RECENT COALMINE TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40026, 21 November 1929, Page 3

RECENT COALMINE TRAGEDY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

Invercargill, November 20

“Ary verdict will be in accordance with the evidence I have. taken,” said the Coroner (Air. W. 11. Woodward, S.Af.) at' the conclusion of the inquest to-day on the victims of the Linton coalmine tragedy of last Friday, when Robert John Johnston, Antonio AlcCoy and Harry Kitto lost, their lives.

The first witness called was Robert Wilson, underviewer in the mine, who stated that on the morning of the explosion after seeing the men go into the mine to commence work, witness in company with the. mine surveyor entered the mine to do some measurement woiflc. When they reached the second of the places to be measured the explosion occurred. “Immediately after the explosion all the men in that section met to-, /gether in the main dip,” he said, '“and we decided to proceed up the dip as far as we could’ go. Harry Kitto and Robert Johnston were then with the party which numbered about 19.. We then agreed to proceed up the dip in a body and when we came up to the mouth of number two lay-by we were stopped by immense volumes of smoke. “I then asked the men to wait where they wefe while I went through this myself to try and find the shortest exit to get the men to fresh air. When I arrived at the other side of the intake airway I found the conditions there worse •than ever. The fumes seemed so hot and the smoke so thick that no ionc could have lived in such conditions for any length of time. “I went back to the men and told them how I had found ‘the airway and I asked them would they follow me up the main drive if I took the lead. They all agreed to follow me. Kitto and Johnston were there when we started up the drive. We were not in very bad condition where we 'were standing. It was*, more dust than smoke and fumes. (Constable Aloore: It was practicallv a. case of every man for himself?

Witness: Yes, I suppose it was, more or less, but we were helping each other. One man was hanging on to my body and I was holding another man around the shoulders. “We continued up the main drive and shortly after I fell into a manhole and from then on it is practically a dream to me. I remember crawling along l the drive, but how far I don’t, know. I myself was knocked out by the gas which I believe was the cause of the death : 0 £ Johinston and Kitto. This gas was smoke.and the “after damp” which follows an explosion. The effect on me was similar to that of '“white damp” (carbon monoxide) wliich is the"product of the explosion. I do not know • how AlelGoy met his death. I remember nothing of how I got out of the mine. I was carried out by the rescue party.