BRISBANE EXPLOSION

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1928, Page 3

BRISBANE EXPLOSION

ENTOMBS COMPANY HEADS. (Austral in n Press Association.) BRISBANE, April 23. An explosion at Redbnnk Colliery, near Brisbane, to-day. entombed Mr P. [.estrange, managing director of the Redbnnk Collieries. Ltd; Mr G. Howells, deputy manager; and Mr .). Marsellar. one of the stall". To-day was a holiday at the mine and the three men descended early in the morning on a tour of inspection. They [ were not below long when a terrific explosion occurred, and pieces of the pithead apparatus were hurled high in the air. When hundreds of rescuers arrived, they found,the explosion had blown up one of the cages and wrecked the working gear of the other. The miners’ rescue brigade, alter a couple of hours’ work, improvised u means of descending. By this time many hundreds Imd arrived at the pit head and watched three volunteers descend. The latest advices state the searchers succeeded in getting down the shaft hut no hope is held out for the entombed men. who probably were killed instantaneously. The mine is a very small one. and nine the rescuers reach the bottom, their search should not he long. as there is only one tunnel. Mr Lest range is one of the most prominent men in the West Morton district, lie has been connected with mining all his life. (Received this day at *1 a.m.) BRISBANE. April 21.

A rescue party reached the bottom of the shaft which was cleared and then commenced digging away the debris in the tunnel and succeeded in reaching within a hundred yards ol the entombed men, when the air gate out. the air control apparatus having been blown to pieces by the explosion. Whet) oxygen cylinders were received the rescuers continued their elforts ami recovered Lest range’s hotly frightfully burned and scarred. apparently killed instantly. The explosion was so terrific that crockery in houses miles from the mine was thrown to the floor.

A.. L BODIES RECOVERED. (Received this dav at 8.30 a.m.) BRISBANE. April 21

The remaining two bodies entombed at Redbnnk Colliery were recovered five yards apart, where the explosion effects were the worst. Marsteller was severely burned. Ihe air below was foul and the rescuers had to retreat

on a couple ol occasions. It is believed the explosion was due to the presence of gas in the workings. Lest range leaves a widow and two children: Howell a widow and two children, and Marsteller a widow and sovon cliildron.