MILLERTON TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1927, Page 2

MILLERTON TRAGEDY

* THE INQUEST. Tby tic r,licitapxx—men press association.] WESTPORT, February 22. At tile inquest touching the death of Miliiain .Maher, William Pearson. .Janies Cowan and Alichael Ford i-Miue Deputy, Aline .Manager. Deputy and 1 nderviewer respectively) in the Miller, ton Aline on February oth this afternoon, beloro Air XV. Aleldrum, Coro’ner. Senior Sergeant Seandsett conducting the enquiry for the police, the Alines Department, Westport Coal Company, the -Miners’ Union, the Deputies Union, and relatives of the deceased being represented. Lengthy evidence was given, the purport of which was that Pearson and Dufl’y, wearing the protouppnrnlus made a very complete inspection of the mine, and were highly pleased with its condition. The tire, which had been raging for the past six or seven months, not having damaged the mine to the extent anticipatedJ The two mine deputies. Ford and -Maher, requested leave to make an inspection. aim they were allowed half an hour to do it in, and were given tlie use ol tiie proto-machines, and were instructed to connect them at No I Steuton, before entering the danger zone. Not returning in half an hour, another deputy went to look for them, and saw their lights burning, and believed they were returning to the mouth of the dip. They were given a further ten minutes. They did not return, and the party became anxious. Dully then went in and be recovered .Maher’s body. He found that, apparently. the apparatus was not fully ,in

list'. Smith ami Cowan next went In search of Cord. C'owan returned and took off his apparatus. Smith, in the meantime had found Ford’s liody. Cowan, on returning collapsed at Smith’s foot. doranpdnp; the machine used by Smith, who then endeavoured to drag out Cowan, but- collapsed, and crawled out on his knees, and was also assisted by Duffy. Pearson then put on a proto apparatus, and went in search of Cowan and Ford. He did not return. Later the bodies of Pearson. Cowan agjd Ford were recovered in that order by Deputies lirowulio and J Pfeifer.

'I lie evidence made it appear a- if Ford b:n[ nut fully used bis maHime, aril that the oxygen in Pearson’s machine had not been turned on. Evidence was given by two experts as to the condition of the three machines used by Pearson. Maher and Ford, staling that they were in perfectly good order and condition. The Coroner stated he would take time to go through the evidence and would give his verdict on Friday morning ‘doth, in.st.