TWO MEN BURIED BY COAL

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1930, Page 11

TWO MEN BURIED BY COAL

DISASTER IN ROTOWARO MINE

SEVERAL HEAVY FALLS OF STONE

RESCUERS HEARD CRIES AT FIRST

ONE OF THE BODIES RECOVERED

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Auckland; Last Night.

A double fatality occurred at Rotovvaro coalmine this afternoon when two men working together in a shaft were buried by heavy falls of stone. The victims were Thomas Hart, aged 31, married, of Huntly, and John W. Yates, aged about 40, married, of Kimihia. Working unceasingly, a relief party recovered the body of Hart about two hours after the occurrence. The body of Yates was not recovered at a late hour this evening, further falls having impeded the work of the party. The victims were engaged in hewing coal when suddenly the roof fell in, overwhelming both. Rescue parties were organised and immediately set to work to extricate the bodies. Hart’s body was recovered after strenuous work. The., searchers heard moans immediately after the fall, but those ceased when further coal fell.