MILLERTON DISASTER.

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1927, Page 3

MILLERTON DISASTER.

CORONIAL FINDING. Victims Fail Properly to Use Apparatus. (Special to “Argu.-. ”) WELLINGTON, February 25. The Coroner, Mr. \V. Meldrum b.M., this morning gave his verdict on the deaths ui* the four victims of the disaster in the Millerton Colliery on the sth instant, following on tin* rhqmsi held earlier in tin; week. The finding is as i follows:— The deceased men, Messrs William Pearson (Mine Manager}, Wm. Maher, | (Underviewer), James Cowan (Deputy) | and Michael Ford (Deputy), died in | the Millerton Mino on February sth., from acute monoxide poisoning. Also that (1) The proto-apparatus used was ' perfectly safe and effective against carbon monoxide and poisonous ga. es. | when properly used. (2) That all the men concerned in the i examination of the mine wen' selected men, who had been well-trained before hand in the use of z thv apparatus am: , , fully understood how to use it. I (3) That in the case of illiam I Pearson, he had three times on ary sth in company with Mr. 1-rareis Duffy, used the apparatus successfully » in examining the mine, but on going out the fourth time to rescue Mr. ( owan, he had omitted to turn on tav , oxygen, and that this oversight was the cause of his being overcome b\ the , fumes. That in the case of William Maher, | death was due to his pa-sing bo\omi | the known safety line, that is N» . • i stenton, without taking tm • i. precautions to adjust the moul iipiei e I and nose-clip, and to turn on , pass and the < xyg >». Hr the danger zone without any p:ol<<tion against the carbon m<>im . .»• ga.>. That in the ease of Sfi. iri. I Ford, when his body was found, neither the mouthpiece nor the nose-eiip rd- . justed. He also had gone in wiJnad pro , tection against the gas. That in James Gowan’s cast, no pre _ cautions at all were taken. He h-id <li 1 vested himself of his proto-app tinJ is '.h . fore following Mine Deputy Haro! j, Smith to where Ford ami Maher’s bo dies lay, and collapsed on reachti them. , That in each of these lour cases . death was due to a failure to adopt t li< , precautions which each man had been instructed and trained in beforehand. } Ip Mr. Pearson’s case it wis due parr { ly to exhaustion ami partly to his great ( anxiety to rescue Cowan as quickly a- } possible. \ In other cases it would seein to have been due to a fearless carelessness.

Details of the Inquest.

At the inquest touching the death ol | William Pearson, Mine Manager; Wil liam Maher, I'nderviewer; .Jas Cowan, c and Michael lord, deputies of the \ Westport Coal Company at Millerton ;1 Mine, on February sth., 1927, at West t port, before Mr. W. Meldrum, Coron- t er. Senior Sergeant Scamlrett conduct cd the inquiry for the police. Mr. J. \ C Bavne Chief Inspector of Mines, ( anti Mr. O. Davis, District Inspector, t watched proceeding on behalf of the De . partment. Mr. J. C. Brown, District Man t ager for the Westport Coal Coy., ami | Mr. Strongman. Mining Manager at , Granity, were present on behalf of the | Westport Coal Company. Messrs Clark . and Orman appeared on behalf of the , Miners’ Union. Mr. J. Hopkinson was ♦ present as representative of the Depu- ( ties’ Union. Mr. 11. E. Holland watched > proceedings on behalf of the relatives , of Michael Ford. I Senior Sergeant Scandrett put in a . plan of the mine. t The most importan witness . cis Duffy, who said he resided at Den- ■ Hist on. He was an underviewer. Ar ] rangements had been made by the West ] port Coal Co., for him to make an exami ( nation of Millerton Mine on February | sth., and the necessity for the examina- • tions was that a fire had been burning in a section of this mine, known as < Evan’s Section, for five or six months. | The reason for selection of witness was , his knowledge of the proto apparatus. The use was necessary on account of the gas fumes caused by the fire. Witness had six of these machines with him. , Operations began at 9.30 a.m. at the pit. The six machines were all put to- . gether under the supervision of witness and tested showing 120 atmospheres, '‘’hen they were all charged, Pearson Went to have the stoppings opened under his supervision. They would be opened for a quarter of an hour or 20 minutes. Pearson ’ ' fitted on their machines. Going through the stop ping they had electric lamps and safety lamps. Witness was the first to go through the stopping, and he pro (•ceded along, his safety light went out. just beyond No. 4 stenton. When he saw his light go out, he turned aroumi and allowed Pearson to come to him. As he reached witness, his safety light went out. Witness said to him: “Your safety light is out Bill.’’ Witness warned him at this point. Witness stepped back into the pure air and watched him put in his mouthpiece, turn on the bye pass to inflate the bag. W hen it was going all right, he adjusted his nose clip. Witness watched his breathing for five to seven minutes. Asked if he felt comfortable, and he said ‘‘Yes.’ Witness then put on his machine, and thev traversed to the foot of No. 1 dip When they turned, they looked inside the stenton. Seeing neither smoke nor fire they came back to No. 4 stenton. At this point they took off their nose clips stopped the oxygen and took out the mouthpiece. A\ itness then called out foi Maher, Ford Cowan and Smith to come down. At this point, the two plans were consulted. Maher and Ford then said they understood where Pearson and witness were going. Witness had to im-j press this upon them. He aso stated they would be back in one hour, and if they were not back in that time, they were to come and get Pearson and witness. Before leaving, witness gave them two

