MINE MISHAP

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 23, 27 July 1933, Page 12

MINE MISHAP

CAGE BREAKS AWAY

DROP OF 1450 FEET

MINERS' REMARKABLE

ESCAPE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) . WAIHI, This Day. Twelve men who were being lowered down the No. 2 shaft at. the Waihi Mine shortly after four o'clock yesterday afternoon had a remarkable escape from death when the cage in which they wore descending broke away and hurtled several hundreds of feet down the shaft until it came to rest just above the No. 13 level, about 14-50 feet below the surface. Had the cage gone on unchecked to the bottom of the shaft the impact would have been terrific and not an occupant could have survived. All the men were injured, but none was critically hurt. The injured are William J. Taylor, aged 47, compound fracture of the right leg and fracture of the left leg; JohnH. Gordon, 51, fracture of leg and fracture of ribs, possible fractured spine; Herbert W. Butler, 26, compound fracture of right leg; William R. Kemp, 23, fracture of right leg, injury to right knee; Eay W. Johnson, 34, fracture of right wrist; Harry G. Comes, 24, concussion and scalp wounds; Samuel Hamilton, 48, lacerated foot, possibly fracture of foot; Leonard J. Coward, 44, fracture of left leg, possible fracture of bone of right foot; Cyril F. Thornton, 25, dnjuries to both feet, possible fractured rib; John Arnold, middle-aged, injuries to heel; Jack Follas, 23, ininor injuries; and Frederick E. Comes, fractured ankle, several abrasions.

From where the cage was stopped there was a further drop of 500 feet to the bottom of the shaft.

News of a serious accident soon spread. It was at first thought that there had been several fatalities, and it was not long before hundreds of anxious people gathered round the top of the shaft to await the bringing up of the injured. Weeping women and girls, fearing the worst, were among the number, and i(j was not until six o 'clock that they leceived the unofficial but reassuring news that there had been no fatalities. A few minutes later the first of the men, John Arnold, was brought to the surface. He was able to step out of the cage unassisted, and as he did so he was greeted by cheers of relief, and the crowd felt at ease when, he gave out the information that none of his fellow-workers had suffered any grave injuries. Others followed at intervals, the last man being brought up shortly before 8 o'clock.

Inquiries made this morning' show that with the exception of Hamilton and Taylor the patients, had spent a good night.

The whirring booming noise of the descending cage was heard over half a mile away.

Questioned as to the cause of the mishap, the superintendent of the Waihi Mine (Mr. H. W, Hopkins) stated that all that could lie said at present was that a start was being made to wind the men down. No information was available yet as to what checked the speed of the cage before it came to a halt. Had. it stopped suddenly the jolt would have beeni sufficient to kill the men. It had' been suggested that the cage caught' the end of a flat sheet, and that that eased the fall and caused the loops to loosen and the grips to part.