DOBSON MINE DISASTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 December 1926, Page 5

DOBSON MINE DISASTER.

STORY OF HEROISM.' HEROIC RESCUERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, Monday. A simple story of heroism was told at the inquest on the victims of the Dobson mine disaster. Every man volunteered to go to the rescue of their •comrades, and difficulty was experienced in keeping them back. Flooding operations arc in progress. The 'burning mine is belching out dense volumes of smoke. No further explosions have occurred at the burning Dobson mine since yesterday morning. Water from the Grey river is being pumped by* electrical power into the mine at the rate of 80,OOOgallons per hour. The additional pump was installed at an early hour this morning. The distance from the site of the pumps at the Ge-ry river to filie entrance of the air-shaft where the pipe lines are connected to the mine is 160 ft.

Since flooding operations were put in hand dense black volumes of smoke and steam have been belching from the mouth of the air-shaft and fan-house, creating a smoke curtain across .the main Grey road, where it passes the mouth of the drive.

When engaged in erecting the second electrical pump, at the Grey river, Mr Gordon McKay, of the National Eiectical Engineering Company, and his assistants had a thrilling experience. While the work was proceeding at about 1.30 o’clock this morning, thick smoke and gaseous fumes feiudcPenly belclu'd out of the mouth of the airdrive, completely enveloping the party, who succeeded in making their escape in the direction of Wallsend. The smoke and fumes from the burning mine blanketed the road and railway line for a ■couple of hours, during which, the work had to be suspended. .. THE INQUEST. The inquest concerning the Dobson mine tragedy, was opened at Greymoutli to-day by the Coroner, Mr W. Meldrum, S.M. .John Smeaton, miner, of Dobson, said that about 2.55 a.m. on December 3rd he left the bottom of the main haulage dip and came to the top for another load of material. On reaching the top he said to his .two mates that they" could make it “crib” time! as they would not have time to go down with another load. They left the mouth of the mine and retired to a small cabin where a coal fire was burning. The cabin was about half a chain from,the line of dip. They had been sitting in the cabin about twelve minutes when they heard a terrific explosion after a flash like lightning. A smaller explosion followed. lie went out to investigate after the debris stopped falling, and said to his mates: “1 think the boiler has blown up.” They found the boiler all right. \\ itness then wondered whether the po\\ dor magazine had. gone. Nimmo reached the magazine first and sung out it was safe. Witness .turned in the of the mine mouth and said: “Oh, God, the mine’s gone.” He then sent Nimmo for the mine manager, Mi Hughes, and the under-viewer. Acting under the instructions of the manager, witness .took charge of the mine mouth and later ltd the party into the mine. Witness was tied oil the end of a rope with the manager, Nimmo and Watkins next in that; order. About half a chain from the bottom of the stone dip he heard men moaning. He released himself from the rope and went to the winch house where he found Ashton standing up against the drum of the air winch. He was fearfully burned and was groaning and moaning. Witness told Ashton that he would be all right and asked him to lift his leg over some timber which was in the road as lie was so badly burned that witness, in handling him, would give great pain. The rest of the rescuers arrived and Ashton was placed on a stretcher and taken to the surface. Witness then went a few feet into the cabin behind the electric winch and found the driver, Robert Hunter, lying on his back terribly burned. Two feet further away was John Lindsay, and about four feet away Jas. Richards, mine deputy, lving dead. The men were a’l in the winch chamber where they would have their “crib.!’ Witness later identified the bodies of the men whom he knew. Senior-Sergeant McCarthy" stated that he did not intend to call further evidence in the meanwhile, ami the inquest was adjourned sine die. Mr Smeaton, who is president of the Grey Valley" Miners’ Lnion, played a heroic part in the rescue Work, and selected the first rescue party to enter the mine after the tragic explosion, the members of the party being Messrs J. Hughes, mine manager, J. Smeatui;, ,B. Watkins, T. Hallman, E. Damlo, and Alt*. Edwards. In conversation with a reporter, Mr Smeaton said that every miner on the scene vohuiteced to enter the mine to assist in the rescue work. He also paid a tribute to the thirteen Italians engaged at the mine, who willingly came forward to give every assistance within their power. Every man realised the danger, but there was not a quitter amongst them. In fact, said Mr Smeaton, precautions had to be taken to keep the gallant fellows from entering the mine to assist in the rescue of their comrades. The stoppings used for sealing the mine at both entrances have been removed. Jt is not probable, in the event of further explosions, that any serious seurface damage will eventuate. The scene of the disaster continues to attract a large numb’d" of visitors. Both entrances to the mine ar guarded to prevent curious spectators from venturing too close to the dnnge zone. Smoke and steam were hissing from the mouth of the air-shaft this evening, whilst

dense clouds of smoke, issuing through the fanhousc, gave the locality the appearance of a thermal region. Although it is impossible to estimate the ihavoc wrought by the explosion to the underground workings, the mines on the Brunner field are noted for their solid roofs, and it is generally believed that the damage to the underground sections has not been very s'erious. At a preliminary meeting held at Greymouth, proposals were discussed regareling relief for the dependents of the victims. It was decided to make preliminary arrangements, and to issue subscription lists, and that a. public meeting be convened to arrange for the administration of the funds raised. It was decided to circularise , alii the borough and county councils throughout Xew Zealand appealing for assistance for the relief fund.