MINERS GASSED

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1932, Page 6

MINERS GASSED

UNDERGROUND MANAGERS

OVERCOME IN FIRE AREA GALLANT RESCUE EFFORT

LIFE GIVEN FOE A MATE TWO FAMILIES BEREAVED

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Westport, Last Night. Two underground managers at the Westport Coal Company’s Millerton m i ne —William Lowden, a married man, and Joseph Edward Pfeffer, married, were gassed in the mine to-day. They went into the mine to put a plug in a water pipe behind, the stopping in the fire area, first trying a light on the other side of tho rope for safety reasons. Lowden went in first and was gassed, and Pfeffer, who went to his rescue, suffered a similar fate. Later gas masks were obtained and the bodies of both men were recovered.

Reports from Millerton. disclose that Pfeffer went to the mine with the intention of inserting a plug in a water pipe behind the stopping erected with a. view to holding in check or extinguishing a fire in that section of the. mine. The stopping is about 25 feet high. Lowden went through a man-hole over the stopping, but apparently was quickly overcome with gas. Pfeffer was sent for, and believing Lowden was still alive he went over the stopping to rescue Lowden. Pfeffer was affected by gas and, deciding to return, signalled to the men on top, but being completely overcome by gas released his hold on the rope and fell to the bottom also. A number of men ,with Proto masks later arrived on the scene, and James AlcArthur, mine manager from the Westport Coal Company’s Coalbrookdale mine, descended to where the bodies of the two underground managers were lying and brought them out. This was about 7 p.m. Gloom was cast'over the mining townships, where both men were well known and were held in high esteem. Lowden, who was 41 years of age, was born at Durham, England, and arrived at Millerton -22 years ago. He held various positions in the Buller district. He worked at both the Stockton and the Alillerton mines and. then took charge as manager at the Ferndale Collieries, Reefton. Later he was manager of the Cascade colliery and the underground manager at Alillerton. He leaves a wife and two daughters. His parents, four brothers and five sisters are still alive in England. Pfeffer, 43 years of age, was a native of Greta, New South .Wales. e Hc left there some four years ago and came to the West Coast- and had lived in this district since. He took part in local cricket and football at Granity and was in the Buller cricket team that played Greymouth for the Friend Cup. He is survived, by a family of six, four boys and two girls. The inquest will be opened to-morrow and adjourned until Tuesday.