safety lamps that had gone out and warned them, anyone passing No. 4 stenton must have the apparatus on. Whilst they were there, Pearson and witness put on their apparatus and went ou the traverse decided upon. Tin y reached to within two chains ot the place decided upon and found they cuuld not get any further on account of a tail. Coming back, they traversed i few of the bords to see if they could ; ce any fire or smoke and found none. They then came back to the stopping and told Mala r and Ford and other deputies that they had seen no fire or smoke. They then went for lunch. Lunch occupied from 11.45 till about 12 p.m. During lunch they further dis-tils.-.d the plans, this being owing to Mai- r ami Ford. WhilaCtTiej were making the second exploration, Maher and : oi d went d.-wn to the first stenton on the left whilst Pearson and witness went away, ’l iny travelled a certain distance and lost iheir safety lamps. During the discussion of the plans, Pear ><>n said i hey vumld go and see what, they could .-ee. After lunch. Pearson and witness went through stopping up to the spot indicated Dy Maher and Ford. They traversed the road for two chains and owing to the nature of the ground, Pearson decided to tuYn back, saying they might get bogged by ashesi and other <1 I ris. They came back from there had another consultation over (he ’iluns, to a place Pearson called ‘‘the caunch. ” Before leaving, he asked Ford and company if they knew th' 1 plat-' Pt arson and witness were going Tiny ri plied that they knew it well. ■ Pearson ai d witness went to the Cauncn : ’e! fount! 1h *y could not get through. . < it wall. <-ked by a fall of coal. They came down another cul de sac a.i i tri d to get in another direction but < Gtiid not get there. They came . Uov. n oie nu re cul de sac, and came to a idind end. Pearson said they couldp la no mo: *. They came out to the stop pi-’g- and saw n •iiln r fire nor smoke Maher and Ford made a request for : permission to go in. They were instructed rot to go beyond No. 1 dip by Pear- ■ son and he allowed them half an horn Two fresh sets of apparatus were put .n them, under the supervision of witness. Witness said the ma-| hines were tested in good g l ’-., mg order. Witness said to them:*i •p> you both feel well’’’ and oth su’d • Y s. ’’ Just before they went i through the stopping, witness warned 11 (hem : I-.; i ' coping (no:r oxygen go i ing. They went on the journey then. When the l -lf hour elapsed, Pearson said it was tin: * th. v were coming. Wit : -s th'-n '-eiii Cowan, warning tln-m L 1 to go bey oi I No. -I stenton. When iic wen; down, h? said he could seco :iieir lights. Witness naturally came to !■ • conclusion That they were coming - ! lack. They had electric lights at that, lime and they would burn in any condi- 1 lions. Shortly alter, Pearson said they I had been down another ten minutes, i Witness then went down to No. 4 st en m ya without the apparatus on and saw I llie lights were not moving. From this point, witness crawled to Maher on his < belly. When he reached Tdahcr, lie look : ■d into his face, lie was lying on his'i back with his head towards the dip. llel’ saw’ he had neither clip nor mouthpiece i >n. Witness then turned bn the man’sL valve of his oxygen, also the by-passL :ind the oxygen came right through the ! mouth. Witness stopped The oxygen, (dos 1 i‘d the valve and dragged the body toil No. 4 stenton. By the test witness made ] i with the oxygen, witness was of the! I (•pinion that Maher had not turned on ] the oxygen or put on <nc mouthpiece and nose clip, lie was or the opinion h that the nose and nioulli clip did noth become detached when Maher fell, ns 1 if so, the oxygen in the cyclinder would i have become exhausted. Witness then ; dragged the body of Manor up to No. •All stenton. Witness called ent to P arson tc give him a hand as Maher was out; p na<l collapsed. Pearson said: “Give hint; some oxygen.’’ He turned on the main' valve and the by-pass and witness said t'.iat was no good, as ho was unconscious. Witness took off his machine and began artificial respiration straight away. The doctor was telephoned for and this artificial respiration was carried on until he arrived. Witness did not think Maher was dead when he discovered the body. Witness Thought he heard a faint heart beat and breathing when he used artificial restoration on Maher. He decided to crawl to Maher on his belly because ho knew that carbon dioxide (the heavier) would be the gas on the floor and carbon monoxide was lighter and the latter was more po>cnt than the former. Witness owed to the fact of his crawling low on the ground that lie did not succumb to gus| “umes. Witness thought Maher collapsed where his body was lying. All pre■i nt had had training in the use of the proto apparatus. They had seven lessons ••t Granity, what they inhaled and what they exhaled. Witness afterwards pointed out the functions of the breathing ap oaratus, both in inhaling and in exhaling am! then taught them the man n.er of assembling the marline. At the third lesson they had the machines fully equipped and walki’d round with ihem fully charged. After this they were put in sulphui - fumes in the School oi Minos. The next lesson, each man charged his own machine. Witness walked them to Ngakawau fully equipped, leaching each man singly tH* - * use of the valves as he walked along with him. They returned to the School oi Mines and put them in the sulphur fumes for over two hours. Previously to going to Millerton, arrangements ha<’ been made to send them to Denniston tor another test. The first team was two hours ten minutes in the sulphur fumes; the second team two hours five minutes, each one proving himself cap able with the apparatus, fn the sul phur fumes they could not have lived

