STILL ENTOMBED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15124, 15 October 1912, Page 7

STILL ENTOMBED.

THE LYELL DISASTER FATE OF MINERS IN DOUBT. EIGHTY-NINE MISSING. HOPE, BUT NO CERTAINTY. FIRE BURNED OUT. FIVE BODIES RECOVERED, Bj- Telegraph.—rrew Astoriation.—Copyright. (Received October 14, 9.35 p.m.) Hobabt, October 14. Evebtthikg possible is being done to reach the miners still entombed in tho North Mount Lycll mine. Rescuo parties worked feverishly throughout last night and to-day. Their efforts were retarded by smoke and poisonous fumes rising in the shaft and permeating tho workings. The greatest care had to be exercised by all engaged in rescue work and many . checks were experienced.

During this forenoon relays of rescuers managed to hole through the engine winze and reach the 700 ft level. Subsequently an official notice was posted announcing that the bodies of five miners, who had died from suffocation had been found in this level.

The men who recovered the bodies had great difficulties with the smoke and poisonous fumes. A sixth body was seen, but' the smoke prevented the rescuers from reaching it. Four of the bodies have been identified as thoso of" miners named McCarthy, Macashling, Ryan, and Bourke. Tho other body has not been identified.

The fumes in tho level were so overpowering that the rescue parties had to abandon operations for a time. Later, a number of experienced firemen, with fire-helmets, arrived from Launceston and entered the mine.

The members of one of the rescue parties report that they heard voices in. the 700 ft level, but were unable to proceed in the direction from whence the voices came. This report has given rise to the hope that the men in the lower levels mar yet be saved. The mine officials still believe that the entombed men may bo rescued alive. {Received October 15. 12.30 asm.) Hohart, October 14. The experts cling to the hope that the men in the lower level* are taking refuge in the drives. Compressed air is still being pumped into the mine, largely to keep the fumes back from the drives. The latest fragmentary telegrams give no further details of the rescue work. The difficulty and delay in obtaining news adds to the general anxiety, and' the worst is feared.

HUNDREDS IN TEARS. ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR NEWS. - MANY PATHETIC SCENES. (Received October 14. 9.35 p.m.) Mklbociuje, October 14. News from Mount Lyell is coming through very slowly. The telegraph wires are inundated with private messages from and to relatives of men employed in the Mount Lyell mines, and such messages are being given preference over news and ordinary telegrams. It is reported that many pathetic scenes have been witnessed in Queenstown and other Tasmanian townships. There have been crowds all day round the newspaper and telegraph offices. Heartrending scenes are taking place at the minehead. Hundreds of weeping women and men are gathered near the mine anxiously watching tho rescue operations and awaiting news. There was a big crowd throughout the day at the Melbourne offices of tho Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company anxiously awaiting news of the disaster. Many relatives of men employed at Mount Lyell were among the number and some sad scenes were witnessed.

HELP AND SYMPATHY. LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES. SENT BY FAST STEAMER. {Beceived October 14, 9.55 p-m-) jMelbociwE;, October 14. A fast steamer carrying fire helmets and other life-saving appliances left Melbourne for Tasmania at three o'clock this morning. The steamer is expected to reach Bumie at midnight. A social train will be in -waiting at Burnie to convey the appliances to the scene of the disaster. Many messages expressing sympathy with tho sufferers in the disaster and lauding the heroic efforts of the rescuers have been sent to Tasmania from all parts of Australia. Lord Denman (Governor-General) and Mr. Fisher (Prime Minister) sent messages.

SUNDAY'S RESCUE WORK. MEN OVERCOME, BY SMOKE. TWO DRAGGED BACK TO SAFETY. Hobart, October 14. A rescued miner dressed in a diver's suit penetrated the 700 ft level of • tHe North Mount Lyell mine last night, but found no sign of any men. The fire had then almost burnt out, and the shaft was undamaged. Rescue operations are being fcverishy pushed on. Tho rescuers arc working against great odds, the heat being intense and tho smoko and fumes from the ores poisonous and suffocating. Two men who penetrated the 500 ft level were unable to bring out a dead man, the smoke overcoming them. Attempts to get ladder connection between Nos. 2 and 3 levels, and so reach the lower workings, have so far proved futile. Two .men, Figg and Scannall, who made desperate efforts to secure this, were overcome and had to be dragged out. The Chief Inspectors of Mines of New South Wales and Victoria, who happened to be visiting Lyell to report on the mine in connection with trouble between the management and the men, rendered valuablo assistance in the rescue work. Mr. Sawyer, the New South Wales insector, headed the leading gangs, and re-

peatedly descended, until -he was overcome.. The four men rescued'were at. the 400 ft level and had not suffered severely. FAVOURABLE INDICATIONS. SUPPLIES OF GOOD AIR. LIGHT LOWERED AS A TEST. Hobart, . October 14. A lamp and a notice board were lowered to the 1100 ft level but nothing was written on the board when it was hauled up. This is regarded as a hopeful sign, indicating that the men arc away at dead ends and in places of safety. The light kept burning, which is an additional favourable indication as regards tho air in the bottom levels. The manager thinks that the air there is good and hope is yet entertained for the entombed men. * The Government geologist and a large staff of Government inspectors and mine managers are directing operations. The chairman of the Mount Lyell Company states that the latest information points to tho' belief that the entombed men are away from the main shaft, probably sheltering in the levels, which are wide and high and provide plenty of shelter in the stopes and winzes. It is believed that supplies of good air exist in tho lower levels, and compressed air is being pumped iu. The smoke from tho shaft is decreasing. There are indications that tho fire has been subdued, having burned itself out on tho 700 ft level. Tho number still, missing is 89. A RESCUED MINER. SISTER IN TIMARU. fflT TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] TtMAiur, Monday. O'Connor, one of the men rescued from Mount Lyell mine, has a sister in Timaru, who states that her three brothers are employed in the mine. THE NORTH MOUNT LYELL MINE. Work in tho North Mount Lyell mine has recentlv been proceeding in .six levels -400 ft, 500 ft, 700 ft, 850 ft, 1000 ft, and 1100 ft. The mine is the property of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, Limited, which also owns the Mount Lyell mine. Both mines produce copper, silver, and gold. The last h; 1 If-yearly report of the company available covers a period during which there was a strike at the mines, but for tho six months 63,651 tons 'of ore were taken from the two mines, of which 24,068 tons came from tho North Mount Lycll mine. Tho average results were : Copper. 2.73 per cent. ; silver, 1.69 per cent.; and gold, 0.027 per cent. The ore reserves in tho North Mount Lyell mine were estimated in the last report at 998,457 tons. The parent Lvell mine at that time had ore reserves estimated at 2,457,000 tons.