TERRIFIC EXPLOSION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 3 December 1926, Page 5

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION

AT DOBSON MINE FIVE MEN ENTOMBED UTTLE HOPE OF RESCUE TWO MEN RECOVERED; TWO BODIES FOUND . (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) GREYMOUTH, Dec. 3. At ten minutes past three o’clock this morning a trous explosion occurred at the Dobson mine. The mg shift were in the mine at the time. They number nine, and all were entombed. Later two bodies were found and two men were rescued. Little hope of rescue of the other five are entertained. Their names are: — .Tames Richards, deputy, single, aged 40. Eric Ashton, trucker. Robert Hunter, winch driver. Thomas Black, miner. John Lindsay, miner. Edward Partington, miner. Alfred Noalces, miner. Ernest Brammer, miner, aged 40, married. James Marshall. The explosion was one of terrible force, which wrecked the telephone and telegraph wires and threw debris a distance of a quarter of a mile. Truck wheels were hurled from the mine mouth. The fan of the mine was restarted at 4.30 a.m. and soon after a number of men descended the shaft in order to attempt a rescue. In the meantime word was sent to the managers of the Blackball mine and the State colliery and for rescue apparatus, which was located at Rimanga. Workers were summoned from Blackball. Most of the men who were entombed were comparatively new arrivals in the district. The Dobson mine is known to be rather gaseous. The first news of the disaster had to he brought by ear to Greymouth, owing to the interruption of the wires. However, When the fans were restarted, hopes were raised that the rescue of the entombed men at the faces might be effected. There were five men engaged at the face when the explosion took place, while three wore truck at the time of the explosion. Later. Two bodies have been recovered. They are those of Richards and Hunter. Ashton and Lindsay have been rescued and sent to Greymouth Hospital. Five others were still entombed at 8.30 a.m., with little hope of