LATER REPORTS.

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

LATER REPORTS.

EIGHTY-NINE ENTOMBED. AIR BELIEVED TO BE GOOD. Hobart, Monday. The indications last night were that the fire had been subdued, having burned itself out on tha 700 ft level. A lamp and a notice board were lowered to the 1100 ft level but nothing was written on the board when it was hauled up. This is regarded as a hopeful sign, indicating that the men are away at dead ends and in places of safety. The light kept burning, which iB an additional favourable indication as regards the air in the bottom levels.

A rescued miner dressed in a diver's suit penetrated the 700 ft level but found no sign of any men. The fire had then almost burnt out, and the shaft was undamaged.

Allowing for the four rescued yes;erday the number still missing is S9.

The rescuers are working against great odds, the heat being intense and the smoke and fumes from the ores poisonous and suffocating. Two who penetrated the 500 ft level were unable to bring out a dead man, the smoke overcoming them.

Attempts to get ladder connection between numbers 2 and 3 levels and so reach the lower workings have so far proved futile. Two men, Figg and Scannall, who made separate efforts secure this, were overcome and had to be dragged out. The chairman of the Mount Lyall Company states that the latest information points to the belief that the entombed men are away from the main shaft, probably sheltering in the levels, which are wide and high and provide plenty of shelter in the stopes and winzes.

It is believed that supplies of good air exist in the lower levels, and compressed air is being pumped in.

Smoke from the shaft is decreasing.

Mr Sawyer, the New South Wales inspector, headed the leading gangs, repeatedly descending till overcome. The four men rescued were at the 400 ft level and had not suffered severely.