A MINE ON FIRE.

Patea Mail, Volume XI, Issue 109, 26 September 1898, Page 3

A MINE ON FIRE.

Auckland, September 24. A terrible accident has occurred at the Jubilee mine, Waitekauri. At 10 o’clock last night the smokestack of the engine, which is really a timbered rise from the moonstone level to the surface, caught fire. Dense volumes of smoke filled the intermediate level, where two miners were working putting Up the rise, and they are said to be suffocated. The mine is still on fire. Further particulars show that the names of the men suffocated in the rise of the Waitekauri 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. Manager Barney, on the alarm being given, took’prompt measures to extingusih the fire which, from the fact that the chamber containing the engine is situated 500 feet in from 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 have been extinguished, but the levels are still too full of smoke to permit 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 passed through Paeroa to the scene of the casualty. Air compressors are at work, and hopes are entertained of the men’s recovery. It appears that sparks 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 cared iu, entombing the two men working on the face. gome doubt is expressed as to whether Wallace’s mate is* named Brennan or Graham. It is probably the latter, and it is a singular coincidence that he was working with poor young McGregor in the Jubilee shaft at time the latter was kdled. It was ouly a few days ago he was i’ejuoved to work in the rise. Further particulars show that Wallace and Graham were driving from a rise, which had been put up. The surface level is 62 feet below the surface, and the drive was in a distance of 30 feet. Dense volumes of smoke are ascending from the rise, and though it is impossible for the rescue party to descend without smokedackets, it is yet thought possible that the fierce draught up the rise 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 ia being shovelled down the smoko