NIGHTCAPS MINE FIRE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8846, 24 June 1907, Page 3

NIGHTCAPS MINE FIRE.

I PitifUl Scenes. Per Press Association. i Invekcarqiil. June 23. I Tha Southland Times' correspondent advises that ever since the Nightcaps Mine caught fire over four years ago [" there has been more or less trouble in keeping it in check. About midnight preceding the tragedy the fire became troublesome and by 6 a.m. had got out of control ilnd dense volumes of smoko ißaiicd from the workings. At 7 a.m. a report was received that four men were entombed, and a rescue party was organised. Abonfc 7.40 they reached the bottom, of the dip with groat difficulty and found Jardine (who tried to remove Duncan's body) lying nearly dead between J the rails of the road. Duncan's body was found a few yards away. In .further search two or three members of the search party were overcome by damp and had to bo carried out. The search for Welsh and Carson had therefore to be abandoned until air could be pumped into the mine. At 7.30 p.m: the search was resumed. and Welsh was found lying face down. He had been bleeding at the nose, indicating a heavy fall. His trousers were burnt in one place and one leg slightly charred. Carson's body was found a little further up tho dip. Both had evidently been on their way out when the damp overpowered them. Duncan died trying to savo others and Jardino nearly died trying to save Duncan.

There were pitiful scenes round the pit mouth where women and crowds gathered. The fire is still burning, but the workers ore hopeful of stopping it.