TWO LIVES LOST.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20037, 19 September 1930, Page 10

TWO LIVES LOST.

TRAGEDY IN WARONUI MINE. ' HEROIC RESCUE WO*>R. (?K£."iH AB3OCIATION T3J..EGB/-M.) DUNEDIN, September 18. The Bruce Railway and Coal Company's coal wine 'at Waronui, South Otago, was the sceno of an accident to-day, which proved a tragedy, two men losing fheir lives. The victims were: James C&rruthers, mine manager. Joseph Monis, miner. They went down the air shaft connected with a new drive, which is being put in at the mine, and were overcome by A sudden rush of gas. Robert McDonald, a miner, went down tho shaft on a rope to render assistance, but was overcome by strong gas fumes and was brought to the surface black in the face. He was admitted to hospital at Milton suffering from gas poisoning. Gas masks were sent for from Milton, and after some difficulty these were obtained and sent to the mine by motorcar, but it was decided that the risk of sending men, even equipped with masks, down the shaft was too great. A party of miners'left the Kaitangata mine as soon as word of the acciuent reached them, bearing with them equipment f«r working in gas-laden portions of mines, and after strenuous and heroic rescue work, under most dangerous conditions, the bodies of both men were recovered about 5 p.m. and taken to Milton. Carruthers was about 40 years of age and was a married man with a family of three children. He was a returned soldiers, having served in the Rifle Brigade and the Tunnelling Corps. He had held tho position of mine manager for over ten years. Morris also was a married man and had been employed at the mine for a considerable period. This is the first fatal accident that has occurred at the mine since it was opened over 20 years ago. .-. ' Sudden Bush of G-ae. Further news received from the scene of the tragedy states that Cnrnithors and Morris resumed work after the lunch hour nt driving a new air shaft into the mine workings, tho former air shaft having been blocked by a fall of earth. The new shaft had b«en completed for a distance of slightly mnro than 30 feet, at which ooint there were two sharp dips, to the roof of the mine. On (knocking, oft Hie planking of the mine roof there must have been a sudden rush of car-bon-dioxide gas, by which they Were overcome They signalled for assistance to two miners, Henreich Hansen and Robert Boyd, who were working on the surface. Hansen rushed into tho drive, but was immediately driven buck by tne fumes. Boyd attempted a rescue, but whs also driven back, iinnsen then rushed away for assistance to another part of the mine, Bome.mstance nwny. McDonald* came with "a rope nitd ' With tllis attached to his body proceeded into tho drive, hut he was overcome by the ifnmes and was pulled out by Hansen and Boyd in a semi-conscious condition. Help From Kaitangata. No appliances, were available at the mine for such on emergency, although gas mask* were procured from exServicemen in MiltonL These proved useless for racuo purpsses, and nothing could be done until the arrival : dt a party from the Rnit&ngata jfftme equipped with the prtoper appliances. This party consisted of William Carton (mine Frederick Carson, and George Duggan (Inspector; ©i Mines for Otago). Mr Duggan happened to be vis'itiriß Kaitangata -When the news of the tragedy came to hand. The party arrived at Waronui at about 4 p.m., and, after fitting on the gas helmet ,William Gareon entered tho shaft and almost immediately discovered the bodies, which were lying about 35 feet from tho entrance. Car* son had to make several trips, coming out for air, before tho bodies could be taken out. • ','■■■' Carruthers's body was the first to be recovered, being brought out at about 4.45 p.m. Morris's body was recover-* ed at 5.26 p.m. -