LINTON DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1929, Page 3

LINTON DISASTER

STORY OF EXPLOSION

TOLl) AT INQUEST

(Ry Telegraph—Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, November 19. “ Mv verdict will be in accordance with the evidence I have taken,” said the Coroner (Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M.), at the conclusion of the inquest to-day on the victims of Linton coal mine tragedy of last Friday, when Robert John Johnston, Antonio McCoy and Harry Kitto lost their lives as the result of an explosion in the North West Head of No. 1 mine. As L have explained, I have confined my inquiry to the immediate cause of death, and, in view of the more detailed enquiry which is promised, I have not gone into the cause of the explosion. Jt will lie an open verdict—that the three decased met their death on November loth as the result of. asphyxiation, .caused by an explosion in No 1 Linton. mine.. I .‘shall, say nothing' jibout the causes, of the explosion, as I do not think it necessary ior me to inquire into them, in view .of the .further enquiry that is promised later,” concluded .the Coroner. . . '

, The inquest was commenced at Riverton at 1 .JO o’clock, and extended into j the evening, it being necessary -to, change the venue ort' two. occasions ,—first from the courthouse to Riverton Hospital to allow the i evidence of one of the injured mon to be. taken,and later to Nightcaps, where further evidence of miners was heard.

The inquiry was conducted by Constable Moore. Mr Wm. Mae Alister appeared on behalf of the Linton Coal Co., and Mr Gordon J. Reed on liehalf of the Miners’ Union and the relatives of the deceased. Others who were present and participated in the inquest were Messrs J. A. C. Bayne (Chief Inspecting Engineer of Mines and Chief Inspector of Coal Mines, of Wellington), Mr Q. Duggan <lnspector of Mines for Otago and (Southland), and Mr C\ J. Strongman (Inspector of Alines for 1 Westland).

A Gt? APIIIC ACCOUNT. ■ - • ■ . • • • 1 The first witness called was Robert' \yilson, nnderviewer in the mine, who stated that on the morning of the explosion,' after 'seeing the men go into the mine, to commence work, witness, in company with the Aline Surveyor, entered the mine to do some measurement work. He continued: “ (Then they reached the second of the pieces to be meaured.- the explosion occurred. Immediately after the explosiou all the. 'men in that section met together on the Alain Dip, ‘aiul we, decided to proceed up the Dip as far as we could go.” He continued : —“Harry Kitto and Robert Johnston were then with the party, which numbered client 19; AVe then agreed to proceed up the Dip in a body, and when we came lip to the'mouth of No. 2 Layby, *we were stopped bv immense volumes of sinoke. I then asked the men to Wait Where they were, while I: went through' - tins myself to try and find'-the shortest exit to get the men to fresh air. AVlien--1 arrived at the other side of the intake ] airway, I found the conditions there were worse than ever. The fumes j seemed so hot and the smoke so thick I that no one could have lived in such I conditions for any length of time. 1 went hack to the men, and told them How 1 had found the airway, and I asked them would they follow me‘up the Alain Drive if 1 took the lead. Thev all agreed to follow me. Kitto and Johnston were there then. AVe .started up the drive. AVe' were not in very bad conditions where wff were' standing. It was niore'dust than smoke and fumes. --

; Const;*bio Moore: “It was' pfactic- •< case,of everynjan for himself ? ” ’ Witness:, “Yes. I suppose it was, more or : less, but we were all helping each other. One man was hanging-on to my body, belt, and 1 was holding another man around the shoulders. We continued up tlie ; main. Shortly after I 1 fell into a manhole, and, from then on it- is practically a dream to me. I remember crawling along the drive, but bow far I don’t know. I myself was knocked out by the gas, which, I believe, was the cause of the death of .Johnston and Kitto. This gas was smoke, and the “ after damp ” which billows an explosion. The effect on me was similar to that of “white damp ” (carbon monoxide), which is the product of an explosion. I do not know bow McCoy met bis death. I remember nothing of bow T got out of the mine. I was carried out by a rescue party,” concluded Wilson.

cAitse of ‘Th e explos 1 ON. r Geo. Duggan, Inspector of Alines lor tlie Southern District, stated: “I am convinced that the explosion of gas originated at, or • near the manhole, where AlcCoy was found. It was piimarily a gas explosion.” MATCHES FOUND. The enquiry was then adjourned to Riverton Hospital, where the evidence of Robt. Ross was taken. The injured man is suffering from burns to the head, face, and arms, and was swathed in bandages. In the course of his evidence, witness said: “I do not know whether at any time my mate had gone down t!n> mine with' matches or cigarettes, and can throw no light oil the cause of the explosion whatever.”

The Coroner: “You had no reason to suspect that there was any gas in the mine where you were?” “ 1 don’t know. There is always likely to be a little about at Nightcaps/’

James Edward Lewis, Aline Manager of the Birchwood Coal Coy., stated he was one of the rescue party that entered the mine almost immediately after the explosion. He was with the party that found McCoy and later Kitto. AlcCoy bad on a fawn-coloured woollen- cardigan jacket that was charred in parts. A badly burnt woollen cardigan jacket was produced, and witness admitted that it was very similar to the one worn by AlcCoy.

At the request of Air AlacAlister, witness examined the, pockets of the cardigan and produced a book of cigarette tissues and two live matches.

'Medical evidence was given by Dr Geo. AVood, who said that he was of opinion that the three men died from asphyxiation. John Richard Henwood, Dog Watch Deputy at the mine, said he had made an inspection of every working place in the mine, and also the travelling roads. Everything was normal, and he had made his usual report. Witness had only been engaged in this class of work for a- week, and during that period he had found no traces of gas in the mine.