without the apparatus. Chareoa 1 was also burned which produces monoxide so that the conditions at Denniston were much similar to those a'; Miller ton on February sth. After vwrking on Maher, to try and produce respiration, witness felt his own strength was going and asked Pearson to go and send Tom Pearson to him and go and dress Smith and Cowan to go to the rescue oi Ford. Witness did not see Cowan pass him, but saw Smith and saw lie was properly equipped. The next he heard was Smith calling I out to witness. He went to Smith’s assistance and he had reached Ford’s body but could not move, it. Smith said whlbT he was about to

return Cowan dropped at his feet, and had no apparatus on. Witness took Smith out and sent him to get assist ance immediately. Witness and Tom IPearson were carrying Maher’s body up to the stopping. When at the stopping he saw William Pearson with one of the apparatus on and said to him, “For God’s sake, don’t go down there until *. come.” After putting Maher’s body through the stopping, witness sent Tom Pearson to telephone the doctor also Mr. J. C. .Brown, and Mr. Strongman and get what assistance he could. Duffey’s brother at this stage was dressed in one of the machines. Witness said Pearson had No. 4 oi tire old pattern, Ford No 3 and Maher No 4 of the new pattern. ’Witness demonstrated the state of the apparatus when he got to Maher and the action he took and gave a demonstration of the uses of the apparatus. The nose clip was to make the user of the machine breathe through the mouth. Witness said the straps were not fastened at the back of the head to hold the mouthpiece in position, when he found Maher’s body. The conclusion witness formed was that When the straps were not fastened, Maher had go into the foul air before he realised it and collapsed before he bad an opportunity of adjusting the apparatus. 'To Air. Davis: They were warned nor to go pest No. 4 stenton without the apparatus on. When they left the stopping it was on the understanding that there was no danger until they got to No. 4 stenton. Witness thought it was quiet safe to go there without the mouth (dip. To Mr. J. C. Brown: Witness had experience with proto apparatus since 1910. IL' was trained at Hornbridge, Lancashire, England. !!<• was a holder of a certificate of competency for min mg rescue work and produced the certificate. Witness had trained five teams. The apparatus nad been previously used in the mines in an atmos I lie re that would not support life. The men on that occasion had to move stone to build a stopping. It was hard work. The men took turns in accomplishing the work, and worked for about si> hours that day. A man required more oxygen ou hard than light work, and adj'i.-iol the supply according to the exertions. If a man had to luT a" big man likFord, lie would require to ad just the supply of oxygen straight away Smith tried to bring out Ford and felt j it was too much for him. It was little wonder that Smith felt a little shaky :f he did not adjust <ne oxygon. Wit-' ni ss was satisfied that the t am were . competent - to take charge of themselves : ’iheie was a specially lonstructd gas chamber at Denniston for th>‘ training I When they were being trained they had i work to do. For the first half hour 1 they walked round in the fumes. Next they were taught to imagine they were Io make an intake airway by fixing I'iattic” mid also setting props. During the operation some were rutting timber mid others putting up th-' brattice. When this was completed the height •1’ the supposed relieved airway was ihoiit !'» feet 6 inches. ’Phis I'.iade them i’se the nmchin - ' in a stooping position whilst travelling. They had to wall' round the chamber in this position sev * nal times. After this they had a short -pell. .Next thing they did was to carry 300 bricks from one end of the chamber| to the other and build up a support Ilaick stopping. The last operation was ■ the dismantling of everything. All cy-|. binders were charged from one big eye- . Under. To Mr. Clarke: The distance from stopping to the first stenton where Maker’s and Ford’s lights went out was half a chain. He warned them that they must not go beyond No. 4 without the apparatus as the lights had gone out there. When the two machines had been used they were recharged. The three tested -were those used by men who lost their lives. The men were fully trained, but could not vouch for the temperment of the men. When Smith sung out he would have to take the piece out or partly out of his mouth. Witness was exhausted by carrying out Maher. He did not have the apparatus on. To Mr. Molom’y: The apparatus was intended for exploring. itness had implicit confidence in the machines and in Maher, Ford and Cowan. All were in the teams trained at Granity. Seven lessons constituted a course. They were fully aware of the danger. During the course of training he always told them, i

