OVERCOME BY FUMES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 83, 2 January 1929, Page 9

OVERCOME BY FUMES

EXPLOSION IN A WELL THREE MEN DEAD (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Rec. January 1, 5.5 /p.m.) Adelaide, January 1. George Farley, a blacksmith at Gumeracha, was overcome by fumes in a well this morning. William Crooks, who descended to assist him, also was overcome. Then Constable George Smith went down and was overcome. A man named Schultz was lowered by ropes and succeeded in bringing Smith up, and doctors are still working to bring him round. There is no hope of rescuing Farley or Crooks. It is understood that Farley went down the well, about 35 feet deep, to attend to a pump. He called for a spanner, which was lowered to him. It is presumed that he struck a match, as an explosion followed, and Farley was heard calling for help. Later.

Constable Smith is dead. Schultz was hauled up nearly unconscious, but he managed to indicate that be had tied a rope round one of the others; The rope was hauled up with Smith attached. A youth, Donald Nosworthy, had previously made a gallant but unsuccessful effort to rescue, but was beaten by fumes and he was pulled up unconscious. The bodies of Crooks and Farley later were recovered by firemen using smoke helmets, and oxygen supplies. It is uncertain whether the explosion was due to foul air, similar to sewer gas, or fumes from a nearby petrol bowser. Farley was not smoking and carried no light.