THE TASMANIAN MINE DISASTER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10481, 17 October 1912, Page 5

THE TASMANIAN MINE DISASTER.

A PATHETIC DISCOVERY. United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. Hobart, October IG. Fourteen of the survivors have been brought _to the surface. Six bodies were discovered in the Bjo feet level, standing erect round an air drill, as if they had been endeavouring to utilise it to obtain ai It is reported that altogether twenty-four dead l ave so far been found. DISGRACEFUL NEGLECT. Hobart, October IG. The official reason given for the •slowness in getting the cage into working order is that the skids arc out of repair. It is now understood •that the timbering of the shaft is so badly buckled as to liave partially fallen in, thus preventing ingress or •egress by that way. A BELATED METHOD. Hobart, October IG. The main shaft, being unavailable owing to the jammed cage, communication was established with the entombed through the engine winze, to which the rescued were brought and thenco hauled in buckets to the surface. . There is adverse comment on tins medium of rescue not having been Toractiscd earlier, instead of wasting efforts to release the cage The bad condition of the air when the winze was hauled through is probably the explanation of why brattices had to be" erected to improve the air, rendering progress very slow. The waiting crowd was impatient, and made a hostile demonstration •until they were assured that everything possible was being done. The telegraph service is badly overtaxed, and the officials are worn out. THE RESCUED. MORE BODIES FOUND. Thirty-four survivors have been brought to the surface. The majority are in good condition after their long entombment. They want food. It is reported that Go more deqd have been found in the 850 feet level, making 41 known to have succumbed. The rescuers report that they counted 17 in one heap there. Fifty—all those • alive—from the 1000 feet level have been brought safely to the surface. There was great excitement, and inany pathetic scenes as each batch arrived. Exploration of the other levels is proceeding There are gloomy forebodings as to the balance of the men. It is considered unlikely that any more will be rescued alive. Fumes are still bad, and exploration work is risky and slow. The return of ' the explorers of the •other levels is anxiously awaited. THE SAVED AND THE DEAD. Received October 17, 10 a.m. Melbourne, October 17. Ninety-live of the entombed are accounted for so far as follows: Rescued on Monday 4; saved at the 1000 feet level on Wednesday, |o0; dead 15; unaccounted for but feared to be dead, 26. A SURVIVOR’S STORY. ' Hobart, October 17.. A message from Gormanstown ffives an interview With Albert Mitchell, who was rescued from the 1000 feet level:—“I lay down to die twice. I kept myself alive by wetting my head; it was copper water that came from boles bored by the diamond drill. About fourteen men dropned in less than an hour. We douched them with water and turned compressed air on them. The caudles burned out on Sunday night, and then we were in darkness. yV e took turns to go to the shaft twice per shift for food. Four men went every time, for one was sure to dron. We thought every minute we would go. We could feel the gas and hail only copper water to drink, but this saved our lives. Wright, soon after the alarm, said Come on, Mitch ! We will walk the ladders. ’ I replied; ‘No the air is too strong.’ Wright went away and I never saw him again. Riley -went out of the stope without saying a word to anyone. Some fellows who were the heartiest and seeming the strongest were the first to drop on account ot the fumes which took them, and all of a sudden their legs seemed to. drop under them. ’ ’ Praise is awarded to John Ryan, •shift boss, for his fine leadership. He kept many in the shelter of the ■stope when they were anxious to attempt to reach the surface. WILLING AND BRAVE RESCUERS. Interviewed at Gormanstown Mr W Jamieson, chairman of directors, said:—“l am delighted with the rescue work. » The thing has been done as "well as human endeavour could have done it. There was no. trouble to got the work done and danger was not shirked by the men, . who behaved like heroes. You had only to ask a man to walk straight into the mine, filled as it was with poisonous gas, and half-a-dozen would step forward. Everything is being done "to explore the 850 level thoroughly. Before we brought up the men from the 1000 feet level we asked them whether we should leave them there and search the 850 feet level before rescuing them, but they unanimously decided to be rescued first. They felt, as we and as everyone fool, that the unfortunates in the 850 level are all dead. However, there may be one or two alive who have existed without food. Every endeavour is being made to locate them speedily. ’ ’ THE COMPANY’S LOSSES. The Company’s losses are estimated at £200,000, mainly owing to the stoppage for some weeks.

DEAD IE 350 FEET LEVEL. Received October 17, 1 p.m. Hobart, October IT. Gormanstown advices state that the search uarty returned from the 850 feet level at midnight. Ten bodies were found, making the total dead 2(5. There arc stilj 22 missing. The iron oxide gas in Ko. 22 stone vas very bad. The investigations were interrupted by fatigue and will be resumed to-day, ANOTHER SURVIVOR'S STATEMENT, McCoy, who was rescued from the 1000 feet level, stated that when the men realised that the mine was afire one rushed to the air coca and turned it on and the air drove the smoke back, and held it at the shaft. All made towards No. 40 stope, which they managed to reach. On Saturday night Riley tried to get to the shaft as wo were very hungry and anxious, fearing that the air which we switched into the drive to keep the smoke back might give out. Riley only got fifty yards when he fell dead.’ Eater three others tried but they never came back, it must have been Sunday morning when the gas began to beat toe air pipes and come on to the stope, the smoke "being driven away but eddying bacii off the draught. Then men began to drop like ninepins. I came to with men dashing cold water on me. Ryan at a critical moment turned the pipes into the stope in * stead of clown the drive as we had them, and the air dashing against the rock rebounded and diove the smoke away. Just previously Kyau addressed the men, saying . is no hope we will die bravelythose conscious had sat back against the rook prepared for death. Ihcm Ryan got" the idea that saved us.