“Keep that by-pass going.” He kept telling Pearson to do so as a precautionary measure. The foul air could not have been fanned out.

To Mr. Bayne. He instructed Cowan and Smtih to dress in the apparatus ami get out Ford.

To Mr. Holland; Witness was presen. when the experts made the examination of the apparatus at Millerton station. Witness explained the modus operand) in team work. No 4 station was the danger point. It would have been much better to start them off from No. 4 fully equipped. Witness considered they were fully trained men. There was no authority in New Zealand to say when the men were fully trained. The issuing oi a certificate was by law in England, he believed. Twenty-seven men alto gether were in training. It had been suggested that all the men in the mine should have a knowledge of the use of + he apparatus. Ford anti Maher had both been through the full course of tr.lining and were fully trained. Ho had no idea of how Cowan came to be without the apparatus.

To Mr. Strongman: To fully equip the men at No. 4 all that was necessary was to put in the mouthpiece and put on the nose clip. These four men were specially picked by witness to come to his assistance if anything went wrong, so that he was practically backing his opinion with his life. To Mr. Davis: There were two besides himself in the service of the company with certificates of competency. To Mr. Moloney: Witness waited about three chains away from No. 4 stenton, while Maher and Ford went in beyond the stenton. Until the expirment of the half hour witness would not know that they were in difficulties. They might have gone into difficulties at any time after passing No. 4 stem ton. Had he known immediately the men got into difficulty he would, have been able to rescue them. If a man passed No. 4 stenton and did not adjust his nose clip and mouthpiece how could lie give a signal? He did not agree

that an easy system at signalling could have been arranged. To Mr. Strongman: If the men bad known they were in difficulties they could have saved themselves. iVll thej had to do was to put in the mouthpiece and nose clip. That would have been much easier than a code of signals. To Mr. Holland: It would not be possible to have men stationed at intervals within calling distance of one an other. A motor horn would be a possible signal, but it required such a smalt percentage of gas before one was knock cd out. It would be possible to have men stationed so that if one saw an other fall he could give a signal. To the Coroner: In his opinion there was not a better apparatus than the one used. He had not heard of one with a telephone. When carbon dioxide gas hi suspected it was the practice to take a small bird or a mouse to detect the pressure of the gas, as they were more quickly affected than a man would be. He had never used these.

To Air. Hopkinson: The rescue party could carry ropes. To Air. Strongman: The use of a can ary would not have told him anything that he did not already know. To Air. Davis: He knew already that he would find the gases in the fire

To Air. Clarke: Both types of oil safety lamps were used. There were no men in Millerton trained in the use oi the proto apparatus..

