DOBSOW TRAGEDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16209, 6 December 1926, Page 13

DOBSOW TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON VICTIMS A GRAPHIC STORY "OUT GOD THE MINE'B CONE" jper Press Association.) GREYMOCTH, this day. Tho inquest concerning tho Dcbson tragedy was opened at Ureymouth to-day by the coroner, Mr. E. Meldrum, S.M. Senior-Sergeant I'. J. McCarthy conducted the proceedings, and Mr. J. W. llannau represented the Grey Valley Collieries, Ltd. John Seaton, a miner at Dobson, said that at about 2.55 a.m. on December 3 lie left the bottom of the main haulage dip and came to the top for another load of material. On reaching the top he said to his two mates thatthey could make it: crib time, as they would liot have time to go down with another load. They left the mouth of the mine and retired! to a snt.ill cabin, where a coal tiro was burning. They had been sitting in the cabin for about 12 minutes when they heard a terrific explosion after a flash like lightning. A smaller explosion followed a few seconds later. He went out to investigate. After the debris stopped falling lie .said to his mates, "1 think the boiler has blown up," They found the boiler all right. Witness then -wondered whether the powder magazine had gone. Nimmo reached the magazine first and sung out that it. was safe. Witness turned in the direction of the mine mouth and said: "Oh, God, the mine's gone." Witness then sent Nimnio for the mine manager and underviewcr. Acting under the instructions of the manager witness took charge of the mine mouth, and later led a party into tho mine. Witness was tied on the end of the repp, with the manager, Nimmo, and Watkins, next in that order. About half a chain from the bottom of the stone clip witness heard men groaning. Witness released himself from the rope and went to the winch-house, where lie found Ashton standing up against the drum of tho air winch. He was fearfully burned, and was groaning and moaning. Witness told Ashton that he would be all right, and asked hiih to lift his leg over some timber iuf the. road as be was .so badly burned 1 that witness handling him would give Him great pain. The rest of the rescuers arrived, and. Ashton was placed on a stretcher and taken to the surface. Witness then went, a few feet info the cabin behind the electric? winch and found the driver, Robert Hunter, lying on his back, terribly burned. Two feet further away John Lindsay lay, and about four feet away jas. Richards, the mine deputy was lying dead. The men were all in the winch chamber where they Mould have their crib. Witness i.dcr identified the four men, whom he knew*. The senior-sergeant stated that he did not intend to call further evidence meanwhile, and the inquest was adjourned sine die.