THE DE BEERS MINING DISASTER

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2531, 29 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DE BEERS MINING DISASTER

Full Details

The following are fuller particulars of the fire in the De Beera mine (South Africa), mention of which was recently made in our cable messages :— The Diamond Field Advertiser gives the following account: —Between half-past six nnd

seven o'clock the skip supposed to bo, laden with men coming from the day shift was beiug drawn up from the 700 ft. level,

and when übout half way up tlio wire broke, and the skip was, it is presumed, precipitated io tho bottom. The skip would hold ten men, and it in only used by the whit) miners, the natives coming and going by tho ladder way, An exsim"iuati< n of thu rope where it parted Hhon-cd that it had been very much burnt and considerably reduced iu size. The rope, it may be mentioned, was practically a new ono, as it had only been in uso for eight days. Shortly after this accident smoke was seen issuing from the shaft, and in a few minutes it becamo evident that a fire was raging below. The fire bell was vigorously rung, and preparations were nude with a view to attempting the rescue of the hundreds of human beings who wez'o known to be underground. The smoke, however, became so dense in an incredibly short space of time, and it was soevident that the conflagration was rapidly spreading, that all hopes of rendering any assistance to the miners below through that shaft had to be abandoned. The news that a fire was raging at De Beer's very rapidly spread, and some thousands of persons congregated at the works. Various rumours were set" afloat as to the number of meu down in the mine, the lowest estimate being 500, the highest 1,500. We have reason to believe, however, that between 600 and 700, iucluding 60 or 70 whites, were below at the time. These comprised a part of the day and part of the night shift, for the change of shift had not baen completed when the outbreak was discovered. Seeing that all hope of effecting a rescue by either the shaft which wa3 in flames, or the new shaft, which had to be abandoned, a number of miners formed themselves into a relief party, with a view to rendering assistance to those entombed below. Ropes and lights having been secured, several men went down into these workings, and after a considerable time had elapsed at about a quarter past ten their efforts were rewarded by seeing a white man named Lewis, emerge from the tunnel. Ho appeared to be somewhat exhausted, but he was soon revived by partaking of some brandy which his comrades had provided. Lewis, it appears, was working at the 435 ft. level, which was not far off from where the shaft was on fire. Ho did not notice it, however, until a black boy, who was engaged with him, called, hie attention to another native below praying , . Lewis then descended to the 500 ft, level, where the smoke was so dense that ho had to beat a retreat. He then mado his way back to the 435 and out through tho old workings as described. Aiming those down in the workings was Mr Lindsey, the new underground manager, who lfs.s than three weeks ago succeeded Mr Gouldie. Just before 10 o'clock an electric bell signal was received from the 600

ft. level, but communication by telephone was interrupted, and no message could in consequence be sent down. It is impossible to say how the terrible disaster originated When the skip brought up a number of workmen at about 20 minutes past six there was not the slightest sign of tire, and the outbreak when it did occur very shortly afterwards must have spread very rapidly. At about 10 o'clock No. 1 shaft, where the fire was raging fiercely, caved in. Immediately thereafter the smoke, which was issuing from No. 2 became more dense. There being nothing further to be done in the top of the mine, the employes, who were doing their best in conjunction with the fire brigade, formed themselves into a party and descended into the open working to effect an entrance through the blue from the 380 feet level. It was impossible for the chief officers in any department to give an accurate list of the men entombed. Fotheringham, a well-known employe of the company, was the first man to descend into the open workings by means of a rope. The men who descended the mine in order to explore the neighbourhood of the Gemshaft found the smoke belching forth not only from the mouth of the shaft r itself, but from iatcraticos of the reef. It is reckoned that the fumes of the dynamite which was necessarily stored in the shaft, and also of the paraffin, mingled with the smoke from the burning timbers, would greatly increase the probabilities of the miners being suffocated. One of the six boys who escaped with Lewis says the only explanation ho can give of the affair is that he found the smoke all about him, and the next thing he remembered was that he was in the open air. The sad disaster, of course, created intense excitement amongst the thousands who gathered to witness it, and the greatest sympathy was expressed on every hand for those who had relatives or friends down the mine. It is conjectured that the fire originated through natives sleeping , for warmth in the rear of the engine house, and leaving burning candle ends on. the timbers. Rescues were effected by means of the old tunuel on the 3SO feet level leading into the open, workings.

Four hundred and eighty natives wero brought out alive. The rescue, party describe the sights as hideous and appalling-. Natives were found to have rushed to the ladders to save themselves and to have been suffocated, while white men wero seen and recognised iu all kinds of positions, many with blond flowing , from their mouths aud nostrils. "Tho main shaft," said one, "is from tho bottom up just a long , case of sardiuess." Allusion was being made to the fact that at the timo of the outbreak of the fire in No. 1 shaft wero two files of native boys ascending, and descending , , and whose common fate must have been suffocation, and then precipitation to the bottom. "At parts of the drive," said another eye-witness, "it was just like a battle-field." The smoke, in most instfince.H, must have swept along tho galleries with a speed that rendered escape impossible. Several survivors fell momentarily suffocated, once, twice, and even three times, before they struggled into the purer air. 'Yet, despite the awful terror that enveloped them so suddenly, the story of the disaster is filled with deeds of bravery and presence of mind.