THE COLERIDGE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1925, Page 4

THE COLERIDGE DISASTER

Tlllt EE BURIED BY UAL I

[■>V TELEGRAPH —PER PttEHB ASSOC!ATIu.s.]

CHRISTCHURCH, October 3,

Tiie latest contribution from .Lake Coloridjjo states that it will lie impossible uj get tile bodies ol the three men out for two or three days. .Meantime efforts are being concentrated on the rescue of Archer and Daly. The side tunnel is progressing at the rate oi Id feet per hour. This is a New Zealand record tor tunnelling. Hot saveloys and soup were pushed through the pipe this morning to the mo men, who had been toodless tor thirty hours. ’ < lIBIS'I'CHURCH. October 3. Alter nearly JO hours’ feverish work two of tiie men, Hugh Daly ami Uordon Archer, who were entombed in Hie fall of earth in Xo. 2 Tunnel! at [.like Coleridge oil Friday morning were released at II o’clock on Saturday night. The work of rescue was delayed by encountering hud ground, and by a number ol minor accidents. On I' ridnv afternoon it was considered by the ollii ials that the rescue would be effected hv midday, and at that time the rescue party were putting lip a record, cutting through Ironi lour to live feet per minute. Tliorealler. tiie pace slackened down, in spite ol the men. solder ground being encountered. At various time during Saturday conversations with the entombed men were conducted through the Iced pipe. Daly seemed to he suffering more than Ids companion. Archer did most of the talking. From time to lime, food was sent through, and air was seal in to the men hv means ol a liand-driven lan. The method of rescue was nriaiiged for the greatest, possible speed. Inking into consideration the laid that another slip might happen at any moment through the soft shingle being disturbed.

As the hours went by. reports came td'otn those working right up at the face that there were only a few feet to go and finally, at about 111 u clock, on Saturday night, a needle bar was got through. Archer tapped out directions on this bar, and helped eonsider-

alilv in the job of locating the exact whereahuut s of the entombed men.

At about 111.dll p.lll. Will Coo pel', who ini' working in Mrduire’s .shift, saw Archer through a small opening 1 1 was then work oi a moment to en-

large the gap and get the men out. There was a great hurst of cheering! and word Hashed along the :C. chain tunnel, and out to those waiting at the mouth that the men had been real lied.

Interviewed. Archer stated that the air had been so bad that candles would ti 111 burn. liotb he and Daly bad suffered from t lie foul air. and

their heads had llirohbed violently. Their breathing was difficult, and they felt as if a tight rope was stretched across their chests. Archer was working in close contact with Daly. .McDonald, MeFnriaue and (I re,oi when the accident occurred. A crown bar came down and then followed a deluge of debris which streamed in the dii at I ion of l lie outlet. Daly

wanted to go t.i help McDonald. Archer. however, told him the best tiling 1,1 do Was lo stay Where be was. II McDonald had jumped towards Archer, be would have been ail right. Drcen was right in the centre of the tail, and ,Ml'cfarlane wits further off. There is mi doubt that .Mi-Fai lane. .McDonald and (been are buried in fin belir;-. Work "ill he commenced immediately digging for their bodies. The accident is not expected to cause niucli delay to the duplication work.