FALL OF EARTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3085, 30 April 1913, Page 10

FALL OF EARTH.

ACCIDENT AT LAKE COLERIDGE. CHRISTCHURCH, April 24. Early on Tuesday morning a fall of earth occurred in the Lake Coleridge tunnel at the outlet end, which resulted in the entombing of two of the workmen— Sydney Chamings and Peter Petersen, who were rescued after strenuous efforts eight hours later. The fall occurred at a spot that has been giving trouble since the work started. An alarm was at once raised, and a message was despatched to the Resident Engineer (Mr Kissell), who hurried to the scene of the mishap and took charge of the rescue operations. A gang of men assembled and began to work with might and main to bore through the intervening soil and shingle to reach their mates. Nothing could be heard from the interior of the tunnel, and it was feared that the men had succumbed. By eight o’clock a. small pipe was driven through to the tunnel, and then the sound of knocking was heard. Efforts were made to speak to the men, but without success. A larger pipe was then forced through, and communication was established before mid-day and food passed through the pipe to the men. Meanwhile rescue gangs plied picks and shovels, and by two o’clock an aperture was made large enough for the men to crawl though. It was then seen that they had sustained no injury. W#rk will be started again in the tunnel as soon as the fall is cleared and the roof closed up safely.