MT. LYELL DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1625, 17 December 1912, Page 7

MT. LYELL DISASTER.

WHAT MIG X HT HAVE BEEN.

By Telegraph—Preaa Assoclation-Copyrißht

Hobart, December 10.

Before the Mount Lyell Mine Commission, Stone, a miner who was working at tho 700 ft. level, testified that it was not possible for the men's clothes to catch five when they were warming their "billies" in the steel house.' Witness was informed by Burns that tho pump-house was on firo. Witness then told Grant, a time-keeper, and asked him to got three doctors. Grant replied that he would telephone to Murray. Witness said:""Never mind Murray get the doctors." Grant apparently telephoned to Murray reporting tho outbreak and suggesting to get doctors. This was at 11.15 o'clock in tho morning. Witness thought that if theorder had been given promptly tho whole shift could have been saved. If thcro had been a man always in attendance at tho fflflft. level pump-house the fire could I havo been extinguished, lucre was TiO exit front the mine other than the shaft. I "Witness cons\4era\ ttio men ovi ttws otViev sWe of the gamp-house were ciit off horn this escape.

O'Connor, an engine-driver, who was in chargo of tho hoist machinery, said the first message stated that the pump-house at the 700 ft. level was on firo. He received an order to raise and lower the cage quickly. 'Tor God's sake keep the compressor going, or we will all be suffocated."