CAGE FALLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21554, 27 July 1933, Page 8

CAGE FALLS

MINE SENSATION TWELVE MEN INJURED CRASH DOWN A SHAFT MANY BROKEN LIMBS ACCIDENT AT WAIHI [jlY TELEGRAPII —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WAIHI. Wednesday Twelve men who were being lowered down No. 2 shaft at the Waihi mine shortly after four o'clock this afternoon had a remarkable escape from death when the cage in which they were descending broke away and hurtled several hundreds of feet down the shaft until it came to rest just above No. 13 level, about 1450 ft. below the surface. ' All 12 were injured, but none was critically hurt. The names of the men, with details of their injuries, are as follows: — Names and Injuries William J. Taylor, aged 47, compound fracture of the right leg and frao ture of tho left leg, John H. Gordon, 51, fracture of the leg, fracture of ribs and possible fracture of the spine. Herbert W. Butler, 26, compound fracture of the right leg.. Frederick E. Comes, 32, fracture of the leg. William R. Kemp, 23, fracture of the right leg and injury to tho right knee. Ray W. Johnson, 35, fracture of the right wrist. Hurry G. Cornes, 24, concussion and scalp wounds. Samuel Hamilton, 48, lacerated foot and possibly a fracture of the foot. Leonard J. Coward, 44, fracture of the left leg and possibly a fracture of a bono of the right foot. Cyril F. Thornton, 25, injuries to both feet and possibly fracture of rib. John Arnold, middle aged, injuries to heel. Jack Follas, 23, minor injuries. No Oases Critical The two last-mentioned men did not require hospital treatment. It was stated late this evening that while none of the cases was regarded as critical, those most seriously injurc-d were Taylor, Gordon and Butler. H. Mills, who was in charge of the winding operations at the time of the accident, was admitted to hospital suffering severely from shock. .E. Shergold, who was ascending in the cage in the adjoining compartment of the shaft, received leg injuries. The news that there had been a serious accident at the mine soon spread, and it was at first thought that several fatalities had taken place, and it was not lone before hundreds of anxious people gathered round the top of tho shaft to await the bringing upi of the injured. Weeping women and girls, fearing the were among the number, and it was not until six o'clock that they received the unofficial but, reassuring news that there had been no fatalities. » Crowd Greets First Man A few minutes Later, the first of tho men, John Arnold, was brought to the surface. He was able to step out of the cage unassisted, and as he did so, he was greeted by relieved cheers and the crowd was set at ease when he gave the information that nono of his fellow-workers had suffered any grave injury. Others followed at intervals, the last man being brought up shortly before eight o'clock. Tho tension was not definitely relieved, however, until a message was received from the rescue party, headed by the'mine manager, Mr. J. Gilmour and the assistant-mine manager, Mr. W. Morrison. The rescue party made its wav through from No. 4 shaft, about 400 feet, from where the cage crashed in No. 2. It was then found that the cngo had come to a stop between No. 12 and No. 13 levels, about 300 feet from the bottom workings. Tho cage was suspended about .30 feet above No. 13 and members of tho party had to make their way up a ladder way, lift the hood of the cage, pass tho men out through the sido into a boatswain's chair and lower them down to No. 13, where Dr. Jj. R. Hetherington and Dr. E. H. Bridgman, with"stretcher-bearers, were waiting to attend to the injured Long Journey to Shaft After being tended by the doctors, who were given every assistance by members of tho St. John Ambulance Brigade, the victims of the accident had to bo carried out on stretchers via No. 6 shaft, a distance of from 700 ft. to 800 ft., to No. 4, a journey of approximately a quarter of a mile. When they arrived at the brace, or top of the shaft, eager crowds sought their names and the nature of their injuries, and, although somo of the rescued appeared to bo in a sorry plight, all seemed to recognise and greet their friends. Some, in spito of their injuries, wero even facotious, and one young man who was being carried pick-a-back to the dressing shed, waved as ho puffed at his cigarette. Another man, one of the worst hurt, on reaching tho dressing shed, asked for a drink. He was handed a glass of water, but asked With a wry face, "Haven't you got anything stronger than that, mate? This doesn't help much." This remark was typical of the spirit in which men accepted their misfortune. "Lucky to be Alive" Asked what his feelings - were as the; cage was falling, one man said, "We i had no time to think. She went down with rf bang, and all I know is that I felt lucky to bo alive when she pulled up. 1 tlunk my mates felt the same way." Workers at the levels, between that at which the cage broke loose and that at which it came to rest state that lliev heard a terrific roar and candles' in tho levels we») extinguished by the draught created.