COAL MINE DRAMA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1941, Page 4

COAL MINE DRAMA.

TWO MEM LOSE LIVES. DESPERATE RESCUE EFFORTS. illy Air). SYDNEY, April 10. Working desperately in six-hour fluffs, miners at the Wonthaggi State roal mine in Victoria, crawling on their stomach* while they pushed flickering lights before tlieni, moved more than 25 tons of rock in an effort to save the lives of two men last Saturday. The entombed men, Arthur Charles and Cick Urcn, had been trapped ■when the rock and rubble crashed down on Thursday morning. Charles was brought out alive, but he died in hospital from the terrible injuries lie had received. Urcn was unearthed on Saturday, 50 hours after the crash. He had obviously been killed outright in the fall.

At 2 a.m. on Thursday, Dr. Sleeman, of Wonthaggi, was called to the wine and tokl two men were under a mass of rock, shaped like a cathedral doftfe, and extending for two chains, completely blocking the 12ft wide tunnel. The rescuo gangs had a fair idea of where the trapped men were, so they 'began to burrow on that side of the tunnel. As they progressed slowly they were forced to cut the sleeper* of the skip rails and remove them to open the way for further burrowing. They were then able to dig a small tunnel, which they supported by blocks to ensure the safety of the men entering. The tunnel was just large enough for a man to crawl along on his stomach. As it lengthened it became so cramped that the men were forced to use their hands and pocket knives to make their way.

last they reached Charles. Tie was pinned on his baelc, but waa able to move one arm. Dr. Sleeman then Crawled on his stomach and reached the trapped man. After great difficulty the doctor stretched forward his arm and hand with the syringe, and Charles managed to put his free arm toward the doctor, who was just able to reach him and give liim an injection. The injured man was then brought out and rushed to hospital.