LAKE COLERIDGE ACCIDENT

Evening Star, Issue 19063, 5 October 1925, Page 6

LAKE COLERIDGE ACCIDENT

DALY AND ARCHER RESCUED OTHERS BURIED UNDER DEBRIS HOPE ABANDONED [Pee United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, October 4. After' nearly forty hours’ feverish work Hugh Daly and Gordon Archer, who were entombed in tho fall of earth in No. 2 tunnel at Lake Coleridge on Friday, were released at 11 o’clock on Saturday night. The worlc of rescue was delayed by had ground and a number of minor accidents. On Friday afternoon it was considered by the officials that a rescue would he effected by midday on Saturday. The rescue party was putting up n record, cutting through from 4ft to sft per minute. Thereafter the pace slackened down, in spite of the redoubled efforts on the part of the men, softer ground being encountered. At various times during Saturday conversations with the entombed men were conducted through the feed pipe. Daly seemed to he suffering more than his companion, and Archer did most of the talking. From time to time food was sent through, and air was sent in to the men by means of a hand-driven fan.

Tho method of< rescue was arranged for the greatest possible sliced, taking ,into consideration tho fact that another slip might happen at any moment through tho soft shingle being disturbed. As tho hours went by reports came from those working right up at tho face that there wore only a few feet to go, and finally at about 10 o’clock on Saturday night a needle bar was got through. A roller tapped out directions on this bar, mid helped considerably in the job of locating the exact whereabouts of tho entombed men.

At about 10.50 W. Cooper, who was working in M'Gnire’s shift, saw Archer through a small opening. It was then tho work of a. moment to enlarge the gap and rescue the men. There war. a great burst of cheering, and word was flashed along tho thirty-six chain tunnel and to those waiting at the month Mint the men had boon reached. Interviewed, Archer stated that the air had been so bad that randies would not burn. Both he and Daly had suffered from foul air, and their heads throbbed violently. Breathing was difficult, and they felt ns if a tight rope were stretched across their chests. Archer was working in close contact with Daly. M'Donald, M'Earlane, and Green when the accident occurred. The crown bar came down, and then followed a deluge, of debris which streamed in the direction of the outlet. Daly wanted to go and help M'Donald, but Archer told him the better thing to do was to stay where he was. If M'Donald had jumped toward Archer ho won Id have been nil right. Green was right In the centre of tho fall, and M'Earlane was further off. There is no doubt that M'Earlane, M'Donald, and Green are buried in the debris.

Work will be commenced immediately digging for their bodies.