RESCUERS AT WORK

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8495, 29 July 1933, Page 2

RESCUERS AT WORK

AMBULANCE BRIGADE AND MINERS FINE SERVICE RENDERED “Congratulate members on the excellent work performed and extend my sympathy to the sufferers” was the text of a telegram received by the secretary (Mr S. R. Birse) of the Waihi branch of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, from Mr Langstone, superintendent of the Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulance Association and read to members at their practice meeting on Thursday evening. A “Telegraph” representative who happened to be present took the opportunity of having a chat with Mr T. G. Williams, superintendent of the corps, and members who rendered valuable services during the rescue work. Private A. Roberts, who was in his parents’ home in Junction road at the time of the accident, stated that at about 4.15 o’clock he was startled by a loud report and for a moment thought it was the explosion of the steam boiler at No. 2 shaft. Hurrying outside he saw his father in the garden and was informed by him. that he had just witnessed the extraordinary spectacle of timber flying in the air In the vicinity of the shaft. Private Roberts, followed by his father, set off at a run and when nearing the shaft noticed that the steel rope had gone from one of the drums at the top of the poppet head and heard a loud hissing noise as of escaping air, which it transpired came from broken air pipes caused by the impact of the great steel rope.

PROMPT PREPARATIONS At the shaft he was joined by Honorary Sergeant Birse and Private W. McConachie. The trio quickly learned that a cage full of men had hurtled down the shaft and horrorstricken they for the moment stood by helplessly. Then they made for the shaft, where again they stood by until joined by Drs. Hetherington and Bridgman, to whom they offered their services. They were then joined by Superintendent Williams and Private Kingsford and the medical men said they would be pleased to have their help. When the news came up that the cage with its livingfreight had been located in the shaft a little above No. IS level and that all the men were alive, Messrs Birse and McConachie, along with the two doctors, entered a cage and descended, followed shortly afterwards by Sueprintendent Williams, Private Roberts and ex-servicemen W. Holdsworth and J. Talbot, taking with them splints, Lowmoor jackets and other necessary first-aid equipment. Preparations were made promptly by the medical men in the shaft chamber to receive the injured and many willing helpers were already on hand, including a picked crew of experienced shaftsmen who were nearing the completion of the task of gaining access to the cage, which was firmly jambed and resting on a 12 by 12 inch hardwood wall plate about 30 feet above the chamber. Idle work involved the cutting away of a section of the shaft timber and the erection of a platform around the cage in order to get the injured men out.

; AN ARDUOUS TASK Meanwhile miners had erected three platforms at the back of the chamber on which to place the men for medical examination and attention. Everything was in readiness when the first two men, Arnold and Thornton, were brought down from the cage into the chamber, from whence, after being given the necessary attention, they were taken along th drive to No. 4 shaft, a distance of about a quarter of a mile. Then followed at intervals the lowering from the cage in a “bosun’s chair”, pre-mu’f-f] by shaftsman Hartwell, of the more seylouuiy injured men. These were) 1 n turn transferred from the chair to the platforms, where they received skilled attention. In this work the services of the ambulance members were available, and willing stretcher-bearers were ready on hand to convoy the men to the waiting cage at No. 4 shaft. The task of the shaftsmeu and Do. Bridgman in extricating the victims from the twisted and cluttered up cage, strewn with broken pieces of timber and iron and covered by the heavy wire rope, was a difficult and ardous one. Under these extremely awkward conditions it was found necessary to render the injured first aid before moving them. However, the rescue work was accomplished in a manner that reflected the utmost credit on all concerned. Other members of the St. John Ambulance llrigpdc were stationed at tho top of the shaft and topic ' p t arj; in carrying the injured to ‘ the'ambulance or cars, for their removal to'tlfe hospital, where the medical superintendent, Dr. Hetherington, had gone to receive the more serious cases and where everything was in readiness for them.