Columns regarding the progress of the rescue work have filled the daily papers throughout Canada for nearly but the essential story con be told fairly briefly. In tiv essence it is a story of indomitable courage, of splendid ce-operation between government officials, engineering experts and gallant miners, and of refusing to be bamed by the numerous setbacks that occurred during the days and nights of tense and unremitting effort, Messrs. Robertson, Herman Maglll end Alfred Seadding were trapped in the Moose River gold mine at the Ami-foot level by a cavern shortly after 11 p.m. on April 12, The following day 100 miners started to work towards them, although from the start there was considerable uncas! ess on account of the rotten condi tion of the timbering in the shafts of the Jong unused mine. On that day smoke was seen coming out of the depths of the mine, and this was taken as a direct proof that the men had not been killed by the fest cave-
Soon atter the miners started work further cave-ins occurred, blocking tone after another of the possible means of access to the men. On April 14 the Nova Scotia Government began to take a hand by sending in engineers and equipment. Almost at once the plan was evolved of making two-inch diamond drill hole direct to the entombed men, so that some contact might be available with them during the rescue period. For the next three days the drilling went on, and during that time there was a Progressive mobilization of experts, further equipment and necessary supplies from far and near.
Trained rescue workers from the dynamite had come down and wes About to explode. "Atte some hours they heard faint sounds, which were the' blasts of a steam whistle: being Blown. Into the hole; they at nce trade their way tot: and soon were Iincommunication with friends Felatives above, 'Soon after this Mr, Mogit al lack of pleural pneumones for Henry itis reported that Dr, Reber fon had held his trend and partner Glose'to him to impart some warmth fo the chilled' and. desperately sick man," After his death his companions aragged his" body. to the, farthest, commer of their dick ave, and' Kept away tom It to avoid the dangers of Its decomposition, "Then began what must have been three ays and' nigh of almost une paralleled mental torture for the two trapped mon. Able to communicets with the "world above, a" world light ana ie, of warmth and food.
trvedom and. health, they. were forced to" continue to" endure long strain of "what, they wight feared might be 2 ving death" the first day of their contact by: the arm hole Robertson snd Sending take some nourishment in the form the of soup that was run down in a rubber tube, Rising Water Endangers Victims But rising waters made it more ana more difficult for them to make ths short but tiresome journey from their relatively dry cave to the base of the hole, They held on to their small telephone line, by which they Koht im touch with those above ground, but would not venture forth for anything else. The splendid physique tremendous morale of Dr. Robert son kept up the courage of the two men as hour after hour slipped by without any definite hope being given them from above that they could be Teached, Scadding became allictet with "trench fect," and his mind wandered somewhat, but his' condition never became unduly serious: fortunately for both.
The progress of the rescue efforts after communication had been tablished with the entombed trio was slow, but it was on thoroughly sound lines. Due to the dangers from further cave-ins in the weakened mine structure work with dynamite was stopped, and all digging was done by manual labour. An endless chain of brave miners passed out the earth In bucketfuls, and as they advanced solid timbering was installed to make them secure as. they worked, On April 21 Dr. Robertson asked for a fountain pen to be lowered, and it was believed that he was about make his last testament; repeated delays had sapped the hopes of the trapped men, and the impossibility of giving them' any definite assurances of escape made them think that their rescuers were baled.
Could Endure 48 Hours Longer On April 22 Dr. Robertson seemed to gain new hopes, and he reporte! to those above that he and his com-anion could last another 48 hours if Recessary, Meanwhile fresh rescue workers had come in from other Nova Scotia mines, fine young men eager to give their best in the struggle to attain the goal. Reports were given out that those men on duty almost refused to be relieved, even though they had to work hour after hour in cramped positions, and in continual conger of further catastrophe. As the morning of that day wore on, Dr. Robertson telephone! that he could hear the voices of th rescue workers; a little later he was able to converse freely with the miners, even though they were some distance away. Above ground it was believed hat' by noon the rescue would be completed, coal mines of Nova Scotia teamed with experienced miners from the fold mines of Northern Ontario to pursue the safest and most efficient path to the lost men. An emergency hospital unit was formed, and brough< to the mine site from Halifax, to care for any Injured rescuers, and also to be ready for the release of the three prisoners,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.