PERILS BELOW EARTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 14

PERILS BELOW EARTH.

EXPERIENCE IN MINES.

DENNISTON'S GRAVE PLIGHT.

ROCK CRACKS LIKE EGGS. WIDE FISSURES IN STREETS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WESTPORT, Friday. An inspection of Denniston reveals that tho damage there is worse than around Westport, where tho wreckage is sufficiently appalling. Heavy falls came down in tho mine, but their extent has not yet been ascertained and the tally of damage done will probably not bo known for some days.* It is certain that it will be a number of weeks before the mine can be put in a state of full production again. Denniston is solely a mining township, and is situated high on a mountain sido. Tho town stands on solid rock and many of tho houses and business premises are carried on piles, as level ground is at a premium. The rock has been cracked as if it were so much eggshell. Fissures two and threo feet wide have appeared. They are in the streets and under the houses and one is between three and four chains in length. The residents now live in fear that lain will fill the fissures and cause slips which may carry part of the town ovor a cliff 1000 ft. to the valley beneath. At the brakehead on tho aerial tramway for carrying the coal bins from the mino mouth a huge slip has como down on the engine House and tho chimney now appears as a buttress holding back the cliff. The chimney looks as if it will fail to stand the strain. Another large slip is in' tho cutting near the top of the incline leading to the town. Miners aro trying to clear away huge pieces of rock, but this task alone will take some weeks, In Peril Underground. A thrilling story is told of a party of six men who were working in tho fire danger area in tho mino reinforcing a stopping. Tho rumble of the earihquako induced thoughts of an explosion in tho mine, and realising that if such a disaster had occurred their chances of escape wore negligible, tho men made a dash for safety. Three reached the main roadway and got clear. Tho other three men sheltered for a few minutes and when tho shako was over continued toward tho oxit. Picking his way over the fallen rocks, Mr. H. O. Douse, a bricklayer, heard a groan, and as he was about to search for its origin another shake camo. Mr. Douso sheltered under a piece of concrete and when all was still again ho called to his companions but did not receive an answer. With tho aid of his small lamp ho found one man \who had hurt his leg. The third man was in a pool of water. ' Both had lost their lamps, but one was recovered. Then ensued a hair-raising crawl to safety. ' The walls and roof of the tunnel were rocking and tho props were breaking and all tho time there were falls of rock. Several times tho injured man begged his companions to leave him and save their own lives, but with quiet persistence, Mr. Douso continued his heroic task of half pulling and half carrying him out. In some places tho falls had been so great that there wero only small apertures through which the men had to crawl. Residents Fear Floods. Tho three men who got clear had organised a rescue party which was just about to enter the mine when Mr. Douso and his companions came out. Those who know the mine regard the escape as almost a miraculous one. A survey and inquiries around tho remainder of the district show that there has been little damage at Burnett's Face and Marshallvillo, but tho- winding machinery at the brakehead at Marshallvillo has been broken. Tho supports holding tho coal bins are bent and it is feared that they will not stand tho pressure of a load of coal. The small mines worked by co-operative parties at Granitv are in a parlous state and may have to be abandoned.

At Seddonvillo the / residents have removed to the high terraces through fear of floods in the Mokohunui River. One or two chimneys are reported to be standing. The demolition of the hotel at Lower Mokohunui was commenced by the earthquake arid completed by the gale yesterday. Tho railway line between Donniston and Westporfc is badly cracked, especially in tho swampy country.