TWO MINE MANAGERS FATALLY GASSED

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 June 1932, Page 7

TWO MINE MANAGERS FATALLY GASSED

Double Tragedy in Milierton Mine WELL-KNOWN RESIDENTS OP COAST WESTPORT, Last Night. Two underground managers at the Westport Coal Company’s Milierton mine, William Lowden, married, aged 45, with a wife and family of three, and Joseph Edward Pfoffer, married, with a wife and family of six, wore gassed in the mine to-day. They wont into the mine to put a plug in a waterpipe behind the stopping in the fire area, first tying a light on the other side of a rope for safety reasons. Lowden went in first and Avas gassed and Pfcffcr, who went to his rescue, suffered a similar fate. Later gas masks tvero obtained and the bodies of the men were recovered. Gloom Cast Over Mining’ Centres WESTPORT, Last Night. Reports from Milierton disclose fiiat Pfeifer, one of the victims, went to the mine with the intention of inserting a plug in a waterpipe behind stopping erected with a view to holding in check or extinguishing a fire in that section of the mine. The stopping is about 25 feet high. Lowden then wont through the manhole over the stopping but apparently was quickly overcome with gas. Pf offer was sent for and believing Lowden still alive he went over the stopping to rescue Lowden. Pfeifer was affected by gas and deciding to return signalled to the men on top, but being completely overcome by gas he . released his hold on the rope and fell to the bottom too. A number of men with proto masks later arrived on the scene and _Jas. McArthur, mine manager from the Westport Coal Company’s Coalbrookdale mine, descended to where the bodies of the two underground managers were lying and brought them out. This was about 7 p.m. A gloom was cast over the mining townships where both men were -wellknown and held in high esteem. Mr. Lowden was 41 years of age and was born in Durham, England. He arrived at Milierton 22 years ago and held various positions in the Bullcr district. He worked both at the Stockton and Milierton mines and then took charge as manager at the Ferndale collieries, Reefton. Later he was manager at Cascade and w r as underground manager at Milierton. He leaves a wife and two daughters. His parents, four brothers and five sisters are still alive in England. Mr. Pfeffer, who was 43 years of age, was a native of Greta, New South Wales. He left there some four years ago and came to the Coast and had lived in this district since. He took part in local cricket and football at Granity. He was in the Buffer cricket team that played Greymouth for the Friend cup. He is survived by a family of six, four boys and two girls.