The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-13

LAKE HOPATCONG y. J., Aug. ia
Miss Lillian. laval. of Easton. Pa; Miss
Mabel Corley. of Brooklyn; Miss Maud Mil
Ter. of New York. and Fred schurtz, of
Newark. \. J.. had a remarkable escape
yesterday from a dreadful and lingering
death
There are number of old iron mines
lorf; since abandoned in this vicinity be
cause Of the great cost OF extracting the
ore
After luncheon Miss LAVAL, Miss CorIey
and Miss Miller accompanied by Mr..
Sehurtz, started from the Laurel House to
explore the mine at Point Comfort Some
of the boarders at the hotel tried to dis
suade them from going into the mine
without a guide but the explorers started
gaily OFF, Miss laval say, If We are not
back by dinner time O'Clock you can or
ganize a party and come TO our rescue. %
The parry took bicycle lanterns which
would burn about two and a half hours.
During the afternoon many were the jokes
had at tta hotel concerning the trip of the
amateur explorers but when dinner time
came and 7:90 arrived and they did not
return there was general alarm.
When O'Clock came d party of men
started TO find what had become of the
girls and their escort. A stop was made
at the Point to pick up guide.
Al 10 O'Clock the mouth of the mine was
reaChed-a gloomy hole in the side of the
hill here the guide connected each mem
Der of The TeScufng party with a cord, 50
that they would not become separated in
the labyrinth OF underground passages
which he said began a short distance from
| the mouth OF the mine
The marty was well sunDlfpd with Ian
| terms and carried reserve supply of OIL
| From the start inside the mine there were
| frequent shouts. but no reply broke the
silence that followed.
II was not until the rescuing party had
I been walking for an hour and, acco-ding
TO the guide, had gone some three miles
into the underground depths that there
| came a faint response in the shape Of q
| glad feminine shrek Hurryiug forward
! FIVE minutes walk brought the party to a
! large square chamber cut out OF tie solid
| rock, from which radated twelve passa ges-
/ Hudfled in 2 corner was the lost party. The
| three girls tainted, while SchurJz wept for
| joy
| The four young people had been in dark
! ness IN the rocky chamber for nearly eight
/ hours. They had tried each one of the
! numerous exits. as they thought, By tax
/ lug their bearings IN the utter blacIlness,
t and found thai they ended nowhere.
| Schurtz sale that upon entering The nine
| at 2:30 D. N. he had advised putting ous
| Ell, the ldiit zTns except one keeping the
| others for a TFEeTye. He was o7erFtTled-
! Suddeul! three OF the lanterns E-ent
| out at once, and an examination showed
| that the oil was exhausted Before
| Schurtz could collect his senses the
! other lamp suffered and all was darkness.
| The girls screamed for fear
They refused TO allow SchHrtZ to leave
| them and search Tor the opening through
/ which they came. so he tore up his outing
| shirt aud manufactured rope with which
! he tied the party together.
They Travelled down each OF the swelve
! passages leading from the chamber and
! found that eSch seemingly had no outlet.
| Then they returned to the rock chamber
/ and waited hcpelessly.
| The guide with the reseuing party sail
| that the rock chamber was the scene OF
| the last work in the mine. and that the
numerous tunnels radiating from it we're
/ the result Of the owners trying to strike
| richer ore. Tie three young women after
| their rescue spoke highly Of SehuTtz )
| courage and Patience