THE MT. LYELL COMMISSION,

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 December 1912, Page 5

THE MT. LYELL COMMISSION,

FURTHiER EVIDENCE

(United Press Association. —Copy-ieht.)

HOBART Bee. 16

At the Mount iLyell Commission, Stone. >a miner who- was working at the 700 ft level, testifiedl that it'was not possiblo fca- the men's clothes to oateh fire when waraning their billies at the steelhouse. Witness was informed by Burns that tho pumphaus was on fire. Witness told Grant, the timekeeper, nnd asked -him to get three doctors. Grant replied that ihe would telegraph to Murray.' 'Witness said "Never minid Murray. Get the doctors." Grant apparently telciphoned to Murray, reporting tho outbreak, and suggesting that doctors be procured. This was at 11.15 in the morning. Witness thought if the order h:a'd been given ■promipitly, the whole shift couldl have been saved. 'If there had been a man always in attendance at the 700 f- pumphou^e the fire could have been, extinguished. There was uo exit from the .lmnr* other than tho v'iha'ft. Witness considered that the men on the other side of the puniphnmo were cut off froan escape.

O'Connor, an engine driver, who had chargo of the hoist machinery, said <the first me.ssago stated t'ha-t ths p/umjphouse at tho 700 ft level «-.-.* afire. He (received the order to raise and lower the cage quickly. He got a message from below saying, "For God's sake keen the ervnpressGi- going, or we shall all be suffocated."