63 MINERS, TRAPPED IN CAGES DEEP UNDERGROUND FOR 12 HOURS, WERE BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE SAFELY ON MONDAY (OCT 28) AT THE WESTERN DEEP LEVELS GOLD MINE, NEAR JOHANNESBURG. THEY HAD BEEN LEFT SUSPENDED IN THE SHAFT WHEN WINDING GEAR AT THE HEAD WAS HIT BY A RUNAWAY SKIP OF ORE, SEVERING FOUR CABLES.

ONLY QUICK THINKING BY A MINE OFFICIAL, WHO APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKES, PREVENTED A MAJOR DISASTER. HIS FAST REACTION STOPPED THE CAGES HURTLING DOWN TO THE SHAFT BOTTOM.

THE BROKEN CABLES, LASHING WILDLY THROUGH THE ENGINE ROOM, KILLED THE DRIVER. BUT HE WAS THE ONLY CASUALTY. ALL THE MINERS EMERGED UNSCATHED. FIRST TO COME OUT WERE 13 MEN TRAPPED AT THE 4,800-FOOT (1,468-METRE) LEVEL. THEY WERE FOLLOWED SOON BY THE OTHER 500 FROM A CAGE 1,000 FEET (304 METRES) DOWN.

AMID SCENES OF HAPPY REUNION WITH WAITING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, THE MINERS TOLD THEIR STORY. ONE SAID THAT WHEN THE CAGE STARTED PLUMMETING DOWN. THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE HEADED FOR DEATH. THEN, WITH THE CAGES STOPPED, THEY STAYED SUSPENDED FOR HOURS -- NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING, COLD, DRENCHED BY WATER POURING DOWN, WITH EVERY NOW AND THEN, A LOUD BANG AS BITS OF EARTH FROM THE DAMAGED MINE SHAFT FELL ON TOP OF THE CAGE.