MINING TRAGEDY

Northern Advocate, 19 September 1930, Page 5

MINING TRAGEDY

INRUSH OF POISON GAS

TWO LIVES LOST. HEROIC RESCUE EFFORTS. (Per Press Association. —Copyright.) DUNEDIN, This Day,

Through a fall of coal yesterday in a new shaft two lives were lost at the Bruce Railway and Coal Company’s coal mine, Waronui, South Otago. The men were overcome by strong gas fumes and their names are: — James Carruthers, mine manager, aged 40,’ married, family of three children. ' Joseph Morris, minor, married. Carrpfliers and Morris went down the air shaft connected with a new drive which was being put in at the mine and a fall of coal in the shaft caused the men to be entombed.

Robert McDonald, a miner, went down, the shaft to render assistance, but was overcome by strong gas fumes and brought to the surface' black in the face. Gas masks were sent for from Milton. After some difficulty those were obtained and sent fo the mine by motor. However, it was decided the risk of sending men, even equipped with masks, down the shaft was too great. A party of miners left the Kaitangafa .mine as soon as word of tho accident .reached them, bringing equipment for working in gas'-laden portions of mines.

McDonald was taken to hospital at Milton suffering from gas poisoning. After most strenuous, heroic rescue work, under most dangerous conditions, the bodies of Oarruthcrs and Morris were recovered about 5 o’clock and taken to Milton. Carruthcrs was a returned soldier and served in the Rifle Brigade and Tunnelling Corps. He had held the position of mine manager for ten years.

Morris bad been employed in the mine for a considerable period.

This is the first fatal accident that has occurred at the mine since it was opened over 20 years ago.

Further news states that Carruthers and Morris resumed work after the lunch hour at driving a new air shaft into the mine working, the former air shaft having been blocked by a fall of earth.

The new .shaft had been completed for a distance of slightly more than 30 feet, at which point there are two sharp dips to the roof of the mine. Out.knocking off the planking of the mine roof, there must have been a sudden' rush of carbon dioxide gas by which they were overcome. They signalled for assistance to two miners, Henreich Hansen and Robert Boyd, avlio were working on the surface. Hansen rushed into the drive, hut was immediately driven back by the fumes. Boyd attempted a rescue, but was also .driven back. Hansen then rushed away for assistance to another part of the mine, some distance away.

McDonald came with: a. rope and, with this attached to Ills body, proceeded into the drive, but was overcome by the fumes and pulled out by Hansen and Boyd inn semi-conscious condition.

After receiving medical attention he was removed during the afternoon to hospital at Milton. He is reported to bo progressing favourably. No appliances were available at the mine far such an emergency. Although gas masks were procured from exservicemen in Milton, these proved useless for rescue purposes, and nothing •could be done until the arrival of a party from the Kaitangata mine, equipped with proper appliances. This party consisted of Messrs William Carson (mine manager), Frederick Carson and George Duggan (inspector of Mines for Otago). Air Dug gan happened to be visiting Kaitangata when the news of the tragedy came. The party arrived at Waronui about 4 p.m. and, after fitting on a gas helmet, William 'Carson entered the shaft and almost immediately discovered the bodies which were lying about 35 feet from the entrance.

Carson had made several trips before the bodies were taken out. Carruth ers’ body was the first to be recovered, being brought out at about

4.45 p.m, Morris’ body was recovered at 5.25 p.m. Artificial respiration was applied without avail and the bodies conveyed to the morgue at Alii ton.