TRAPPED BY COAL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 7

TRAPPED BY COAL

WATERSIDERS' PLIGHT

Seventeen waterside workers, including the coal foreman, engaged ins^rimming coal in the bunkers of the steamer Gallic yesterday afternoon, were imprisoned for two and a half hours because of » coal slide which blocked their means, of egress. About 12.30 p.m. a stack of coal which was being trimmed-from the hatchway into the port wing of the hold started to slide/ The slack coal soon filled up the. opening. into the place where the men were working, and completely blocked the way out. The, men were in no danger while they remained ■ where they -were as they had a fair space behind the coal barrier, and they were able to speak through a ventilator to those •on deck. There was far too much coal for the imprisoned men to be able to, dig their way out, and had they attempted to do so they would probably have started a further slide. Others of the gang set to work carefully, two men going in at a time and, using one basket, and they discharged coal from the hold on to the deck. At length an opening was made through- which the imprisoned trimmers made their' exit. About eight men were got out by 2.35 p.m., and the last -man was bufc; shortly after 3 p.m. The men were little the worse for their experience. Soup and other refreshments were provided by the. Gallic's stewards. The Gallic left Wellington this morning for London, via Cape Horn.