MINING DISASTER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 509, 16 October 1912, Page 5

MINING DISASTER.

NINETY MEN_ BELOW. HOPES OF RESCUE GOOD. By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright Hobart, Sunday. Nearly a hundred men are entombed in the North Mount Lyell mine, os tho result of a fire which broke out at noon on Saturday in the 700 ft level. The fire resulted from the blowing out of the water pump. The flames quickly spread to the chamber house, which was lined with inflammable wood, and in which oily waste bagging was stored. The smoke permeated the various workings where 150 men were employed. The alarm was quickly spread, and a number of men °scaped by the cage, about 50 reaching the surface, assisted by the heroic effortß of some miners, who battled through the smoke to help in the rescue. Compressed air at the rate of 77,000 ft per minute is being pumped into the workings, and other urgent efforts are being made to savo the entombed men. "GIVE US MORE AIR."

A telephone message was received from the 1000 ft level: "For God's sake give us more air."

One man was found dead in the 500 ft level. The rescuers were then driven back by the smoke. When the alarm was given 72 men escaped, but 93 are still entombed. HEROIC RESCUE ATTEMPTS. The rescue parties made desperate and heroic efforts to penetrate the deadly fumes arising from the ore. A magnificent spirit and splendid devotion is being displayed by all. One of the cages is being worked quickly inthe hope that it will act as a pump, and draw out the smoke from the mine.

The chemists and the mine officials hold the view that the men in the bottom levels have a chance to escape, as the tendency of poisonous fumes is to rise, not to descend. All admit, however, that the chance is a slender one. It is now feared that the loss of life will be heavy. A SURVIVOR'S STORY.

O'Connor, one of the rescued miners, in an interview, said he was working at the 850 ft level. At crib time on Satruday he was startled by hearing cries of "Fire." The smoke soon became so dense that he was unable to see. He and another number of other groped their way to the cage. When the caga was being drawn up, the smoke was so thick that they were almost hoked. They clung together to prevent themselves from falling.

O'Connor added that be had grave fears that for tnoae in the lower levels the only chance was that they might get to a dead end, and use the air being pumped into the mine.