FIRE IN A MINE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11228, 26 September 1898, Page 2

FIRE IN A MINE.

TWO MEN ENTOMBED,

(Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 24. A fire broke out in the Jubilee mine, Waitekauri, at 10 o'clock last night. Dense smoke is rising. Two men are supposed to have been suffocated. The fire is still burning.

Further particulars of tho outbreak of tho fire in the New Zealand Jubilee mine are to the effect that the names of the men suffocated in tho rise are Brennan and - Wallace. The former is said to be new to this district, but Wallace is well known, not only here, but at Waihi and Te Whariki. The manager, Mr Barney, on the alarm being given took prompt measures to extinguish the fire, which, from the fact that the chamber containing the engine is situated 500 ft in front of the face of the hill, and was the seat of the fire, was a matter of extreme difficulty. A large number of people, principally miners, flocked to the locality this morning to offer assistance. The fire is now reported to havo been extinguished, but the levels are1 still too full of smoke to permit tho search parties to explore. The work of rescue has been going on all day, but so far the imprisoned men have not been reached. The mining inspector has passed through Paeroa to the scene of the casualty. The air compressors are at work, and hopes are entertained of the men's recovery.

It appears a spark from a small engine used in one of the drives set ,fire to the timbers supporting the wall, with the result that the timbers gave way and a large block of ground caved in, entombing the two men working on the face. Some doubt is expressed as to whether Wallace's mate is named Brennan or Graham. It is probably the latter, arid it is a singular coincidence that he was iVorking with poor young M'Gregor in the Jubilee shaft at the time the latter was killed. It was only a few days ago he was removed to work in the rise.

Fui'ther particulars show that Wallace and Graham were driving from a rise which had been put up to the surface. The level is 62ft below the surface, and the drive was in a distance of 30ft. Dense volumes of smoke are ascending from the rise, and though it is impossible for the rescue party to descend without smoke jackets it is yet thought possible that the fierce draught in the uprise will prevent the smoke going to the end of the drive. There may be a chance, therefore, of finding the men alive. All the tunnels have been closed, and earth is being shovelled down the smoke stack.

THE SATHEKLEY CASE,

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, September 24.

The police have received word that the man implicated by Petersen is not actually in gaol, but has beeu under police surveillance in Auckland all the time, and it is impossible that he could be concerned.