THE DOBSON MINE DISASTER

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3572, 7 December 1926, Page 2

THE DOBSON MINE DISASTER

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST,

Greymouth, Last Night. The inquest concerning the Dobson tragedy was opened at GreVmouth to-day by Coroner Meldrum. John Smonton, miner, of Dobson, said that about 2.50 a.m. on December 3, be left the bottom of the main haulage dip, and came to tho top for another load of material. On S'eaching the top he said to his two mates that they could make it crib time, as they would not have time to go down with another load. They left the mouth of the mine, and retired to a small cabin where a coal fire'was burning, about half a chain from the line of the dip. They had been sitting in the cabin about twelve minutes when they heard a terrific explosion and after a flash like lightning, a smaller explosionfollowed a few seconds later. He went out to investigate after the debris stopped falling. He said fo his mates: “I think the boiler has blown up.” They found the boiler all right. Witness then wondered whether the powder magazine had gone. Nimmo reached the magazine first and sung out (hat it was safe. Witness turned in the direction of the mine moult h and said: “Oh, God, Ihe mine's gone.” He then sent Nimmo for the mine manager and underviewer. Acting under (he instructions of the manager, witness took charge of I he mine-mouth and later led a party into the mine. Witness was tied on the end of a rope, with the manager, Nimmo and Watkins next in that order. About half a 'chain from the bottom of the stone dip, witness heard men moaning. Witness released himself from the rope and went to the winehhouse, where he found Ashton standing up against the drum of the ait’ winch. He was fearfully burned and was groaning and moaning. Witness told Ashton that- lie would he all right and asked him to lift his leg over some timber in the road, as he was so badly burned that witness handling him would give great pain. The rest of tlie rescuers arrived, and Ashton was placed on a stretcher and taken to (lie surface. Witness then went a few feet into the cabin behind the electric winch, and found the driver, Robert Hunter, lying on bis back terribly burned. Two feet, further away, John Lindsay and about four feet away Jns. Richards, the mine-deputy was lying dead. The men were all in the winch chamber, where they would have their crib. Witness later identified the four men, whom he knew. Senior-Sergeant P. J. McCarthy who was conducting the ease, said he did not intend to call further evidence meanwhile, and the inquest was adjourned sine die.