urday last was fixed upon for the day OF
search, and they started of, provided
with candles, lanterns, torches, pick
and shovel. Entering the cavern at low
water they commenced work, and soon
were 30 intent upon it that they never
needed the turn of the tide, and 1t was
only when they found escape from the
cave by the way they had entered impos-
sible that they realized their position.
The water drove them fartherand farther
back into the cave, until at length they
found it impossible to recede any more.
To avoid the rise of the water several OF
the boys climbed as high up the walls OF
the cave as possible. Others had nc
alternative but to stand pressed
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 became immersed, until
some of them were covered up to the
shoulders. They all managed, however,
to keep erect, Notwithstanding their
weakened condition, produced from
shouting for help and numbness arising
from being compelled to stand in the
water. Now and again broken wave
woul dash in among them, rendering
their position still more perilous. More
over, 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 its
feeble illumination. One of the boys at
last, from sheer want of strength, was
washed from his holding; bnt soon an.
other lad standing near CROPPED in the
dark, and, with nothing but the cries OF
his comrade to guide him, succeeded in
restoring him to his feet. In the mean
time the lads had been missed from theil
homes, and their continued absence
caused inquiries to be made. This
resulted in their whereabouts becoming
known. A rumor then got abroad thai
all the boys had been drowned, and soor
fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and {
large body of other men, women ant
children rushed off in eager haste to the
top of the cliff. There was no way o
reaching them from the shore, nor wa'
there any possibility of going down thu
precipitOus face of the cliff with ropes
Nothing could, therefore, be done b,
the hundreds of people who had col
lected but to wait until the fall of thu
tide would admit of access to the cav'
from the shore. Meanwhile the i'm
prisoned boys passed terrible time, bu
Just when they thought the worst hac
come the water stopped rising. Slowl.
the water left the cave, and in a shor
time they felt themselves in comparative
safety, although in darkness. 1t was
however, 1890 o'clock at night befOr
they were rescued.