EXCITING- SCENE AT THE CALEDONIAN MINE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4870, 26 September 1877, Page 7

EXCITING- SCENE AT THE CALEDONIAN MINE.

[by telegraph.] . Auckland, September 17th.. An exciting scene occurred at the Caledonian mine, Thames, to-day. At 9.30 it became reported thst gas had burst into the Caledonian shaft, smothering several men. At 10 a. m;: a large assemblage of miners with anxious countenances at the mine betokened the sad nature of the event. Three poor fellows are supposed to b8 lying dead below—Webber, W. Brache,. and Treziseia. At 10.30, Mr Walker, manager of the Kururiui, Buririy foretn&n, and Ire wan, have gone down the Caledonian shaft to the rescue! The gas appears to have burst from the Pniriping"Association's shaft. It was discovered at 3 o'clock1 this morniag by the Association's shift..; The three unfortunate men commenced the shift at seven this morning. The greatest anxiety is felfc for the result. 10.45. — The rescue party came up the shaft without success. At the 400ffc. the gaa put the light out. They hurried up ; could not reach; the. 4ffe. level, where th<s men were. At 10.50 thay rescue Trezisseis The bell is unexpectedly ringing a signal below. Down goes; the cage. Thsre is breathless excitement. Treztseis is hauled up in a ramping delirium, and is conveyed to Grahamstown. 10.55. —The following 7 volunteers have again made a perilous descent: Moorecroft, Dudley, and T. Hadford. At ■11 15 another man is saved-— insensible.ybufc alive. The heroic two were' lowered, again - a candlo before them. They reach No. .4 level, and meet Brache staggering along the drive. He was carried to the cage. Brave men are down again after Webber. At 11.30- despair.rests on every countenance when the cage rises to the surface without poor Webber. Bedford traced him along, No. 4 level; saw Webber lyiug on his stomach, with his face to the floor, within- Bft. of-the Association's- shaft—the s.uirce of gas—evidently dead. Radford was compelled to leave. A more desperate atte'aipt to recover the. body is to be made. Radford, Menon*:' Leith, ' and Morrison bravely volunteered. An iron rod-hook i vs being hurriedly made by a blacksmith. At 11.50. down,they go.: :At .12 o'clock the signal; is;given to lift.. 12.4. — Pull".up. quicker, s 12.6.-^Quicker,' quicker. 12.9.— Amid painful excitement five men appear ih the cage"—the fifth is Webber writhing, suffocating, f and struggling-; wifch death. There, are many exclamations of thanksgiving.

:. ~ Geahamstown, September 21st. Captain Fraser, 8.M., under instructions frcm the Government, has enquired into the rising of gas in the Caledonian arid other workings. It is understood he has reported that the gas rising was due to the stoppage of the big pump for repairs, and workmen in tll. B'l,line. connected therewith had betn warned, but continued working.