BURIED IN COAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 14

BURIED IN COAL

ACCIDENT ON STEAMER DEATH OF ONE MAN SURVIVORS' GRAPHIC STORIES Two men were buried in a fall of coal in tho bunkers of tho British ship INI ilia is, which was berthed at Jones Bay, Sydney, last Thursday. One man was killed, but his companion was extricated almost unharmed after being buried for more than three hours. A third man, Peter Graham, had a remarkable escape. Ho was carried along by the coal, but saved himself by seizing a beam. Jack Heffcren, of Balmain, was enveloped in tho coal about 11 o'clock. His face was uncovered by a rescue party, but another fall buried him soon afterwards. He was dead when his body was released four hours later. William Crawford was extricated after three hours, not seriously injured. Tho accident occurred suddenly, and was caused by huge blocks of coal jamming a trapdoor leading to tho stokehold. A pocket formed under these lumps. When the men trod on them they bocanio loose and precipitated two of them through tho trapdoor.' Tho shock unsettled about five tons of coal, which buried them. Survivors' Stories Both rescued men gave dramatic accounts of tlio tragedy. Graham said: "The three of us wero detailed to trim coal in tho 'tween decks. Wo waited about five minutes for it to tome down tho shutes. Then there was a crash. Air shot past us, and what we had thought to be solid coal collapsed under our feet. Great blocks of coal started to fall from tho walls. Heffcren. was caught in tho main rush, of coal and disappeared first. "A ladder near Crawford impeded the oncoming coal slightly, and ho was not whirled through the trapdoor as soon as Heffcren. He made a desperato effort to seize tho ladder, but missed. I felt the coal pour over my legs and suck me along. I raised my hand and seized a beam. Five or six tons must have shot past before tho rush ceased. Then there wero odd crashes as dislodged lumps fell at intervals. Somo must havo been 18in. across. I heard Crawford calling, but there was no sign of Hefferen. I called for help, and climbed up the ladder to safety." Crawford showed great fortitude. Although ho had been buried for more, than three hours at the bottom of tho ship, ho needed little assistanco to climb the narrow steel ladders to the ambulance waggon. "I knew what was coining when I heard tho coal move," ho said. "I jumped for the ladder and would have reached it, but Hefferen grabbed me by tho ankle and we wero both buried in coal. My face was undernert'th, but an arm was free and I was able to move pieces of coal until I could breathe. The coal pressed against me like a vice, and one of our shovels cut against my knee. I could feel Hefferen's hand on my leg until I was rescued." Difficult Rescue Work Rescuo work was begun immediately. Tho coal-lumpers ran to the aid of their work-mates. Crawford's head was free. Blocks of coal wero removed and Hefferen's face was uncovered. Ho was alive, but ho stopped ,breathing, and a rush of coal covered him again. Tho rescuers had to climb down narrow steel ladders to reach tho scene of the tragedy. Tons of coal hung perilously, and the men moved warily to prevent further falls. Shovels could not l)e used because of tho danger of starting the coal moving again. Crawford was released with tho aid of block and tackle after 2 o'clock. He had escaped with bruises and cuts. Hefferen's body, which was underneath, was extricated by allowing coal to fall into the bunker beneath after the body had been secured, with rope.