DOBSON DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19503, 6 December 1926, Page 10

DOBSON DISASTER.

DEATH OF NINTH VICTIM MORE EXPLOSIONS OCCUR. DAMAGE BY FLYING DEBRIS FLOODING OF THE MINE. SOLEMN FUNERAL SCENES. • ' [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] GREYMOUTH. Sunday. The death of Eric Ash ton, the last of the nine victims of the tragic disaster which overtook tlio Dobson mine on Friday morning, occurred at the Grey, Hospital yesterday afternoon, thus severing the last link of evidence which might have helped to unravel the cause of the tragedy. In contrast to the noise of motor traffic along tho road from Greymouth to Dobson,' visitors are struck by the strange stillness that overshadows the erstwhile busy mining township. Along tho road yesterday groups of men watched the preparations, that were being made to flood the mine, speaking in subdued tones of their ill-fated workmates. The strained faces of women and children tell their own tale of nerves shattered by the disaster and the succeeding explosions. The preliminary work in connection with the flooding of the mine was carried out under tho direction of Mr. George Miller, chief engineer of tho State mines, and Mr. Gordon McKay, of the National Electrical Engineering Company. The work was accomplished at great personal risk. Blinding smoke issued from the mouth of the air-drive while the pipes were being connected to convey the water from the Grey River. The electric pump, which has been lent by the New River Dredging Company, Ltd., has been erected on the banks of the rivef directly opposite the air -drive, which enters the mine from the main Grey Road. Pumping Operations Start. At 4.15 p.m. yesterday pumping operations were commenced, the water being lifted into the mine at the rate of 25,(XX) gallons an hour through a double line of pipes. A larger pump is being erected to-day, and is expected to be in action this evening. With two pumps in operation, it is expected to have the mine flooded in about four days. At one o'clock this morning another slight explosion occurred, and was followed by two more at six o'clock. The latter were accompanied by loud reports which could be heard for a considerable distance. Low rumbling sounds, resembling a thunderstorm, emanated from the mine between six o'clock and seven o'clock. No further damage resulted. The chairman of directors of the Dobson Coal Company, Mr. F. Hogarth, of Wellington, and the Auckland representative on the directorate, Mr. J. Catchpole, who arrived in Greymouth by yesterday's express, visited Dobsop this morning. They were accompanied by Mr. Allan Smith, the resident director. Welfare of Men's Relatives. Since the disaster everything possible for the relatives of. the ill-fated miners has been done by Mr. Smith and the mine manager, Mr. G. - Hughes. Volumes of thick black smoke and gas fames were still coming from the air-drive and fan house this evening. A report from the mine this afternoon stated that 40,000 gallons of water an hour were being pumped into the mine. This amount will be probably doubled as soon as the second pump is installed. An inquest will be formally opened by the coroner, Mr. W. Meldrum, S;M., at noon to-morrow. The funeral of four of the victims of the disaster, Robert Hunter, James Richards, John Lindsay and Eric Ashton, took place at Karoro this afternoon. It was one of the largest seen on the West Coast, a gathering of over 3000 people, representing the whole of the district, being present. Special trains ran from Runanga and Brunner to Karoro, picking up passengers at all the stations en route. Ceremony at Cemetery. On the arrival of the trains at Karoro a procession, headed by the combined Greymouth Municipal and Runanga bands, was formed. Impressive scenes were witnessed at the cemetery. The bodies of Hunter, Lindsay and Aghton were laid to rest in three graves side by side, while the remains of Richards were lowered into a grave some distance away. During the service the Dead March and the hymn, " Nearer, My God, to Thee" were played by the combined bands. The services at the gravesides Were conducted by Archdeacon Cai'r, the Rev. L. Collins, tho Rev. J. F. Martin and Ensign Frieberg. Richards and Lindsay were members of the Masonic fraternity, the Masonic burial service being read by Mr. H. Hart, of Advance Masonic Lodge, Brunner. Following the burial ceremony, many wreaths and floral tribute? were laid on the graves. References to the tragedy were made at the various churches throughout the West Coast to-day.

VICE-REGAL MESSAGE. SYMPATHY FOR BEREAVED. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Sunday. The Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. W. Downie Stewart, has received from the Governor-General a message asking him to convey to the families of those who lost their lives in the Dobson mine disaster the heartfelt sympathy of Her Excellency and himself in their gad loss.