BORING FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1932, Page 5

BORING FATALITY

THREE MEN GASSED TRAGEDY NEAR WANCANUI. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WANGANUI, July 14. One man its dead and two otneis are in a critical condition as the result of. being overcome by gas fumes, wlii.e engaged in well-boring on a farm at Matarawa, nine miles from the city, this morning. ; It appears a. young man named John William Johnston, aged 18 years was overcome on descending the well. His uncle, Robert Johnston, a'.single farm hand, aged about 55 years, went to the rescue, but he was asphyxiated immediately.' A third man Harkness, the owner qf the properly, was • lowered into the 'We'll, but on reaching the bottom, he •was overcome, and when' hauled to the surface, he was unconscious, and (black in the face. He remembered nothing. - ' '■'/The Wanganui Fire Brigade rushed •to the scene ori hearing of the accident. ; ’ ■V Superintendent Williams descended the well, wearing n emoke mask, and bbth the Johnstons were then hauled to the surface. /. uncle was dead. m,: A later report says that the nephew is still unconscious, and was admitted to the hospital in a serious condition. i! 'Harkness has recovered from the effecte. . ' . > 2s -The well was down fifty feet, with a bore forty feet further down. - The bore is supposed to have struck a'gas stream. ' wmmmmmmmmmmmmmm