A MINER'S HEROISM.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12545, 22 May 1909, Page 1

A MINER'S HEROISM.

. I , The followiiig account of a Tynej side miner's heroism has been "forwarded to the Home Office : — 1 J. Thompson, hewer, was working in the Ann Pit, Walker, with another hewer named" Carr, when a fall of stone occurred. Carr shouted and the two men succeeded in avoiding the fall, -which,- however, broke Thompson's lamp. The naked light ignited the gas which had been liberated by. the fall of the roof, and an explosion followed, from which Thompson and Carr were badly burnt— the latter so badly that he died soon afterwards. . Partly sheltered in a nook, Thompson then saw to his horror that from the hollow from which the fall had come away there was a jet of gas fed from a fissure in the roof. The roof continued to "work," promising another fall. In the pit there were hundreds of men working, and Thompson knew that a second fall would be followed by a much more serious explosion unless that, jet of flame was extinguished. Though suffering acutely from his burns and realising that he risked his life by venturing 'under the dangerous portion of the ihinc, Thompson ' climbed painfully up to the top of- the first fall aud with his cap extinguished the flame. This accomplished he made his way to the shaft. His injuries were so severe that some time must elapse ere he can return to the pit. •.-'-.