Glen Alton Tragedy; Chief Engineer’s Story

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1939, Page 2

Glen Alton Tragedy; Chief Engineer’s Story

[Special to “Northern Advocate ’M HUNTLY, This Day.

The chief engineer to the Glen Afton Collieries, Ltd.. David William Thomas, was visibly affected with the recollection of the happenings in the mine on the morning of the tragedy on September 24. when he gave his testimony yesterday afte»«oon at the sitting of the Koyal Commission. On Saturday, September 23, Thomas said that he knew of nothing being amiss in the mine, but. because of a fault in the electrical system, it was decided to inspect it the following morning.

Wilcox, the under-viewer, made no mention of a fire. Thomas recalled a message he received on the Sunday morning to start the fan. and an urgent request from Blackburn, the mine manager, who was down the mine, for an inspection party. Saw Smoko. He saw smoke coming from the ventilator stack. He rang several times to the various sections in the mine, but received no reply. Shortly before midday, he and a man named Johnson went down with two billies of tea. “As soon as wo passed over the skips in E section, we could sense the smoke," Thomas continued. “And as wo got further in we could see it. ‘“I rang through to the surface, and told the man at the telephone thei’C what I had seen. “Then at F section the air was pretty foul, and I rang through to say I was going on.

Began To Be Affected,

“After passing F section, I began to be affected.

“I saw a light about 30 yards away, beyond the telephone at F, and found Brown.

“I said to Johnson: ‘My God, he’s dead,’ and knelt down beside him. For a few seconds, Thomas was unable to continue his evidence. Mr Paterson, S.M., suggested a brief adjournment, but Thomas said ho was fit to proceed.

“By that time.” he said, “I felt pretty bad. “My legs were just about giving way. Started to Run. “My head buzzed and my breathing was affected. “Johnson sang out: ‘Come back, come back,’ and began to run, and I ran, too. “We eventually got back to E section. From there Johnson kept on encouraging me, ‘Keep going, keep going,’ he kept on saying to me. and I managed to get out. “At A section I telephoned the mine inspector, and told, him no one fhust come in under any circumstances, “I remember someone coming in and assisting me to get out—l thought my lungs were bursting. “I told them I had seen Brown and that he was dead.” Mr C. H. Taylor (for the Mines Department),: Have you ever previously known of the presence of gas in the mine? Thomas: Never. I have never previously been affected in this way. Complimented on Action.

• At the conclusion of evidence, Mr Paterson said: “I should like to compliment you on your action in getting to the telephone, and for the message you sent out. “It was the best thing to do, and probably was instrumental in preventing further loss of life.” Maurice Green, an electrician employed at the Renown Mine on September 30 to test the electrical system, said the cable at one of the boxes bore signs of having been overheated. The insulation was perished. About 20 yards away he found a broken pipe. He replaced certain of the cables, and subsequently reported that the system could be operated safely. Caused by Overloading? He thought an overloading of the electrical system in some parts of the mine had caused overheating of the cable. To Mr C. J. O'Regan (for the Northern Minors’ Uriion), he said the faults found were 'indicative of a more serious one further in the mine. The chairman:-The only thing we are concerned with is whether or not a mine installation should be armoured cables or conduit pipes. The regulations permit the use of conduit pipes. (Proceeding).