WHEN THE COALPIT “FIRES.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4488, 6 November 1922, Page 4

WHEN THE COALPIT “FIRES.”

“The pit’s fired!” When these dread words flash thiough the pit village—perhaps in the night hours—mining folk recognise the struggle they wage against the gre,at forces of nature in carrying on their vocation. It is 11 p.m. Jack Smith, just returned home from hewing in the third shift, is washing before the kitchen fire. His wife stops tremulously in preparing his supper. “What’s that, lad ?” she asks, anxiously. “Mebbe a bit thunder,” says Jack, carelessly. His wife tries to emulate the unconcern Of her Jack, But she ;S plainly disturbed. Her firstborn, a smooth-faced lad of sixteen, is in the pit. Feet begin to patter on the pavement outside Jack Smith’s cottage. Presently Lizzie hears voices. She goes to the door. A man is hurrying by. Half-asham-ed of her fears, Lizzie speaks tp him. “Is there something the matter ?” she asks, “Yes—the pit’s fired.”

She rushes back to her Jack. Her face is deadly white. The picture of her smooth-faced boy has leapt into her mind.

“What’s up, lass ?” asks Jack. “The pit’s fired.”

Young Tom Banks is in bed. He went to bed at ten o’clock so as to be able to get up without undue difficulty at three o’clock. Not long married, his three-roomed home smacks of newness.

He is a young man who is trying to “get on.” Already he has won his certificate as an under r manager. A St. John Ambulance medallion hangs from his watcln-.chfl.in, and he. is a member pf the local rescue brigade. He knew, then, that he was not training for fun. Some day—any day —the call might come. It has come to-iiight.

Tom’s young wife is shaking with fear. Almost unwillingly she brings !his pit clothes from the cupboard under the stairs.

After Tom has gone she steals with other women to the pit-ihead. Lizzie Smith is in the throng. They have all gone to seek the answer to ,a great soul-shattering enigma. Eighty men are down the pit. Which of them will.come out alive?