Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21
th4 objective, but still had not


reached it.
The imprisoned men evidently en-
visaged frankly the same fate that
befell their companion, Herman
Magill. who persisted early yesterday
after being trapped with DR.. Robert.
son and Scadding by cave-in Easter
Sunday night.
One squad of fresh volunteers
joined the crew still striving fran
tically to rescue the two survivors
before they died.
Another call went out for volunteers
-able-bodied men willing to carry
out rock and earth as the miners
dug.
Men who formerly had stayed be-
low ground. working in four-hour
shifts and longer, now we're laboring
only Is minutes at time.
They came up for air gasping. Per-
spiration rolled from their grimy
skins.
1t was apparent that exhaustion
was near for the men working on cof-
fee and rum.
Police Hold Plane Ready.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Po-
police policing the district-which has
grown rapidly in population with the
arrival of mining officials. relatives,
engineering experts, volunteers, news
paper men and spectators-had a
plane on the lake close by the work.
ings.
1t was difficult to force trucks and
cars over the wells of Spring mud COW
ering the way to Middle Mosquodoboit,
but officials sent a 28-ton crane over
the road
Tractors, trucks, supplies and COM
plete electric lighting plant came in;
a radio broadcasting set-up and a
complete hospital unit were transfer
red from Halifax
Rescue men and officials had first
choice in Neutrality-suspicious. men got
the hard board floor with lots OF
space in between-for their sleeping
quarters, and those who were lucky
arranged to sleep beside the kitchen
stoves in the 80 or so houses in the
village.
Miners and volunteers who could
not get quarters in the bunk house
were welcomed to villagers houses and
temporary cots were hastily erected.
Enjoyed Two Hours Sleep.
Earlier, DR.. Robinson, speaking up
a telephone connection from his pit on
the 141-foot level, told the men at the
surface that he and Scadding had just
enjoyed two hours sleep and were
feeling fine"
Eight volunteers arrived from Gold
enville, nearby town in this gold
field Of Nova Scotia. in response to an
appeal for experienced men, unmar-
ried and wiling to risk their lives in
the effort to save the two men.
They went to the dangerous Reyn-
oldS shaft, believed to lead to the spot
where DR.. Robertson and Scadding
were held. 10 replace similar num-
Der OF weary workers, who had COL
lapsed from exhaustion.
Other Nova Scotia and Ontario
miners who had been on the job more
than "a hours without sleep were Or
dered to the bunk house.
Engineers said rescue was close
measured in feet-but that it might be
hours before a. hole was hacked
through the last barrier of rock sep
arating the rescue crew from the AL
foot level.
Robertson Has Cold.
Physicians at the surface said DR..
Robertson was suffering from a cold,
contracted during his long confine-
ment in the damp underground prison,
and that Scadding had trench feet"
the malady once suffered by soldiers
in France from exposure to moist
ground.
Beside the two men in the cavern
where they sought safety from rising
water was the body of Magill. 30
year-old Toronto lawyer and DR..
Robertson's partner in the purchase
of the old Moose River mine three
months ago. Magill succumbed early
yesterday to exposure and privation.
The nine-day battle of the rescue
crew against rock and earth, in the
desperate effort to release Magill's
companions alive, persisted with no
definite indication of how long the
miners would have to burrow before
breaking through to the 141-foot
level.
Many times since Sunday, they had