ANOTHER MINE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1927, Page 2

ANOTHER MINE DISASTER

SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE. FATALITIES AT .MILLERTOM. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT AIILLERTON, February C. Another dreadful disaster has been added to the growing list of tragedies connected with the hazardous occupation of the coal miner in Xew Zealand. A gloom was cast over Millerton on Saturday afternoon when the news spread that a disaster bad occurred in the Millerton mine. It happened about 2.30 p.m., when four men lost their lives through asphyxiation. Their names were :

WILLIAM PEARSOX. Aline Manager. WILLIAM .MAHER. Undervicnver. MICHAEL FORD, Deputy. JAMES COWAN, Deputy. The men in question were engaged in exploring a part of the mine which had been sealed off, through the recent fire in the mine, which occurred some months ago. The exploration party broke a stopping early on Saturday morning, and they penetrated a considerable distance into the lire area. They returned after crib time to the fire area and at about 2.30 p.m. it been mo known that some of the party had been overcome with some noxious gases. At once a rescue team instructed bv Mr Frank Duffy (who had been with the Mine Manager, .Mr Pearson, in the morning, but who had remained outside in the afternoon) went down and brought out William Maher, the underviewer. Artificial respiration was applied and continued for an hour, but it was without avail. Meanwhile a further rescue party including Mr William Butler, the Aline Manager. Air Joe Hopkinson (Shift Boss)” -Mr Smith (Deputy), and Mr Keating (bricklayer) attempted to reach the bodies of the other three men. These latter were lying about ten chains down Number One Dip. inside the stopping. The attempt was made without any rescue apparatus, the men taking the air in with them by means of brattice work. Bv this time about one hundred volunteers had gathered together outside the stopping and Constable Robb had a busy time keeping the men from entering the fire area.

Air Strongman, the local .Manager, and Air Brown, the District .Manager, of the Westport Coal Company, arrived from Westport shortly after (5.30 o’clock. Air Strongman then got a fresh rescue team together, and he took charge of the operations. The first rescue team withdrew from the niiiic, several of them having to-be assisted out. At about 7.30 o’clock, Alessrs Browlev and Pfeifer (Deputies) with the aid of respirators, accompanied by Air Strongman, reached Pearson, who uas lying face downwards. Pearson had evidently died whilst trying to crawl up the dip to salety. Cowan and Ford were lying a leu yards away. The three wore immediately conveyed up the dip to where Doctor Campbell was waiting. Ho examined them, but could only pronounce life extinct. Maher, Pearson and Ford all bad respirators on when they were found. Cowan, it is said, had not. The bodies were conveyed to their respective homes.

F I'll'l’ll Elk PARTICULARS. WESTPORT. February 0

Further • inquiries regarding the tragedy at Millerton reveal that the investigation of the old tire area was bring "made by Air William Pearson (Mine .Manager) and Air Duily (Underviewer). and a demonstration in the use of gas masks, equipped with protobreathing apparatus. They set out at 7 a.m.. and they made a thorough examination of the five area. On tlieil return to the station outside, they decided. after a conference, that Air William. Ala her (Underviewer) and Mr Mick Ford (Deputy), equipped with the apparatus, should also make an examination of the mine, and should return in half an hour. As they were not back in that time. Air DufTv went to look for them, and seeing their lights in the distance, he concluded that they were returning. Pearson and Duffy waited a further ten minutes, and then as Ford and Alahcr did not return, Air Duffv re-entered the fire area, and there he found the body of Afahci. which be carried out. Assistance was then summoned, and Air Pearson, accompanied by Deputy Cowan, went into tlic mine to try and recover Afick Ford, but they were both overcome by gas, and it was not until 9 p.m.. after numerous attempts by relays of men. that the bodies of Ford, Pearson and Cowan were recovered. The men worked heroically to effect rescues, and they were ably assisted by the women, who speedily arrived on the scene with liquid and solid refreshments. 'l’lie operations were conducted by the District Atanager, Air .1. C. Brown, and the Alining Manager, Air Strongman, who had been previously .summoned from Westport, where they were attending a conference of the Disputes Committee. The late Air Pearson, who has. been with the Westport Coal Company since lie was a rope road boy. with the exception of a year spent at a mine in the North Island, was a native of Woodstock, near Hokitika, and was 49 years of age. He leaves his widow, a married daughter, a married son, and his second son is a youth 16 years ot age.

Mr William Maher, the Underviewer, of Millerton, was a native of Dungaree. Victoria. He was 47 years of age. I-Ie joined the Westport Coal Company at Millerton and transferred to Den-, niston in 1909. but later be returned to Millerton. He leaves a widow and six children, the eldest of whom is 16 years of age.

Mr Jas. Cowan. Deputy, of Millerton. came from Fifeshire, Scotland. He had been sixteen years at Millerton. and ho was 43 years of ago. He leaves a widow and a family of two girls, aged 16 and 5 years respectively, and one son. aged 13 years. Mr Cowan was a lay preacher at the Presbyterian Church, and was to have held a service at Granity this (Sunday) evening.

Mick Ford. Deputy, was a Duller Rugby Football representative. He was a native of Galway, and was 33 years of age. He was a big-hearted, good-natured Irishman. He formerly worked on the railway line at Te Hull a and at Denniston and Millerton. He joined the Westport Coal Company at Denniston and later he became a Deputy at Millerton. The inquest will he opened on Tues, dav.

At flie meeting held ill the Town Hall on Saturday night a resolution of sympathy with the bereaved was cairied, all standing.