MINE DISASTER

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 222, 8 December 1926, Page 8

MINE DISASTER

INQUEST OPENED. (Per Press Association.) GKEYMO UTH, Monday. An inquest concerning the Dobson tragedv was opened in Greymouth today by the coroner. Mr Meldrum. Sen-ior-Sergeant P. J. McCarthy conducted the proceedings, and Mr J. AY. Hannan represented the Grey Valley Colliers. Ltd. John Siuealon. miner, Dobson, said that about A 55 p.m. on December 3 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 mouiith of the mine and retired to a small cabin, where a coal lire was burning, about half a chain from the line .of the dip. They had been sitting in the cabin, about 1minutes when they heard a terrific explosion. After a flash like lightning, a smaller explosion followed a few seconds later. He went out to investigate after the debris had stopped falling. He said to his mates: “1 think the boiler lias blown up.” They found the boiler all right. Witness then wondcred whether the powder magazine had gone. Nimmo reached the magazine first and sung out that it was safe. Witness turned in the direction of the mine mouth and said: “O God, the mine 's gone.” He'■’then sent Nimmo for the mine manager and underviewer. Acting under the instructions of the manager, witness took charge of the mine mouth and later led a party into theniine. Witness was tied on 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 witness heard mon moaning. Witness 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 Asli ton he would be allright and asked him to lift Ins leg over some timber in the road, as he was so badly burned that witness handling him -would give great pain. The rest of the rescuers arrived and. Ashton wasplaced 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 James Richards, mine deputy, was lying dead. The men were all in the winch chamber, whore they wouid have their crib. Witness later identified the four men, whom he knew. The senior-sergeant stated that he did not intend to call further evidence meanwhile, and the inquest, was adjourned sine die.