HOPE ABANDONED

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 57, 1 December 1923, Page 8

HOPE ABANDONED

EAST COAST TUNNEL ACCIDENT TWO MEN STILL ENTOMBED RECOVERY IMPOSSIBLE UNDER TWO DAYS The latest news from Kaiwaka, where a sudden collapse of portion of a railway tunnel trapped three men, indicates that there is little hope for the two men still entombed In the tunnel. By Telegraph.— Press Association. Napier, November 30. Fuller particulars of the tunnel collapse on the East Coast railway, reported yesterday, show that at about 5 o’clock last evening a large portion of the tunnel which is being excavatea on the East Coast railway at Kaiwaka collapsed, entombing three men. Five others who-were working on th? spot where the earth fell had miraculous escapes. The names of the men who were entombed are:— John Robert Hohensee, aged 50 years, married. T. O’Mahoney, aged 25 years, single. C. Dimond, aged 27 years, single. The rescuers reached Dimond at 10.30 p.m. Ho was pinned in a precarious position, and they commenced the long task to relieve him. About 80 men aro at the Public Works camp at Kaiwaka, jvhere the accident occurred. They have been engaged for some time in putting in the tunnel, which, when completed, will be about 10 chains in length through the hill. The work is done in shifts by gangs of eight men. About two chains of the tunnel is completed up to the spot where the fall took place. A Sudden Collapse, . The shift had been at work barely an hour when suddenly a portion of the tunnel completely burying three of .the men. Fortunately, the men were not all working at the one place. Young, aged 50, a single man, was caught by falling debris, but managed to extricate himself and crawl clear. He was injured about the head and shoulder. Fraser fell on his face, but was not ini u red. Hohensee. who was the leader of the gang, and O’Mahoney. were thought io have been near the left-hand side of the tunnel, and Dimond was known to be in the right side. Efforts to Locate Entombed Men, An. endeavour was made to locate the entombed men. but tlib uncertainty of their nosition made the task difficult. Tho rescuers listened for sounds, but none came from tho left. A sound was heard on tho right, and. after several hours’ difisrine tho first victim was located and found to be still alive. The man was Charlie Dimond 1 . who was pinned down by two big pieces of timber and pieces of. rock. A huge piece of rock was pressing against his head. At midnight the rescuers were still endeavouring to extricate Dimond, but it was considered it would be some hours before he would be finally extricated. Dimond was a member of the Tunnelling Corns in tho New Zealand Forces. O’Mahoney was a native of Ireland, and lias a sister residing in Ham il ten. Feverish work is proceeding to extricate the other men. but it is not expected the remaining two bodies can be recovered inside of two days; therefore hone of rescuing tho men alive lias been given up.

It is feared, as the gangs remove the debris, more will fall. > Dimond was got out at 10 a.m., conscious. though suffering from severe injuries. He was removed to the Napier Hospital.

Later. Rescue work continues at Kaiwaka. The chances of releasing the men alive are considered remote.. Dimond is progressing satisfactorily, but is not vet out of danger.