The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-21
4O- AZ NORTH MAIN ST.

and certified, after rlglo exaHllIla- ton, as competent to enter coal mines following explosions, masked and carrying oxygen tanks. He IS trained to live for hours breathing through oxygen masks while tunnel ing through gas-filled mines or max ing repairs or rescues.-Ed0
 Fresh Men at Hand
 The new arrivals were met by Michael Dwyer, provincial minister of mines, who escorted them into the shaft. With fresh men, Dwyer hoped a rescue was at last immi- nent. The relieved men came stag gering to the surface and some appeared asleep on their feet. They staggered toward the bunk house, but some didn't make it. They col lapsed and were asleep so quickly that efforts to arouse them failed.
 In the bunk house, 8 room IS feet by 35 feet, were 12 beds. The ex- hausted men fell into them. There were 40 men and some beds soon contained three unconscious forms. Those who could find no beds went to sleep on the floor.
 Dwyer, in charge of the rescue efforts, his assistant, J. P. Messervey provincial inspector of mines, and other officials, entertained the gravest fear for the sntombed men. All yesterday Robertson and Scad- ding had talked at intervals through the pipe and had seemed sound of mind and body despite their suffer- ing. But last night 8 noticeable change took place.
 Nothing From Scadden
 Scadding grew weak, then nothing more was heard from him. Robert son became demanding and unrea- soning. His questions had to be ans- wered again and abain before he understood. Oftentimes his voice was was so strained that it was unin- telligible and at other times his words were garbled by what ap- peared to be difficulty in articula- ton.
 A vertical shaft begun few days after Robertson, Scadding and Ma gill were entombed by the collapse of shaft on Easter Sunday, and before communication was estab- lished with them a week later, had been abandoned when 1t was de- cided to risk reaching them through the more dangerous but quicker in- gress offered by the Reynolds shaft. But last night workers were sent in at intervals to operate 8 pneumatic drill for few minutes against its rock bottom. This was to assure Dr. Robertson that efforts actually were being made to reach them. He had demanded to know why the sound of the drill had ceased.
 Pounding on Wall
 Later, the draegermen in Reynolds shaft had heard 8 pounding on the other side of the wall of rock and dirt separating them from Robert son and Scadding, as though hys- terical blows were being rained there in a frantic effort to break through. Stern orders were sent down the pipe, to halt the pounding at once because of the danger that 4U WOuIu oIdIU d olluCs 1tOUCI LOO1l complained but obeyed.
 Mrs. Robertson remained at the shaft head until early today, then retired to rest. She had talked en- couragingly to her husband, and, at intervals comforted Mrs. Magill, whose husband is dead. They came here last week from Halifax to be present when the rescuers broke through.
 Mrs. Magill, exhausted physically and mentally by her tragic disap- pointment at the end of a long vigil, returned to Toronto last night.
 Canadian mounted q. policemen guarded all roads leading from this tiny mining hamlet to the mine. a few miles distant, turning back the curious. Approximately 250, in addi- tion to the actual rescue workers, had been permitted to pass through, and they stod around the shaft all night, waiting for news.
 Rain Fell During Night A heavy rain fell during the night, but did not add to the peril of Robertson and 6cadding. Some of the rain water eventually will seep through to the mine levels, but 1t will be days before it can add ser- iously to the water now in the tun- mel.
 Among those waiting at the shaft head were scores of ncwspapermen and photographers. The United Press installed 6 short wave. radio transmitter to speed news from thiE wilderness. 90 miles west os MAaitAx to the outside world.
 Robertson, 6 surgeon, MngiM q lawyer. and 6caddlng, . mine tinle- keeper, entered the mine Easter