Engraving of John Evans by R. Roffe from an oil painting by A. R. Burt

Description

This engraving was made by R. Roffe from an oil painting by A. R. Burt. The painting was commissioned by the owners of the Pentre Fron colliery, Minera, Denbighshire, to mark the extraordinary story of John Evans.
In September 1819, a group of eleven men became trapped underground at the pit following a sudden inrush of water. Two of the men were rescued and another six managed to escape, but two were drowned and the remaining man, John Evans, was given up for lost. After thirteen days the water was pumped out and searchers went underground to look for his body. A coffin and shroud had been especially made and were ready on the surface. When the searchers arrived at the high ground near the spot where they thought the body might lie they were startled to hear a voice calling them. It was John Evans, feeble but by no means dead. He had kept himself alive for twelve days and nights by eating candles. He insisted on taking the coffin home and kept it in the house as a cupboard for many years.