MINE DISASTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 3 December 1926, Page 5

MINE DISASTER.

> . The names .are,: — James Richards, deputy, single, aged IP 40. Erie Ashton, trucker. Kobert 'Hunter, winch driver. Thomas Black, miner. •John Lindsay, miner. Edward Partington, miner. Alfred Xoakes, miner. Ernest Brammcr, miner, aged 40, married. James Marshall* The explosion was of terrible force, and wrecked the telephone and telegraph wires, and threw debris a distance of a quarter of a mile. Truck wheels were hurled from the minemouth. The fan of the mine was re-started at 430 a.m. Soon after a number of men descended the Shaft in order to attempt a^ecscuc. Jn thlMfeantime word was sent to the managers of the Blackball mine and the State colliery. Rescue apparatus was located at Runanga, and workers were summoned from Blackball. Most of the men entombed were comparatively new arrivals in the district. The Dobson mine is known to be rather gaseous. The first news of the disaster had to be brought by car to Greymoufh, owing to the interruption of the wires. When the fans were re-started hopes' were raised that the rescue of the entombed men at the faces might be effected. There were five men engaged at the face when the explosion took place, while three were trucking. Subsequently two bodies were recovered, those of Richards and Hunter. Ashton and Lindsay were rescued, and sent to the Greymouth Hospital. The five others were still entombed at 5.30, with little hope of rescue. N ’ ANOTHER EXPLOSION FEARED. WELLINGTON, This Day. A te tear am has been received by the secreta?(R)f the Post Office from the Postmaster at Greymouth, giving similar details to those of the mosage already sent, but adds that a tenth man, unnamed, is missing, and that another explosion is feared. A LUCKY ESCAPE. 7 GREYMOUTH, This Day. Two explosions occurred. The first was the greater, and was heard at Runanga, six miles away. Much surface damage was done. Heavy colliery wheels were blown 400 yards away, and a- 20-ton concrete block at. the mijie entrance shifted a few yards. ,

TERRIBLE EXPLOSION. Miners Entombed. ((By Telegraph-Press Association.;* GREYMOUTH, This Day. A.t .3.10 ©’dock this morning a disastrous explosion occurred at thekßobson mine. Hie night shift were in the mine at the time. They munbered nine, and all were entombed.

Houses at DobSon had. their roofs pierced, and windows were broken by the falling debris. The causq of the explosion is unknown, and, it is believed, never will be. The rescue party cannot get beyond the main dip of 1200 feet in the mine, where 'the workings sharply turn. At this point four men were found, viz., Richards, Hunter, Ashton and Lindsay. The other men are further in, and until the gas clears nothing can be done for the entombed men.

The fan working the mine engine was stopped through fear of a further explosion. ,). Rm eat on, with two other miners, forming a 'tunnelling party, had a lucky escape. They came out of the mine two minutes before 'he explosion to have their “crib.” It was 1 the fir'. 1 time they had thus come out for nearly a fortnight. Marshall, one of the entombed, attended the Grey Baud’s solo competitions last evening, and was given special leave to play'first in order to got back to Dobson for his night shift. He ivos ultimately placed first in the euphonium solo contest, with 90 marks out of a possible 100, the judge remarking on his outstanding performance. AN UNFORTUNATE FAMILY. GREYMOUTH, This Day. Richards resided at Taylorsville. His father and an uncle lost their lives in the Brunner mine explosion 30 years ago. Two brothers were killed in the war. Richards was dead when the res‘cuers reached him. Hunter, who was taken out alive, but in a hopeless condition,-died' soon after six o’clock. Up was a prominent local Methodist, and was' a nephew of C. Hunter, formerly manager of the Dobson mine. Erie Ashton was removed to the hospital. lie formerly resided at Ashburton, and jo.ined the mine staff three weeks ago as a trucker. He was semiconscious when rescued, and kept repeating “I’m cold.” He was terribly ' burned.' Jack Lindsay was similarly injured, and was totally unconscious. Both are in a critical condition. A pathetic circumstance in connection with Thomas-Black (entombed) is that his wife is an inmate of a nursing home with a few-days-old twins. Mrs Black’s father was killed some months ago at the Dobson mine. Marshall is a married man with two children. Noakes is married, but has* no family. Brammer is married, but has no family. Bardington is a single man.