THE NAMES OF THE ENTOMBED MEN.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 226, 27 March 1896, Page 2

THE NAMES OF THE ENTOMBED MEN.

Greymouth, This Day. When the Premier returned to Brunner it was almost known that the miners would not be rescued. About 50 men have been buried, with 200 depending on them, who are wholly unprovided for. On his arrival at Grey, the Premier held a consultation with the Mayors of Brunner, Hokitika, and Greymouth, and it was decided to open a relief fund. Communications will be sent to all the local authorities and Chambers of Commerce throughout the Colony, being assured that in the face of a national disaster the people will respond. The following is a full list of those at work in the mine this morning when the explosion took place : — M. Brislane, married, three children. John Roberts, married, eight children. Mark Masters, married, four children. Robert Pascoe, married, five children. Humphrey Smith, married, eight child - dren. Thomas Clark, married, two children. Joseph Mclvor, single. W. Liddle, married, six children. Henry Dettert, married, one child. John Langdon, single. John Dann, single. Robert McMahon, married, five children. D. Hoolly, married, two children. John Watchmann, single. John Patterson, married, eight children. John W. Roberts, married, one child. Josiah Masters, married, six children. Thomas Heslin, single. William Henderson, single. R. W. Kear, married, one child. T. Mclvor, single. James McDonald, single. Richard O'Loughlin, single. R. Pascoe, jun., single. Joseph Scoble, jun., single W. McKmnon, married, four children David Roberts, single Frederick Franklin, single William Cunliffe, single Patrick McDonald, married, nine children Benjamin Hill, single Henry Julian, single Charles Baxter, single David Henderson, single David Hall, single John Parsons, single Samuel Roberts, single Edward Kent, married, three children. Joseph Baxter, married, five children. £arnes Richards, married, five child- " ren. " ■ " ■ ' ; Geoffrey Geoghegan, sipglp, James GeogbegaH. Robert Duncan, married, six children. James Worthley, married, five child - i ren. John Tuart, married, three children. Edward Collins, married, five children. T.. Beaman, married, two children. W. McLusky, married, five children. Robert JNscLusky, married, seven children. T, Moore, senr. f married, nine children. T, Moore, junr,, single. Win. Hunter, married, ten childrenHy. Denujston, married, four children Jas, Scott, married. Chas. James, married, five childrenPaul Pellion, married. W, McMann, married, two children. Geo. Baxter, married, five children. W. Boyd, married. John White, married, four children. Alf. Williams, married, six children. Jas. Rowe, married, seven children,

At midnight news arrived that the air in the mine was so bad the men could not work longer than ten minutes at a time. The rescuers were about half a mile from the men with the brattice (air tight partitions) work. At three o'clock thero was no hope of getting the entombed miners out before next night at the earliest. The gas was yetting worse, and it was more difficult to operate with * tho bratticing. Wellington, March 26. Mr A. McDougall, general manager of the Company, who is at present in Wellington, says the men were engaged in breaking down the pillars left standing after the coal in the crosscuts had been taken out. It was only being taken out in comparatively small quantities of 300 or 400 tons per week, the main work being done in the " rise," another part of the property. As the pillars were taken out at the back of the drive the ground was allowed to subside. The chief trouble has been to keep the mine dry, and a large and valuable plant of pumping machinery has been employed for this purpose. Mr McDougall, who was in the drive himself quite recently, does not recollect having heard of any previous danger from fire damp, but he states that every precaution has always been taken to guard against accident, aDd a large electric light plant is kept going- , Mr McDougall. general manager ot the Greymouth and Point Elizabeth Coal Company, wired as follows to the Premier this afternoon :— " Deeply grieved by sad disaster at Brunnerton. Would like if you could make it convenient to visit scene, as your presence would eacourage rescuers, allay excitement and lead to better direction of energies. Mr Bishop, the manager, is incapacitated, and if you could possibly see your way to inaugurate some scheme of relief the Company would heartily : support the method adopted. I leave for Greymouth to-nighb if I can arrange ] for special steamer ; if not will leave by the Grafton on Saturday." Mr McDougall also wired to the Mayor of Brunnerton deeply sympathising with all concerned, and stating the Company would do everything in its power tc alleviate the distress and help the bereaved and sufferers, and sincerely hoping the efforts being made to rescue the imprisoned miners would bo successful. The latest wire received by Mr McDougall from Brunnerton, states that the rescue party hope to reach the imprisoned men by midnight. Immediately on the receipt of news of the Bruunertou disaster the Government communicated with the Mayor of Brunnerton, expressing sympathy with all concerned in the accident and intimating that Government will be responsible for any steps which might be towards rescuing the men and alleivating dis tress. Mr Stratford S.M. and Warden, has been instructed to proceed to the mine and do what he can to assist. This Day. Government has instructed Mr Gordon, Inspector of Mines, to leave at once for Bruuuerton.