KAITANGATA MINING DISASTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 14

KAITANGATA MINING DISASTER.

Caused by a Naked Light.

Thirty-four Lives Lost.

A terrible disaster—probably the worst of its kind in New Zealand—occurred in the Kaitangata mine on Friday, February 21, 1870, and as a result 34 men and boys lost their' lives. Shortly after 9 a.m. that day the residents of Kaitangata noticed a dense column of smoke issuing from the mine, and many of them hastened to the scene, knowing that something very serious must have happened. It appears that there was hardly any report, but a boy named Edward Dunn, who, was entering the mine, was thrown out of it by the explosion, and was hurled a distance of about 20 yards. A horse and six empty trucks were projected a similar distance from the mouth of the mine. Another lad named James Hawke, who noticed smoke and dust coming from the pit, was blown a considerable distance while trying to escape, and ho fell into a slight hollow without sustaining injury. Dunn was killed instantly, and his body was badly lacerated. The horse was badly injured, but was not killed.

Without delay the men from the neighbouring pits organised a party with the object of rescuing the men in the mine or recovering their bodies, and simultaneously the women and children assembled at the mouth of the pit. When the extent of the disaster was realised the scene at the mouth of the mine was indescribably sad. The women and children, who were huddled on a hillock, gave vent to their anguish by heart-rending cries, but only the children were able to find relief in tears. The fact that some 20 women realised that they had probably spoken to their husbands for the last time, and that the bread-winners of about 100 children were most likely dead will give some idea of the feelings which sought expression in such a tragic manner. All the miners assembled were ready to do their utmost, even at the peril of their own lives, to rescue their comrades if possible. Messrs W. Shore, E. M. Sewall, Aitchison, and others entered the mine, and in the meantime an engine had been despatched to Balclutha for Dr Smith, and telegrams had been sent to other places asking for assistance.

The rescue party made slow progress, as, though only two falls had been caused by the explosion, the drives had been cleared of the brattices, which were necessary for ventilation purposes. These had to be replaced with canvas, otherwise the men could not have lived in the mine for five minutes. As it was several men were nearly suffocated, and had to be dragged up to the pit mouth. They were in a deplorable state when they reached the open air, but fortunately they recovered in about a quarter or half an hour. Before very long it was found that the after-damp following the explosion was very bad, and all hope of rescuing the men was then abandoned. At 0.23 p.m. three bodies were recovered. The first was that of a young man named Charles M'Donald, and it was so badly scorched that at first the victim’s father did not recognise him. The body was subsequently identified by the clothing. The next bodies identified were those of William Hay and Edward Bcardsmore. These men had not been hurt by the explosion, but, like the remainder of the victims, had met their death through the presence of after-damp in the mine. About an hour later operations had to be suspended on account of the foul air, but after a short rest the men set to work again, and by 7 p.m. 16 more bodies had been recovered, while four others bad been seen in the workings. About 6.45 p.m. Mr Samson (Mayor of .Green Island) and some 24 miners from the Green Island pits arrived by special train, and relieved the men who had been at work. By an early hour on the following morning all the bodies had been recovered except two, and these two were got out on the Sunday morning.

Most of the bodies were found pretty close together in the main intake for the air about 300 yards from the mouth of the drive. It was considered most probable that when the explosion occurred they were trying to mate their escape when they were overtaken by the afterdamp and suffocated. The bodies were removed to the Bridge Hotel, and the scene there on the following morning when the relatives were \ permitted to identify the dead is described as heart-rending in the extreme, wives and children going from room to room to find a lost husband and father with sobs, moans, and the most deeply affecting expressions of grief. The body of Archibald Hodge (deputy manager of the mine) was .found in the middle part of some workings which had for a long time been separated from the present workings by a wooden door, which was supposed to be constantly locked, and the key of which was in Hodge’s possession. His body and face were severely scorched, and his clothes from the waist upwards had been burnt off him.

All the victims except two (whose remains were intered at Dunedin were buried at Kaitangata two days after the disaster occurred. Each of six drays had to make two trips to convey the bodies to the cemetery, where 28 graves had been prepared in two rows. Around the craves about 1500 people assembled, including visitors from Dunedin, Milton, Balclutha, and Stirling. The following verdict was returned at the inquest“ That Archibald Hodge, through entering the old workings without ordinary precautions and with a naked light, caused an explosion of fire damp, whereby 34 men and boys lost their lives.’’ The jury found that Archibald Hodge had hot'used the necessary precautions to prevent an explosion of fire damp in the mine, over which he had the management. A rider was added pointing out that there no law for inspection and supervision in the conduct of mining, and expressing the necessity for measures being adopted whereby many accidents might be averted in the future. A workman named Hunter was exceptionally fortunate that day. He should have been at work in the morning, but he slept, and did not get to the mine before the explosion occurred. Five members of th» Beardsmore family were employed in the mine, and no fewer than four of them were at work when the disaster occurred. Most of the married men who perished left young families. One woman (Mrs Molloy) who was about 60 years of age, lost her husband and two sons, and was left without a relative in the district. Immediate steps were taken to provide relief for the sufferers. Hearings were held in various parts of New Zealand, and a substantial sum was raised for the assistance of those whose bread-winners had been taken away so suddenly. Of late years, however,' the number of those who had claims on the found has become very small.