MINING DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3571, 4 December 1926, Page 2

MINING DISASTER.

EXPLOSIONS IN DOBSON COLLIERY. THREE MEN KILLED. HOPE OF SAVING FIVE OTHERS ABANDONED. Greymouth, December 3. The most shocking coal mining tragedy which has happened on the West Coast since the Brunner Disaster on March 2G, 189(1, occurred at the Dobson Mine at about 3.15 o'clock this morning, when two terrific explosions took place, trapping underground nine of the nighj. shift men. One man was killed instantaneously, two died shortly afterwards and Eric Ashton, the only survivor, lies in a critical condition in the Grey Hospital. The remaining five men, who were morking in the dip section, are entombed in the burning mine, which was sealed up this afternoon in an effort to extinguish the flames.' The intones of the victims arc:— KILLED: James Richards, deputy of Taylorville, unmarried. Robert Hunter, winehman, Dobson, unmarried. John Lindsay, miner, Dobson, unmarried. ENTOMBED. Thomas Black, miner, married James Marshall, miner, married. Alfred Noakes, miner, married. Ernest Brammer, miner, married. Edward Pardington, miner, unmarried. The only survivor of the explosion this evening is Erie Ashton, formerly of Ashburton. He is about 20 years of age and unmarried. According to telegraphic advice the Minister of Mines received last night from the superintendent of the State Coal Mines (Mr James) the five entombed miners have.been giv-‘ on up as dead, and hope of recovering the bodies at present was couched in the following terms: — “Myself, Millar, King (mine manager), Parsonage (mine manager), and Davis (inspector of mines) have been at Dobson since 6 a.m. today. We restored ventilation temporarily and inspected the mine as far as it was safe to do so. We found the mine on fire. “After the inspection and a conference with other managers, and also the union executive, it was unanimously agreed that the entombed men were dead, and that it was too dangerous to take any further risks. It was agreed to seal up both mine entrances and this work was nearly completed when a second explosion occurred, fortunately without further loss of life. “Have now decided to Hood the mine by pumping from the Grey River.”