FOUR DEAD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18919, 7 February 1927, Page 8

FOUR DEAD.

MILLERTON MINE TRAGEDY.

EXPLORING PARTY OVER COMB. GAS IN OI.D FIRE AREA. ■rrr.s.i association irLEORVM.! WESTPORT, February fi.

A disaster occurred at tho Millcrton Mine to-day, by wlilch four men lost their lives while making an exploration of a part of the mine which had been sealed off. They were equipped with Proto breathing apparatus. The victims were: WILLIAM PEARSON, Mine Man agor. WILLIAM MAHER, Undcrviewer. JAMES COWAN, Deputy. MICHAEL FORD. Doputy. Duffy, Undcrviewer, also entered tho firo area, but ho came out alive. An investigation of an old fire area was being niado by William Pearson, mine manager and Duffy, undcrviewer, and demonstrator in the ti3e of gas masks. Equipped with Proto breathing apparatus they set out at 7 a.m., and made a thorough examination of the fire area. On their return In the station outside they decided, after a conference, that William Maher, underviewer, and Michael Ford, deputy, equipped with apparatus, should also make an examination of the mine, and return in half au hour. As they were not back in that time, Huffy went to look for them, and seeing their lights in the distance concluded they were returning. Pearson and Duffy waited u further ten minutes, and as Ford and Maher did not return, Duffy re-erttercd tho tire nren, and thero found the. body of Maker which he carried but. Assistance was summoned, and Pearson, accompanied by a deputy, Cowan, went into tho mine to try to recover Ford. They were both overcome by grts, and it was not until 9 p.m., after numerous attempts by relays of'men, that tho bodies of Ford, Pearson, and Cowan Were recovered.

Men worked heroically to recover tho bodies of thoir dead comrades, and were ably assisted by women, who gathered on the scene, with liquid aud solid refreshments. Operations were conducted by the district manager, Mr J. C. Brown, and tho mining manager, Mr Strongman, who had been previously summoned from Wcstport, where they wcro attending a conference of the Disputes Committees.

Pearson, who has been with the Company ginco ho wns n rope-road boy, with the exception of a year spent in a mine in the North Island, was a native of Woodstock, near Hokitika. l|o was •10 years of age, and he leaves a widow a marfiod daughter, a married son, and another Bon 16 years of age. William Maher, UndervieWer in the Millerton Mine, was a native of Bungaree, Victoria, 47 years of age. Ho joined the company at Millerton, transferred to Denniston in 1909, and later returned to Millerton. He leaves a widow nnd six children, the eldest 10 years of age. James Cowan, deputy at Millerton, came from Fifcshire, Scotland. He had been 16 years at Millerton. He was 45 ydars of age. Ho leaves a widow and a family of two girls, aged 16 and fi years, and a son aged 13 years. Ho was a lay preacher in tho Presbyterian Church, and was to have held a service at Granity on Sunday evening. Michael Ford, deputy, and Buller Rugby representative was a native of Gn'lway, 35 years of age. He was a big-hearted, good-natured Irishman. He. formerly worked on the railway line at Tekuha, and at Denniston and Millerton. He joined the Wcstport Coal Company at Denniston and later became deputy at Millerton. Tho tragedy has cast a gloom ovef tho whole community. Art inquest will bo opened on Tuesday. At a meeting held In the Town Hall last; night, at which Mr H. B. Holland, M.P., was to havo delivered an nddress on the Chinese question, a resolution of svmprtlhy with tho bereaved, was carried, all standing, and the meeting adjourned for a week.