DOBSON DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 63, 8 December 1926, Page 12

DOBSON DISASTER

FLOODING MINE FROM BOTH ENDS SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED • a LITTLE GIRL WITH A CHARMED LIFE Dominion Special. Greymouth. December 7. Dense volumes of acrid smoke continue to emerge from the air-drive and fanhouse of the ill-fated Dobson mine, giving evidence that the water which is steadily pouring into the mine has reached the seething fire, which is blazing in the underground workings. Although all the force of the explosions from the mine has come through the main entrance, there is no smoke emerging from that direction. Flooding operations were further expedited this afternoon, when water from the Dobson mine dam was diverted into the main entrance, with the result that the mine is now being flooded from both ends. Heavy rain which fell to-day has caused the Grey River to become swollen. Provision has been made for this emergency, and if the river becomes flooded the electric pumps will require to be lifted above the level of the flood waters. This work will cause the flooding operations to be considerably delayed. Homes Partially Wrecked. Although the descriptions of the disaster, have chiefly , dealt with the fatalities and damage to the mine, the explosions have also caused heavy, losses to numerous residents in the mining township, who have had their homes partially wrecked. Roofs have been torn off and windows smashed from the homes of several families in humble circumstances. ;V!1 those residences in the vicinity of the mine entrances have been abandoned since the disaster. . , , , To-day’s rain had caused further havoc to the" affected residences. One house near the mine bathhouse was visited bv a reporter this afternoon, and he found that rain was beating through the roof on to the bedding and furniture, everything in the house being practically ruined. In other homes everything was in confusion from .the force of the explosion, the families having only gathered up a few personal belongings before taking their hurried dejiarture. Child’s Miraculous Escape. That truth is stranger than fiction is exemplified in the miraculous escape ot Jean Patterson, the elght-year-old daughter of Mr. W. Patterson, postmaster at Murchison. When the big explosion occurred the child was staying with her grandmother, Mrs. L. Thomson, whose house is about half a chain from the Dobson mine bathhouse, and in almost a direct line with the mouth of the mine. After the fatal explosion, Mrs. Thomson and the child took up their quarters with her son, Mr. J. W. Thomson, engine-driver at the Dobson mine, whose house is situated on a hill close to the main entrance. The explosions which occurred on Friday night caused considerable damage to Mr. Thomson’s house, one big stone crashing through the roof and grazing the bed in which the child was sleeping. The bouse vacated by the child and her grandmother wasvisited to-day by a reporter. He found that the bedroom occupied there by little Jean Patterson had also suffered serious damage. A large stone had crashed through the ceiling, falling on the child’s bed. Alongside her doll at the foot of the bed lay another large 'stone. The ceiling boards through which the stones were hurled were shattered to atoms. Jean Is now described by Dobson women as the little girl with the charmed life. The women and children residing in the damaged houses were brought to Greymouth oil Friday night. Further shocks to the nerves of the stricken residents have been caused through reports of slight explosions in the township. Inquiries were made by Constable J. Rodgers, of Brunner, who discovered that the disturbances .were caused bv an irresponsible person firing off a shotgun. When asked for an explanation the man said his cat was hungry and he had shot a blackbird. The constable took possession of the shotgun, and the sensation monger will probablv have to make further explanations in the Magistrate's Court. Seeking Work for Idle Men. The disaster has thrown about 150 employees out of work. With a view to finding employment for the men until the mine resumes operations, Mr. J. Smeaton (president of the Grey Valley Miners’ Union) and Mr. W. Balderstone (secretary of the West Coast Miners’ Council) telegraphed yesterday to the Minister of Alines (Hon. G. J. Anderson) and Air. IL -E. Holland, A1.1’., requesting assistance in finding employment for the men. Air. Smeaton to-day received the fol-

'owing telegram from the Minister:— “Your wire received and representations noted. Inquiries are being made to ascertain what works ar c available on which the services of the men can be engaged.” The following telegram wqs received from Mr. Holland: “Have wired Ministers of Public Works and Mines urging that the men be given work on the Blackball-Brnnner road. Please advise by letter how long the mine is likelv to' be idle.” Air. Smeaton told a reporter tins afternoon that twelve of the men have been engaged by Air. ,\. O’Donnell, manager of the' Roa mine. He also expected that a good number of the men would get employment at the State mines. Married men would be given preference. Theory as to Cause of Explosion. Despite the contradictory reports in circulation regarding the ventilation of the Dobson mine, it is authoritatively stated that the mine was well ventilated, also that there was an abundance of air in the working places. The alleged reason why some of the men spent crib-time in the winch cabin was to take shelter from the cold rush of air coming through the main drive. In addition to the electric safety lamps in use at the Dobson mine, Bifold’s double-burner oil safety lamps were supplied for gas testing purposes. These lamps were given out in response to representations .made by the Aliners’ Union, which asked for the oil safety lamps as an extra safetv precaution. One of the theories advanced as to the cause of the explosion is that one of these lamps may have been left burning until the flame penetrated through the gauze, resulting in the ignition of accumulated gases. Experienced miners who’ have witnessed colliery disasters in England and Wales allege that the report from the Dobson explosion was the worst they have ever heard. Sensational Developments Expected. From information that can be gleaned among the mining population, it is likely that sensational developments may be expected when the inquiry concerning the disaster takes place. Numerous expressions of sympathy continue to arrive from all parts of the Dominion, and some from further afield. The Mayor of Grevmouth (Air. W. H. Parfitt) received the following telegram from the Alinister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams) :—“Will you please convey to the relatives of the deceased men my deepest sympathy with them in their sad bereavement.” The secretary of the Grey Valley Aliners’ Union (Mr. C. Roberts) has received a message of sympathy from the general secretary of the Australian Miners’ Federation. A _ message has \V. Alison, managing director of the W. Allison, managing director of the Taupiri mines. TWO MORE EXPLOSIONS BY TELEGRAPH !’ Greymouth, December 7. Pumping operations have been continued at the Dobson mine for the past 21 hours at the rate of 60,000 gallons hourly. The water is rising steadily, though it is not yet, apparently, as high as the foot of the main dip, or haulage road. Evidence of the fire’s activity was further given this afternoon bv two explosions within the mine. The first one occurred at 1.15 and the second at 3.15. The only external evidence was the loud sounds of the explosion and volumes of smoke. It is- anticipated that the work of flooding the mine will have been completed by to-morrow evening, thus extinguishing the lire, when another task will begin, that of unwatering, the duration of which is uncertain. It is not expected that production will be resumed before r. couple of months, as much repair work will be entailed by the effects of the repeated explosions, the fire, and the water.

At this evening’s meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board a motion of condolence was carried with the widows and relatives of the victims of tlie Dobson disaster. The board also voted 100 guineas to the relief fund. PROPOSED HELP FROM WELLINGTON. Mr. R. Semple will head a deputation to the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) at 11 a.m. to-day, with a request that steps be taken at once to afford some measure of relief to the widows and families of the mtn who lost their lives in the colliery disaster at the Dobson mine last week. Similar action was taken on the occasion of the Brunner disaster, and it is felt that Wellington should not be backward in affording some tangible relief to those who have lost their' bread-winners.