The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-21

didn't dare ask Robertson, yet fear. ed the worse. But half hour later Robertson, his voice stronger, re. ported that he and Scadding had slept for two hours and felt much better. =.
 This treasured the rescuers until 5:3O a. m. They heard begging sounds, unintelligable and heart rending-and, on top of them, the deep, choked sobs of helpless men who had given up all hope.
 Scadding's voice Weak
 The voice of Scadding was heard at 8:3O D. m. through a tiny micro- phone lowered through the three inch pipe. It was pitiably weak, shrill, and those on the grounds could hear the short gasps of 8 per- son breathing under either physical or emotional stress. Robertson talk ed briefly at long intervals, but those on the surface did not dare question him about his companion. It was clear that his nerve was breaking. Whether he was delirious from his long suffering, or was merely hysterical after listening all day through the barrier of rock and stones to the pickaxes and shovels of the rescuers, could not be told.
 In the Reynolds shaft, abandoned g years ago because even then its slides and ceiling were in imminent danger of collapse, the digging had proceeded to the point where only one man could work in the hole at 8 time. He clipped away at the rock and dirt, then stopped, picked up what he had loosened, handed it to man directly behind him, who passed it to a man behind him, and so on until 1t was conveyed by hand to the surface.
 Tedious Tasks Went On
 This tedious labor had been going on since early yesterday, when it was decided to risk everything on a desperate drive to reach the impri- soned men through the dangerous shaft. Hourly since then, the rescu- CTS had hoped to break through. Three hundred men worked at the back-breaking task in short shifts. All were exhausted.
 Three feet of water were on the floor of the mine tunnel. To get the brandy and concentrated liquid food lowered in test tubes at intervals, Dr. Robertson had to leave the damp crevice where he and Scad- ding perched and wade through the water to the end of the pipe that was sunk into their tomb early Sum- day with diamond drill.
 The water was rising very slowly and apparently it would be matter of days before it could get high enough to endanger them. By that time, they'll be dead or rescued. The water was seeping through the ceil- ing walls of the tunnel, making their prison wet and cold.
 Dr. J. B. Read, member of the large medical staff assembled by the provincial government, listened to pr. Robertson's voice, his face grow ing increasingly grave.
 He said:-
 Physically, he sounds pretty good"
 All Ready For Rescue
 All was ready for the rescue. At the head of Reynolds shaft were two cots, blanketed, hot water bags between the sheets to keep them warm. These were for Dr. Robert son and Scadding. Nearby was a stretcher, covered by single sheet This was for the body of Herman R. Magill, their companion, who suc- cumbed to exposure and starvation sometime Sunday. In cottage, nearby, @ miniature hospital had been fitted, with beds ready for two men. One room had been reserved as morgue. It may have one or three occupants.
 Reynolds shaft was frightful place, lighted by electric torches, the air loaded with choking, white dust, the thud of pickaxes against rock reverberating from wall to to wall like untitled thunder. No human not even the hard and strong min- CTS, could endure 1t for long and every man worked nervously, alert for cry that would warn him to flee because the walls or ceiling were about to cave in.
 The shaft slopes down at a sharp angle from the surface. Once, before the mine was abandoned 25 years ago as unprofitable, it extended down to the 360 foot level. Since then it has been blocked by repeat ed slides at a point beginning 75 feet below the surface and extend- ing to the no foot level. At 4 a. m. today, the rescuers believed they were within a few feet of the l1O foot level. When they reach it they will have clear passage for 3l more feet to the Al foot level, where Robertson and Scadding wait.
 Miners Worked HerOicaIIy
 The miners, accustomed to the hardships of rock mining and the rigors of @ stern climate, carried on although some were so tired that they wobbled as they worked. All were silent, and some had wet hand kerchiefs tied around their mouths and noses to keep out the dust.
 A miner came down from the sur face.
 How va doing. AlfP" he asked a friend.
 The friend was too exhausted tc answer. He turned. and dragged himself up the shaft. Another miner was lying exhausted, coughing. The coughs shook his whole body. Provincial government trucks hac been securing the countryside foI more draegermen to relieve thu shifts that were near the end oi physical endurance from their lonf labors in the Reynolds shaft. At 5:3( Q. m. h:30 E5T) they returned with 200 men who relieved those in tIst shaft.
 "A draegcrman is a member of . colllery rescue crew, highly trainec