MINING FATALITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11245, 12 January 1912, Page 5

MINING FATALITY.

TWO MEN SUFFOCATED

STRUGGLE FOR FRESH AIR

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

THAMES, Thursday

A fatality by which two men named James Williams (au elderly man) and Thomas Guy (of> years of age) lost their lives, occurred in the May Queeu Mine to-day. Guy, with five other miners named Orawlev, Adams, James, Vercoe, and Mulcliy, with G. Horivel as shift boss, wore working iv a slope above the No. (? level, which for years has been immune from gas. Williams was working on a leader in another part of the mine above the same level. Adams was sent for water for the drills, but soon returned, shouting a warning that gas was in the level. The miners descended the ladder wav, and reached the level in safety.

Gas was present in great, volumes, and soon one caudle after another went out, until a solitary candle held by Adams remained ignited.

"Soon this went out, and in the dark a deadly struggle ensued to reach the chamber above, where fresh air flowed. Several tell in rhe .journey, but all reached safety except Guy, Williams and Crawley. Assistance was secured, and the sufferers, who were all in a state ol collapse, wore sent to the surface. The three named could not be found. A search was then made, and Crawlev and Guv were first found. The former had evidently been overcome while endeavouring to rescue Guy, for be was supporting the tatter's head. Both were taken to the surface, and artificial means of respiration used. Crawley recovered sufticienly to be taken to' the Hospital, but Guy died soon after he reached the surface.

A search in the meantime was being made for Williams. Evidently be had missed bis way in the darkness, f r he was lying in the tunnel leading to tlie machine. Ho had also received a serious injury to the head. He was dead when brought to the surface. There was a pitiful scene at the mouth of the shaft when the wives or the deceased men arrived. A Coroner's inquiry was opened, and formal evidence, identifying the deceased men. was given. The. scene of the accident will be inspected to-morrow, after which the inquiry will be adjourned, as several important witnesses as to what caused the inrush of gas will be required.