ENTOMBED WORKMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7802, 5 September 1903, Page 4

ENTOMBED WORKMEN.

THE AIR PUMP AT WORK. While a gang of about ten men were engaged in excavating in the graving dock at Hebburn-on-Tyne, on. July 9, a heavy fall of earth occurred. Two of the number escaped, but the rest were all buried. Bescue parties were immediately set to work, and Jeremiah Moriarty, aged twenty-niue, was dug out. He was found by Dr Walker, who was present, to be suffering badly from shock, and wag removed to his home. The depth of the excavation was 27ft, and more than 15ft of clay was removed without any of the entombed men being reached. Owing, how- ' ever, to the fact that a. number of massive beams were fitted into the workings, the" debris seems to have been prevented from closing in upon them. Father Ryan, the Catholic curate, was early at the dockside, as most of the men were Irish, and, being permitted to descend into the chamber, he succeeded in holding a conversation with 1 John Monarty, from whom itiwas ascertained that three men were together at the east corner of the excavation, and were all alive. Endeavours were made to pump fresh air through the soil, and another man named Coffey was located. The affair naturally caused a great sensation in Hebburn, and the women relatives of men working at the dock during the afternoon gathered in large numbers along tie low road, waiting eagerly for information. The work of rescue was continued with great energy, and at six o'clock a second-man was extricated. It was supposed at this time that five were still imprisoned underground, but, as far as could be learned in conversation with one of their, number, they continued to suffer little inconveniences other than the want of fresh air. ___^