LATER DETAILS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11253, 4 July 1922, Page 5

LATER DETAILS

AIR-FAN OUT OF COMMISSION. (By Telegraph.—Special to “Times.”) PALMERSTON N., July 3. No men were working at the time of the disaster. Operations were to resume at midnight, and the men were about to turn to when the accident occurred. About 10.30 o’clock, Triggs, who was waiting for the power to come through from the power-house to star!, the air-fan, got anxious, and went to the mouth of the tunnel to see if he could get in touch with Butler and Maxwell, who had started at about "9.30 o’clock to walk to the head of tho tunnel to start the engines. He got no reply, and decided to investigate, when he was overtaken by the tunnel gang, comprising Messrs P. Graham, K. Graham, F. Birss, and W. Birss. GAS SMELT. Gaa was 6melt, and as the water was high, these men went back to get gumboots. Miller, who had arrived meanwhile, accompanied these four men to try and find Butler and Maxwell. At 11.30 o’clock, Triggs and H. Kinzett, getting anxious about Miller and his party, also decided to go in and find out the trouble. They did not get far, however, before they were overcome by gas fumes, and had to be rescued. TUNNEL NOT VENTILATED. A little later the engines were start, ed, and power had come through from the power-house. When the air-fan was put into commission and the tunnel ventilated, it was found that both Butler and Maxwell had succeeded in starting the engines to pump the water out, but as the air-fan was out of commission, they were overcome by petrol fumes from the oil-engine.