ONE BODY RECOVERED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2326, 29 September 1898, Page 18

ONE BODY RECOVERED.

AUCKLAND, September 26. Tho dsad body of Graham, one of the miners entombed in the Jubilee mine, was recovered on Saturday evening. It was hanging over a slab 3ft from the bottom of tho man holo leading from Christie's drive into the -Queen's drive. The unfortunata man had evidently known the means of exitr.'Tjut was suffocated before reaching the pure air in tho Queen's level. Wallace's body could not be recovered, and it is thought he must have endeavoured to escape by tho same level, as he entered — namely, Christie's — and was overcome by the smoke. Tho Jubileo miners and volunteers made desperate efforts to penetrate the mine in search of the lost miners, but they were driven back. Mr Barney, the mine manager, was lowored down the winze by means of a rope, and was hauled up in a fainting condition. Yesterday every opening which could admit air into tho mino was blocked up in order to extinguish the fire, and it is considered a week may elapso before the mine can be reopened. Messrs Coutts and Ryan, mining inspectors, were on the scene all Saturday afternoon and night, and everything possible was done to discover Wallace, but without avail. The search parties got up the second rise and" into the level where tho men had been working, but found it impossible to get along Christie's level towards tho fire. In any case it is probable that both men discovered the smoke long before it was felt by the engineer below, and endeavoured to escape before tho alarm was given below. Tbo sad fate of the two miners has cast v, gloom over Waitekauri, business being suspended, and indeed throughout the wholo district the fate of the unfortunate men is the sole subject of conversation. An inquest was proceeding this afternoon beforo Mr J. Nathan, acting coroner. Though all the outlets have been closed as fast as possible, smoke is still forcing its way through, and will no doubt continuo to do so for some time. Wallace's truo namo is Stevens. He is about 36 years of age, and hails from Tasmania. Ho has no relations here. Graham was a single man, 21 years of age. A brother resides in Waihi, and his parents in Otago. Graham had been working in tho district for two years, and at the Jubileo mino for a month.