To Air. Bayne: AVhen the men went into the dip they were carrying electric safety lamps, not oil safety lamps. Ford and Alaher had been four times to No. 4 stenton, where plans were discussed and he know the danger zone. To Mr. Holland: If they had the oil lamps these would have gone out quick Harold Smith, deputy at the Miller ton Aline, said immediately after 11.39 (crib) instructions were given by Pearson and Duffy who laid out the plans and told them where they Imtt’been and explained where they intended to go after crib. Immediately after crib time the ajiparatus was put on Duffy and Pearson. There was a discussion before they left. AVitness proceeded to corroborate Duffy’s account of the exclusion through the mine, of the request of Alaher and Ford to be allowed to go into the mine and being given half an hour, with instructions nof go oil No. 1 di]i; of their failure to return, Co wan’s report that he could see theii lights and Duffy’s rescu.o of the body ol Alaher: Duffy’s instructions to Cowan and witness to get dressed in the appa latus and go and get Ford. Cowan and himself both got dressed, Cowan lead mg in the mi’ie. On getting a short way Cowan said: “Carry on and I will catch von up in a minute.’’ They ha I nu’ reached No. 4. Up to that time they had not inserted mouthpiece or nos-? clip. Cowan went back up the di]) and witness went on. AVhen witness was passing Duffy he said: “Are yot right ?’’ and witness replied “Y(‘S.” lie went down and found, ForiJ’s body but was unable to lift it as he was a heavy man. lie had laid down as if lie had gone to sleep with his arm under lis head. The apparatus was on Um? body, but the mouthpiece ami nose clip wore not in position. This was contrary] to instructions given by Duffy. He was to connect the apparatus at No. 4 stenton. The body was two chains beyon 1 the stenton when he found it. He was satisfied the body was then dead. Cowan ridurned to witness as soon as the latter discovered the body. Cowan had not the apparatus on. He had evidently divested himself of it 'when he returiiCG towards the mouth of the dip. Cowan dropped at witness’s feet straight a wav. Witness tried to lift Cowan, but

found he was too much for him as wit ness was getting giddy himself. Cowan in falling bumped witness had disarranged the straps around witness’s neck. Until that time Hie apparatus was working perfectly. V hen witness fell himself getting giddy, his legs got groggy. He felt as if he were going oil to sleep. He felt drowsiness overcoming him. There was no pain. Witness de cided to come back up the dip. He walled a little way; then got on his hands and knees and Duffy came and assisted him out. He had perfect faith in the apparatus and would go into the mine in the same condition as it was then with out any Restitution. When witness was assisted out he told Pearson Cowan *liad dropped and Pearson took the ap paratus off witness and put it on himself and sent witness for further help The apparatus had been running foi about ten minutes out of a capacity of two hours. All the men were familiar with the use of the apparatus and witness felt he was competent to work with the apparatus. They were simple when properly explained. To the Coroner: He was satisfied that the only reason why he was affected bv the gas was that his mouthpiece became disarranged when Cowan fell and bump ed him. To Air. Clarke: Witness did not try Ford’s machine, to see if it were ou \ of order. If a man got a good dose of that gas he could not stand it. He did not go beyond No. 4 until he had Ms

apparatus on. To Mr. Moloney: The mouth piece got knocked slightly out of witness s mouth. When one got giddy he kind ot lost his senses. He did not know the, Straps were disarranged at the timo- - he was exerting himself in lifting something heavy he would breathe heavily. . , To Mr. Holland: Witness did not io member calling out to Diifly-Puh.' tool the mouthpiece out of witness s moi when he got out. . +t the To Senior Sergeant Scandrett. If straps were loosened it might be pos sible to make a noise to be heart | A demonstration was given by Me 11waine of speaking with the mouthpiee.: nr position and slightly disarranged I William Daniel Butler, a mine ma, a<rer at Millerton mine, gave evide < ■ that about 3 p.m. ho was told someone | was gassed in the mine and hurie d 7o 1 Stopping Where he saw Maher body and immediately gave rnstrucTions to men to erect brattice work to bring a fresh draught of air into the dip and force the foul air back.He proceeded; with the brattice work for five or six] chains, or two chains beyond No. 1 ; stenton. Witness and Deputy Hopkm-. son wore in advance of the party. As thev went down they found the a±r. more impure until they reached a part]

where they could get no further. Mr Strongman then took charge and witness came out. The Sergeant: You are a. bit modest. As a matter of fact, Hopkinson and yourself had to be assisted out? Witness: Yes. The noxious gas af fcctcd witness mostly in the heart and increased palpitation. He became groggy in the legs, and got a severe headache. The eyes were not affected. Hopkinson and himself were within 19 or 12 yards of the body when they had to give up. They had carried the fresh air in almost six chains.. Further evidence was corroborative, diet of accidental death was returned