Disaster in a Mine.

Manawatu Herald, 22 March 1902, Page 2

Disaster in a Mine.

A mining disaster has occurred at the Cardigan Proprietary Company’s property at Ballarat. The water broke into the mine suddenly. McGrath, Hegarty and Simpson escaped, but Musfield, Hunter (2), O’Keefe, W. Simpson and King are still below, with little hope of escaping drowning. Latest reports show that after several hours’ pumping there was thirty feet of water in the workings. It is considered there is no hope for the six men below. A great crowd gathered at the mine, and there were pathetic scenes. It is impossible at present to state the cause of the inrush of water. McGrath, on the way out, saw the bodies of Mansfield and Hunter, senior. He states that the shift of nine man want on at midnight An hour and a half later McGrath heard a noise like rolling thunder. A rush of air extinguished the lights. He Simpson and Hegarty were suddenly burled to the ground in a deluge waist deep. They regained their feet, half drowned, and groped their way to the dark shaft. Clinging together, they succeeded in passing the cataract pouring from the top drive, where the inrush occurred. At the shaft they found King and Simpson, junior, in a weak condition. They talked things over. McGrath, seeing it was his only chance of life, decided to plunge down the man-hole. He tried to persuade the others to follow. After a terrible experience McGrath made his way out and gave the alarm. Simpson, senior, and Hegarty escaped by swinging themselves down the caps of timber. Simpson, junior, and King refused to risk it, believing themselves safe. The remaining four men in No. 2 rise, where the inrush is supposed to have ccourted.