Miners Suffocated.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 23, Issue 4, 16 January 1912, Page 7

Miners Suffocated.

Thames, Jan. 12. A fatality by which two men, James Williams, an elderly man, and Thomas Guy, 36 years of age, lost their lives, occurred in the May Queen mine today. Guy, with five other miners named Crawley, Adams, James, Vercoe, and Mulcahy, with G. Herivel as shift boss, were working in a stope above No. 6 level, which for years has been immune from gas, Williams was working on the leader in another part of the mine above the same level. Adams was sent for water for tbe drills, but soon returned shouting a warning that gas wgs in tbe level. The miners descended the ladder way and reached the level in safety, but the gas was present in great volumes, add soon one candle after another went out, until one solitary candle, held by Adams, remained alight. Soon this went out, and in tbe dark a deadly struggle ensued to reach the chamber above, where the fresh air flowed. Several fell on the journey, but all reached safety except Guy, Williams, and Crawley. Assistance was secured for tbe sufferers, who were all inja state of collapse, and they were sent to the surface. The' three men named could not be found, and a search was then made. Crawley and Guy were the first found. The former had evidently been overcome while endeavouring to rescue Guy, for he was supporting the latter’s heatL Both men were taken to the surface and artificial means of respiration used. Crawley recovered sufficiently to be taken to tbe hospital, but Guy died soon after reaching the surface. A search in the meantime was being made for Williams, and it was evident that he bad missed bis way in the darkness, for he was lying in a tunnel leading to the machine. He had also received a serious injury to the head. He was dead when brought to the surface. A pitiful scene ensued at the mouth of the shaft when the wives of the deceased men arrived.