FATALLY GASSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 138, 13 June 1932, Page 3

FATALLY GASSED.

TWO MINE OFFICIALS

ONE ATTEMPTING A RESCUE. BOTH WITHOUT GAS-MASKS. (B.v Telegraph.—Press Association.) WEST/PORT, this day. Two underground managers at the Westport Coal Company's Millerton mine were poisoned by gas behind a stopping in a lire area in the mine on Saturday. The victims were: — Mr. William Lowden, aged 41, married. Mr. Joseph Edward Pfeffer, aged 43, married. Lowden went in first, and was gassed, and Pfeffer, who went to his rescue, suffered a similar fate. Later gas masks were obtained and the bodies of both men were recovered. Pfeffer went to the mine with the intention of inserting a plug in a waterpipe behind a stopping erected with a view to holding in check or extinguishing a lire in that section of the mine. The stopping is abottt 25ft high. Lowden then went through a manhole over the stopping, but apparently was quickly overcome by gas. Fell to the Bottom. Pfoffer was sent for and, believing Lowden was still alive, he went over the stopping to rescue him. He, too, was affected by gas, and, deciding to return, signalled the men on top. However, he wns completely overcome, so that he released his hold on the rope and fell to the bottom.

A number of men with gas masks later arrived on the scene, and Mr. James McArthur, mine manager from the Westport Coal Company'e C'oalbrookdalc mine, descended to where the bodies of the two underground managers were lying and brought them out. This was about 7 p.m. A gloom was cast over the mining townships, whore both men were well known and held in high esteem. Former Manager of Collieries. Mr. Lowden was born in Durham, England, and arrived at Millerton 22 years ago. He held various positions in the Buller district and worked at both the Stockton and Millerton mines. He then took charge as manager at Fenidale Collieries, Rcefton. He was manager at Cascade before coining as underground manager at Millerton. He leaves a wife and two daughters. His parents and four brothers and five sisters still live in England.

Mr. Pfeffer was a native of New South Wales, and came from there to the West Coast about four years ago. He took part in local cricket and football at Granity, and was in the Buller cricket team that played Groymouth for the Friend Cup. He is survived by a family of four boys and two girls.