A SERIES OF TELEGRAMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 807, 3 May 1910, Page 6

A SERIES OF TELEGRAMS.

THE FIRST NEWS IN WELLINGTON. MESSAGES TO MESSES. JOHN • M'LEAN AND CO. The following telegram was received by Messrs. John M'Lean and Co., Ltd., yesterday morning:— Bealey, '9.1 a-m.—Tunnel fell in. Fear great loss of life Bescuers -were caught with a second fall. The next message camo from Otira (which is conneoted with Bealey by telephone) at 11.30 a.m. It read as, follows:— Face length timber No. 2 break-up at Bealoy fell this morning and caught five men, three of whom were got out, when next length fell on five rescuers. A total number of five have been got out, variously injured, and five others are caught under timber, of whom three are aHv©. The term "break-up" used in connection with . tunnelling work . means the point at which the , first drive or tunnel is being widened out to tho full width of the tunnel. The face length timber which is reported to have fallen is that used to timber tho tunnel prior to the widening-out process. From this message it would seem that breaking was in progress in two places, and the "No. 2 breakup" would mean the one farthest in the tunnel. The "next length" which fell upon the rescuing party would be the distance between the two "toms" next to the fall-away, and would , doubtless be caused by the sudden displacement of the earth close by. Messrs. M'Lean and Co. received the following telegram from OtiTa (handed in at 2.5 p.m.):— J. MTCeich, broken leg; J. Shait t broken ankle; J. Mahoney and C. Bray, bruised shoulders and-' backs. Still in tunnel:— J. Doyle, J. Dnggan, C. Beamor, G. Pitts, A. Band. The following telegram, dispatched from Otira at 5.50 p.m. yesterday, was received by Mr. Neil M'Lean (Wellington) last evening:— ' Three men in sight; apparently not much hurt; expect to get them out in about an hour. Subsequently Mr. M'Lean received the following telegram:— Two of the remaining five have been rescued, and appear to be suffering •• more or less from shock. . A' thirdji ■ named Beemor, is in view, jammed by the legs.: The other two, : who.-were.;.! thought to be dead, hare been heard knocking on the air-pipes, and it was ; probable that no lives may be lost, ■ These two will be got out in the ■: morning. The latest telegram received by Mr. M'Lean ie timed 8.5 pan., and was as follows: — Pitts and Beard rescnal, suffering from shock only. Can get hold of Beamer, but his legs are pinned down. Hope to havo him out in about an hour. Can hear Doyle and Ducgan tapping on water-pipe. Putting in drive at 58' miles 8 chains (e.g., about four chains from the last drive). Hope to have men out early tomorrow morning. •■ Mr. Jllean explained to a Dominion representative that the drive being put in at tho .back of the fall would bo about 30 feet long. With this message, all the five men entombed were accounted for, and there was strong reason for hoping that they would all be rescued. There would be no trouble about air, because the men could turn on the taps on the air-pipes, which would be uninjured, and get all the air they required. POST OFFICE TELEGRAMS. The first message forwarded to the secretary of the Post office was received from Christchurch at 10.47 a.m. yesterday. It ran:— Bealey advises tunnel fell in. As near as can state. 17 men still in tunnel. Earth still falling. At L3O p.m. the Post Office authorities received the following message:— Bealey reports five men still missing, three of whom can be heard. The Post Office dispatched an extra oporator from Christchurch to Bealey Flat at noon yesterday by a motor-car. GOVERNMENT ACTION. i SPECIAL TKAIN ARRANGED. Upon receipt of the news of the mishap yesterday morning the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) telegraphed to Mr. Galvin (Government resident engineer at Greymouth and Government officer in charge of tho work), as follows:— I regret to hear of the accident at Otira Tunnel. I shall be glad to know by urgent (take precedence) wire that facilities there are for medical assistance and nursing, and what else may be required, as I - will send special train to bo of assistance immediately. Wiro me fullyIn reply, Mr. Galvin telegraphed as under: — ' Thanks for your wire. Special train arranged. Arriving Otira shortly from Greymouth. with doctor and nurse, who will proceed at once to Bealey Flat. Arrangements have been made to take men to hospital. Ton ■ men are involved. Cannot yet give list of their injuries. Instructions were immediately given by thii Mines Department for the ballast train running between Broken Hill and the Cass to make special trips for any accident cases.