THE MEN ALL RIGHT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13652, 23 July 1906, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE MEN ALL RIGHT.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

ALEXANDRA, July 16. The four men who were rescued from tho Molyneux coal mine on Saturday night, as well as those of the rescuers who were more or loss affected by the fumes, aro now all right, and appear to havo completely recovered.

Saturday was one of the most eventful days in tho history of Alexandra. When the residents were aroused at 4.30 by tho peals of tho firoboll, they rushed to their doors and inquired from passers-by whore the firo was. Tho ipiestion was quito natural, as no reflection of a fire could be soon. But soon the news spread that tho .Molyneux coal, pit, about a mile above the township and lying close to the rivor bank, was on fire. With bated breath the people whispered lhat there were four men entombed in the hurniiifj mine with only one way of escape—by the main shaft.—and '■lii's was barred by tho fire. At 5 o'clock there was no mistaking where the fire was situated, for by this time the flames had mounted through the shaft (which is about 70ft in depth), caught tho derrick, spread lo the staging (on which many tons of bagged coal were slacked), and the whole fabric pooh became a mass of flame. In the dull haze of the morning light, the ?eene impressed one. as boinsr a miniature view of the mouth of tho nether regions. On arriving at the scene I gathered that the man in charge of the engine observed smoke issuing from the main shaft, and he at once stopped the engine and tried to communicate with the men in tho mine. No reply being returned to his signals, he concluded that the men were dead. He then proceeded to alarm the town. Tho mine manager was the first on the ground, and at once assumed command of operations. The fire brigade quickly followed wilb reel and hose. The hose was soon connected to u small pump, and a thin jet of water directed against the timber of the blazing derrick. After soma considerable effort Hie firo on the derrick wa.s subdued, but it appeared clear that this jet of water would have no effect in subduing the lire, in the shaft and that of the burning coal in the drive. J!y ibis lime more than .100 men had arrived on tho scene, and it was determined to cut a race about a quarter of a mile in length with an average dep'lli of Ift. In an incredibly short space of time men from tho railway lino, men from the dredges, shopmen and' clerks from the town—more than 100 in all—were working with intense energy to cut this piece of race. In an hour "and a-ha!f tho work was done—a record piece of racomaking.

In the meantime close on another 100 men were engaged in filling bugs with sand, with which to erect a dam-bank to cause the water to flow through the race. Other willing hands procured a- force-pump from the Alexandra Lead dredge, and proceeded to place it in position, as it was feared there would not be sufficient pressure from the race to force the water up to the roof of the drive. Hose connections wero made with the race, and the water directed into the hunting shaft. The lire in tho shaft was brought under in a few hours: In tho meantime, the tension of suspense of those on top had been relieved at about half-past 6, when tapping communication with the entombed men was set up. The manager went down the airshaftand signalled by means of laps on the line of piping in the mine, and four distinct answering taps were returned in reply. When this became known hope sprang into every heart, and stimulated ill to strenuous effort !o save the four men, who-o names arc S. Churchill, William King, I'. Kane, and A. Bruce. Of the four, Churchill is the only married man.

After the fire in the shaft had been subdued came tho dangerous work for brave men and experts, for to remain down at the bottom of the shaft for but a short time a man incurred a great risk, the air being so charged with carbonic acid gas that asphyxia, quickly followed. Yet the risk was taken. Man after man bravely descended into this inferno until collapso nearly set in, and were then brought to tho top and banded over to Dr Gregg's care, and ho applied artificial respiration and necessary stimulants. From 11 in tho morning until 10 at night this work went on. No sooner were volunteers called for to take a. turn than two would step forward, and with knit brow and sternly compressed lip they would take their place on tho rope, be lowered out of sight, do their work, and in from 20 lo 30 minut-en be drawn up again almost insensible. This being work for experts and men aceuaiutrxl with the mine, no others were allowed to descend tho shaft. It must be borne in mind that this rescue work of putting out tho fire in tlie <h-ive was carried on not from the main shaft, as it would have boon an impossibility for a. man to go down it and live, but from tho air shaft, closely adjoining, and meeting the main shaft at tho bollom. The rescuers know, from answering tans on the metal pipe, that the men were si ill alive, and this nerved them to redouble their exertions. They wore also heartened by the presence of the women, who cheered them hy word and look. The women also attended tho rescuers' wants with womanly tact and kindliness, and their efforts in this direction were most heartily appreciated. By 8 o'clock in the ovening hope became buoyant in the heart of the rescuers, who appeared never to tire, for the fire in the drive was being brought under control; but the deadly fumes were accumulating as bad as during any part of the day. Near 10 o'clock a dash—at least so lam informed—-was made through the deadly gas into the drive by three of the rescuers, who found the four men lying together. In trying to return the three succumbed to the fumes of Ihe gas, but gallant help camo to tho rescue, .and in a short time seven insensible men were brought to the surface. King, who had kept his heart up, and who had cheered his mates during the weary wait for rescue, showed some sign of life on lieing brought un, and the people gavo a cheer, but no cheer came forth when the other insensible men were brought up, as lookers-on surmised that they were dead. Willing hands, under the doctor's command, set. to work to restore respiralion and animation, and their efforts wcto crowned with success, The fight was over and won. For 17 hours the fighting went on, and gallantly was charge after chargo made against what, for a lime, seemed an un-. conquerable foe: but by indomitable perseverance- Ihe fight went on to a successful finish. We all exclaim with thankful hearts, "God bless tho gallant rescuers." A number of miners came down from Bannockburn and Clyde, and bravely did good work in risking their lives to bring about a rescue.