The Region - News from Feb. 18, 1986

A cold and hungry Marine was rescued from an abandoned Mojave Desert gold mine, where he spent the night trapped 800 feet below the surface, authorities said. Jeffrey Tennyson, 22, was unharmed except for minor cuts and bruises suffered during the ordeal that began while he and three friends were exploring the mine about 15 miles east of the Marine Training Center in Twentynine Palms. Rescue teams entered the honey-combed shafts after Tennyson’s companions notified authorities that he tumbled about 30 feet off a ladder and was trapped at the bottom of the shaft. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Stalnaker said Tennyson had apparently managed to weave through the maze-like shafts and make his way up eight levels. Rescuers found him in one of the upper-level shafts and used ropes to pull him the rest of the way to safety, Stalnaker said.