THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 704, 16 September 1914, Page 5

THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

FIFTY-EIGHT ENTOMBED. DEATH-ROLL OF KOKTY-TWO. One of the greatest mining disstKters yet recorded in New Zealand iook place on Saturday morning, when, sis a result of a fearful explosion in Ralph's mine, one of the two Huntly collieries owned by the Tuopiri Coul Company, Limited, lifly-uight minora were entombed. Of tliia number nineteen escaped alive, of whom one huß since died and at least two othera are lying in a serious condition, two at Hamilton Hospitol and nno in Huntly. The workings of Ralph'ti mine oxtend for milea westward from Huntly., and go under the Waiktito river. Ex • pertfl who had examined it declared it to be one of the safest conl mines in the wcrld, practically free from all formß of dangerous gaa. The mincre, numbering about 250, habitually worked with naked lights. There were two outlets to the min», the main shaft in the very centre of Huntly, and the intake ventilation shaft over a mile and a-half away to the westward.

The roar of the explosion, which occurred at twenty minutes past seven in the morning, was heard and felt for milea around, and a great cloud of smoke and dust, momentarily shot with flame, hovered over the main shaft. Within an hour seven men, four of them badly burned, emerged from the main shaft, and another eleven escaped practically uninjured through the western shrift. Thr< j o injured men were despatched immediately to the Hamilton Hospital. Rescue parties worked heroically, but for hours they wore beaten back by poisonoua gases and noxious fumeu. The mine was found to ho on (ire near the main shaft, and while large gangs attacked the (irea and subdued them, and attempted to repair the seriouelydisarranged ventilation system, the rescue parties entered the mine from the western shaft and fought their way slowly to the scene of the explosion, a distance which is ordinarily an hour's walk from the bottom of the shaft.

Here they found William Brocklebank crawling on hands aril knees towards the abaft and brought him out, the only man who was near Mie scene of the explosion to come out alive. He had been many hours unconscious, but was not seriously injured. An hour later, six o'clock on Snturduy night, Bearch parties brought out seven bodies, and, working without ceaaing all Saturday night, they recovered five more. The members of the toßtuc parties were frequently attacked with the deadly gases, but the gradual reesfahlishment of the ventilation system, gave them better air, and on Sunday they penetrated farther and farther into the affected areas. The bodies, as recovered, were laid sido by side in the Oddfellows' Hall, but the injuries were so terrible that identification was difficult. There were pUtiful scenes as the victims ere recognised by their relatives. Most of the dead and missing men were married.

NO FURTHER HOPE. 32 BODIES RECOVERED. [DY TELEGRAI'IT.—I'RKSS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, This Day. There is no further hope for the entombed miners at Iluntly. Thirtytwo bodies bo far have been recovered. The final death roll is believed to be 43. RELIEF FUND STARTED. Relief funds have been opened at Auckland, Huntly and the various Waikato centres in aid of the families of the' Unfortunate victims. Contributions to the fund at Te Kuiti will be received by Messrs Charlton and Willis, or the Chronicle office.