ANOTHER ACCOUNT

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

ANOTHER ACCOUNT

DEADLY GAS ENGINE FUMES. WHERE THE MEN WERE FOUND. When, sometime after the five men of the rescue party had gone into the tunnel, they did not re-appear and the eMb-station attendant, G. Trigg, when relieved at 10.30 o’olook entered the tunnel and found the men all overcome and too far gone to do anything for them. He managed to get out and give the alarm in camp, which was roused and rescue parties brought the men out. The fumes being very thick, artificial respiration was tried for 90 minutes but failed to produce any response. Tlie gas in the tunnel was a mixture of carbon monoxide and dioxide, and was caused by fumes from a gas engine at the face. It was 2.30 o’clock this morning when the last man was got out. When discovered all the men’s heads were pointing towards the entrance of the tunnel, indicating that they were overcome when endeavouring to make their way out. Messrs Muler, Birss (2), and F. Graham were found eighteen chains in the tunnel, P. Graham nineteen chains, and Maxwell and Butler twenty-three chains. , FOREMOST IN RESCUE. Messrs Diivnio and Davis, engineers, who were at the bottom camp came up immediately and a doctor was procured from Shannon. All work' is suspended to-day. Messrs Trigg end Kinzett, who were foremost in the rescue, were overcome and had to receive medioal attention. Mir Kinzett was sent to Palmerston Hospital. It is expected that the inquest will be held to-morrow.