The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-05
LIVE AND SAFE
Minsr Entonbtd Three Days is Rescued
by bis Brave Comrades.
NEVER WITHOUT HOPE

NEVER WITHOUT HOPE
Threw Himself Into the Arms of His
Rescuers.-Wept While Multitude
Cheered Down the Shaft.-Relates
His Experience Far Below the
Earth's Surface,
Joseph Clary, miner, imprisoned
by caye-in at the White Oak mine
near Joplin, Mo-, since last Sunday
morning was reached by rescuers on
Wednesday morning. He was alive
and well.
When the last spades full OF earth
were removed by workmen In the
shaft and they dropped through into
the drift, Clary threw himself into
the arms Of his rescuers and wept
while the shouts Of thousands cheer
ed at the mouths OF the mine echoed
down the shaft.
A glare Of light flashed in on the
entombed Clary, and he looked upon
his fellow being after a psriod In
darkness which, through reclconed by
him to be something over four days,
was exactly three days and forty-five
minutes. Clary's Imprisonment had
severely weakened him, but shouts
from the mouth of the shaft, sounds
from the outer world and gushes Of
fresh air gave heart and strength to
him.
At first he had little to say save To-
breathe his thanks. A physician was
lowered and he administered slim
ulants. Clary was hoisted to the
surface and set foot on top of earth
ten minutes after he was found.
Spectators were kept away from
him. His father and brothers and
physician hurried him away to the
Clary home nearby to- his mother,
who weakened by the strain of her
long virgil, lay ILL., The physician
urged Clary not to talk until he had
gained strength.
Clary is twenty-three years old,
the son Of pioneer mine operator
who has directed the rescue work
without rest since his sons imprison-
ment. Relays of workers began dig
ging the shaft on Sunday, and have
worked night and day since.
The first three attempts to drill a
small hole to admit air and nourish-
ment failed to locate young Clary,
but the fourth was successful. It
was found that Clary was in immi-
nent danger of drowning from water
rising in the drift. Dlggers in the
shaft redoubled their efforts and the
drift was reached hours earlier than
expected.
AS Clary told Of his long vigil in
absolute darkness, fraughE now with
hope, now with bitter disappointment,
but never, with despair, he interrupted
the conversation now and then to re-
ceive supplies Of food lowered
through the five-inch Shaft. which,
after three holes were bored in vain,
finally reached the drift where he
was held a prisoner.
The suspense he suffered is indi-
Gated in part Of his story as told
over the telephone. He said: II
tried to count the strokes Of the
drill and was able to gauge time
little by the pounding 0fs the bit.
Hours passed until 1 Leard the drill
cutting into the hard ground, but I
could not locate the sound in the
darkness.
"Soon the drill stopped. knew
they had fissed the drift as time
passed and I could hear no sound.
could picture them making new CAL
culations. I was not surprised when
I heard the drilling of the first hole.
All the time the water was rising a
little higher, but was not worried.
was hungry, but I tried to keep
them from thinking about anything
to eat. 1t was hard to keep from
!; thinking about it however, and 7
). drank a lot Of water from the drift.
"After a while I felt a draft Of
fresh air and I knew the drill had
cut into the drift, but in the dark
ness I could not locate it. I called
with all my might, but could not
make myself heard. 1t was madden
ing.
"Then when / heard the drilling
again in 2 new. location I was dis
; couraged for the first time. but not
for a minute did I give up hope.
II was just the same thing over and
=. over again for the next few hours.
grew ravenously hungry all the
time but tried to forget it. busted
; myself as much as possible until the
fourth drill hole penetrated the roof
of the drift. It took me long time
to locate the hole
-~o-o~- }