The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-21
Doctor Robertson
 Is Near Pneumonia
tContinued from Page 1)

L4Oll EdHG 1I
 , hole from the surface. If necessary, they would use this to lower warm, dry clothing and more adequate supplies of other sorts. The pres- ent hole, through which the tele- phone line runs, is 50 narrow that stimulants and soup can be low cred only in little test tubes and small Vials.
 Surface officials called down the Reynolds shaft at 10:13 a. m. and asked the miners to keep shouting so that Dr. Robertson and Scaddinc could hear them. It was believed that at last the rescue work CTS were actually nearing their goal.
 Dr. w. D. Rankin, who was at the pipe line while Mrs. Robertson was talking to her husband, said there was no drastic change in the en- tombed mems condition.
 They Ask For Air
 At 7:05 a. m. (Atlantic Time; SOS EST.) today, the voice of Alfred Scadding, weak and broken, spoke into the microphone.
 Hello"
 Surface:-Hello.
 Scadding:-Can you pump some air to help clear the slate dust?
 Surface (Alarmed) How bad is 1t?
 Scadding:-1t's beginning to choke us.
 Surface:-Is 1t serious?
 Scadding:-It's not serious yet.
 The news encouraged the rescuers and caused a redoubling of the back breaking labor in the Reynolds shaft where Draegermen (highly trained mine rescuers)-used pick-axe and shovel against the few feet of rock and earth separating them from the clear shaft to the tunnel-prison. So narrow was the hole they were boring that only one man could work in it. He picked out segment of rock, handed it to man behind him, who handed 1t to another be- hind him, and, by chain of hands, the rock was conveyed up 100 feet of sloping shaft to the surface.
 Grave Fears Felt
 The graVest fears were felt for the physical and mental conditions of Scadding and his living companion, Dr. D. E. Robertson. Some of their strained talk suggested delirium. Early today, Dr. Robertson had proclaimed ecstatically that he saw slivers of light when those on the surface believed it impossible.
 For short while, physicians and officials had been greatly encouraged because at 4:30 8. m. Dr. Robertson reported that he and Scadding had slept for two hours and felt better" :" But when unintelligible cries again came up from the hole, followed by sobbing, optimism vanished. There was no fear that the men were act- ually dying, but physicians did fear they would be dead unless reached within 10 or 12 hours.
 Dr. H. K. Macdonald, senior med ical official, said at 8 a. m. that the mems condition appeared to be no worse." Other medical authorities believed that the men would sure- ly have advanced cases of pneu- monia if rescued alive, and that they might die days after rescue of ex- posture.
 Seven Days of Torture
 For seven days they had endured hunger and the tortures of thirst and starvation in an inky black pri- son, unaware that day and night men were working to reach them, certain that they were going to die by the inch-by-inch agony of star vation.
 Then, early Sunday, a diamond drill sunk three inch pipe into their prison. The voices of friends and relatives assured them they were going to be rescued. Food, can dies, flashlights, stimulants were lowered to them. The comforts and pleasures of the living seemed very close to their tomb, and, almost light-heartedly, they were ready to endure little more.
 During Sunday, Herman R. Ma gill could endure no more and died from hunger and exposure. Robert son, surgeon and Magills intimate friend, bore up bravely, even de- manded the medicines and foods he believed suitable for himself and Scadding.
 But the promised rescue did not take place. Sunday night, all Mon- day, all Monday night, those on the surface assured them it was only a matter of hours. Robertson heard his wife's fearful voice through the pipe, Scadding heard the voice of his friends and associates.
 They Feared Blast Last night and early today the frightful torture of frustrated ex- pectancy, perhaps worse than the torture of thirst and hunger, bore it's fruit. Robertson was seized with an obsession that those on the surface were going to blast with dynamite and kill him and Scadding outright. He begged them not to blast. He de- manded assurance after assurance that they wouldn't blast. Then he demanded to know why he could no longer hear the pneu- matic drill that had been used in a partly dug vertical shaft when it was decided to risk the dangerous Reynolds shaft. He wouldn't be re- assured. and the drill was used neeciessly periodically merely to comfort him.
 Later he reported seeing light.
 At ( a. m. today. those at the mic- rophone outlet at the surface end of the pipe, realized they had not