RESCUE FROM MINE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 152, 29 June 1935, Page 10

RESCUE FROM MINE

♦ AN ENTOMBED DEPUTY , BIG FALL FROM ROOF (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, This Day. Trapped by a fall of earth and stone from the roof in one of the roads of the Blackball Creek coal mine, Richard Brady was placed in a precarious position last evening, not being rescued until this afternoon. Brady is a single man, a native of Scotland, and deputy at the mine. Last evening, Brady and his workmate, Alec Thompson, were engaged in effecting repairs by re-timbering when they noticed a fall coming from the roof at about 7 o'clock. Brady ran further into the mine and Thompson raced outside. It was an extensive fall and completely entombed Brady. Within a short time a big party of men gathered and, under the supervision of Mr. J. G. Quinn, manager of the Blackball Coal Company, commenced rescue work. They toiled throughout the night and today in relays. The air in the mine was foul. One party, endeavoured to pick up the fall, but made little progress owing to the roof being of sandy formation and coming in on them. However, they maintained their efforts. A second party began to split a pillar, driving a tunnel 6ft by 6ft. Progress was limited to about 4ft an hour. At 11 o'clock this morning there remained about 12ft between the rescue workers and Brady, whose almost continual tapping could be heard to be drawing closer. The rate .of progress was maintained and Brady was rescued shortly after noon, uninjured and apparently little .concerned,