KIMBRELEY DISASTER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 203, 2 October 1888, Page 3

KIMBRELEY DISASTER.

TERRIBLE FIRE IN A DIAMOND MINE [Reuter’s telegram per mail steamer.] Capetown, July 15. A commission has been appointed by the Government to inquire into the terrible disaster caused by the fire in De Beers Diamond Mine at Kimberley. The principal feature of the dreadful calamity is the miraculous escape of 43 white men and 460 natives, who lived through Wednesday night in the burning mine, and who formed part of the night gang of 800 men who descended into the mine just before the fire broke out Regarding the origin of the fire, all that is positively known is that it was discovered in the casing of the entrance shaft below the 500 ft. level. In spite of the efforts t > quench the flames, they spread alarmingly, and in a few minuteg the shaft resembled a raging furnace. The flames rapidly reached the various workings. When the alarm was given a rush was made for the ladder ways and the “ skip ” (pulley car). The flames, however, mounted too rapidly to allow of an escape by the ladders, and the skip started for the surface, but by the burning through of the rope was precipitated into the blazing shaft, together with its human freight of panic-stricken natives. Many must have been crushed to death in the rush towards the shaft, but none of tho e who sought this means of escape have lived to tell the tale. The more experienced of the white men retreated in the other direction through the levels to the old workings of the Gum Company, where the prospect of safely awaiting rescue was greater. The bu k of the natives, unable to appreciate the danger, followed the whites like sheep without panic, which would have caused terrible loss of life. Here they remained until the morning, continually threatened by the volumes of smoke drawn by the air currents in their direction, and uncertain regarding the spread of the fire, all attempts to reconnoitre being frustrated by the dense smoke and heat. Finally it was decided to endeavour to force a way to a higher level. The horrors of this journey through the length of the narrow ladderways and manholes, choked with dead and stifling heat, and the stench and smoke, are said to be beyond description, and the success of the attempt was mainly due to the great bravery and energy displayed by Harry Pauli and a few of his companions. One by one they reached the 380 fr. level, and thence made their way to the narrow crack, which is the only outlet from this part of the mine to the surface, in safety. Rescue parties were then energetically worked to attempt to gave the others still below, and many acts cf bravery were performed. Mr Gardner Williams, general manager, was directing the work with untiring energy. Mr Armstrong, contractor, lost his life by returning to warn his men. At the first outbreak Mr Lindsay, the newly-arrived under-ground manager, who started from the surface in the. skip with three companions on the first intimation of something being wrong below, must have been suffocated with them in descending. On the 13th the rescue parties were stopped by the inspector of mines to prevent useless sacrifice of life, all hope of saving the others being abandoned. All the energy was then devoted to clearing the mine of the smoke. Some bodies were subsequently recovered, but owing to the block in the shaft at the 880 ft. level, the rescue parties were unable to proceed until it was cleared.