A FIGHT FOR LIFE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 5

A FIGHT FOR LIFE.

•♦- ; IN MAY QUEEN MINE. SUDDEN INRUSH OF,GAS. [Br TelcKraph.-Press Association.! Thames, January .11. A fatality by which two men—James Mliains, an elderly man, nnd Thos. *'»)'. 3C years of age—lost their )ive3 occurred in the May Queen mine 10-day. Guy, with five other miners, named Crawley, Adams, James Vercoe, and Mulehy, with G. Horivel as "shift tosa, were working i ;i tho stopo iibove .No. C level, which for years had been immune- from gas. Williams was vorking on tho lead in another part of the mine abovo the same level. Adams WAS sent for water for the drills, but soon returned, shouting a warning that gas wa S i u tho level. The miners descended the ladder-way, and reached tho level in safety. Gas was then present in great volumes, and soon one candle after another went out. until only one solitary caudle, held by Adams, remained ignited. Soon this went out, and in tho dark a deadly struggle ensued to reach the chamber above, where fresh air flowed. Several fell in t.ho journey, but all reached safety except Guy Williams and Crawley.

Assistance was secured, and the sufferers, who were all in a state of collapse, were sent to the surface. The men named, however, could,not bo found, end a search was then made. Crawley and Guy wore first found. The former had evidently been overcome while endeavouring to rescue Guy, for he was supporting tho latter's head. Both were taken to the surface, and (irtiiicial means of respiration used. Crawley recovered sufficiently to be taken to tho hospital, but Guy died soon after ho reached the surface.

Search meantime- was beiiK made for Williams. It was evident that ho had missed his way in the darkness, for he was lying in the tunnel leading to tho machine. He had also received serious injury to his bead, and he was dead when brought to tho surface. There was a pitiful, scene at the mouth of the shaft when the wives of the deceased men arrived.

A coroner's inquiry has been opon€d, and formal evideneo of identification of tho deceased was given. The scene of the accident will be inspected to-morrow, after which an inquiry will be adjourned, as several important witnesses as to what caused tho inrush of gas are to be called.