Mt. Lyell Disaster

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 86, 1 November 1912, Page 5

Mt. Lyell Disaster

Murdering Miners

By P. H. HICKEY.

If ever a mining horror was directly duo to gross neglect and monopoly meanness, the Mt. Lyeli disaster was so duo. If the provisions of the Tasmanian Mining Act had been enforced, there would not) have been a single fatality. If the combine that owned the mines had not been suffering from an acuto attack of thrift the fire would never have- originated. Because of the thrift from which £5000 a yoa'r mining officials were suffering, one of the most valuable (copper mines in Australia has been seriously damaged and scores of hearts are sad, scores of eyes are dimmed—and sobs and tears and heartaches abound in Tasmania aud on the mainland.

The fire commenced at the 700 ft. level, originating through the fuse of a motor blowing out in the pumphouso and causing the oil and cottonwasto to ignite. The pump-house itself was built of highly-inflammable timber, which was soon enveloped in flames. The pump-tender was out at the time on the 1100 ft. level, he having to attend to pumps there as well as at the 700 ft. level. Upon his return the fire had such a hold that it was impossible for him to •extinguish it. TTe rang to the surfaco and cave the alarm.

If. insffad of having one man tryinc: to do two men's work, fho piiTPr c hnd been properly manned them would hnve been no fire. But an extra man would cost money! Hence the calarr-

ity. News spread through tho mine, and men rushed the plat. Confusion arose. The men at the various levels rushed the telephone, several endeavoring to use it at once. Meanwhile, the smoke was growing denser and denser. It was almost impossible to see, let alone breathe. Some 50 men reached the surface. Later three or four more were hauled up the shaft.

Around the mine mouth an indescribable scene, heartrending in its awful vividness, took place. The rain was coming doWn in torrents, and standing in the rain for hours, drenched to the skin, were mothers, wives, sisters, sweethearts, fathers and brothers of the entombed men. What was the fate of those below? Would succor be rendered in time? Hour after hour, in light and in darkness, the watch was kept. Ever the question was: Would help ever be rendered to those below? From the shaft mouth dense volumes of smoke were pouring.

Rescue parties began to enter the mine. The first of these was led by Albert Gadd, men 'a check-inspector, whom th<f men had had to back up by a stoppage of work in order to compel the company to permit the mine inspection to take place. Accompanied by four mates, Gadd, through the blinding smoke, descended the shaft, and parts of the workings were penetrated. Gadd was hauled to the surface unconscious. Later he reported having come across a dead body. That was the beginning of a lengthy death-roll. Gadd's heroism was of the highest order. Words fail to fittingly express one's admiration of such conduct.

And Gadd was but 'one of dozens. They carried their lire? in their bands. They looked into the face of death, but went steadily on. Their mates ivefe in deadly peril. Help must rtfaeh them. Oh, you Mt. Lyell industrialists, staunch unionists every one; you are sublime! Through smoke and dangerous gases, time after time rescue parties went. "Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for another."

Eventually, by the use of smoke helmets, parties of men were located and assistance rendered and lifo saved. But tho missing? They were callously murdered if ever a body of men were murdered. Thoir murderers, in all probability, will not only be "whitewashed," but commended for their actions during catastrophe Already the fulsome flattery has commenced.

I had left Mt. Lyell the samo week as the disaster occurred. I talked to dozens of men, and ono and all were most emphatic in their opinion that unless another exit was furnished, some awful tragedy would take place. In a resolution passed at a union meeting ■a week before, the local mining inspector was condemned and the Government was called upon to comnol observance of the Mining Act. Throe wcokn before, Labor Mom her O'Koefo cnllerl the attention of tho Minister of Mines

Mt. Lyell. A week later Ogden, I M.H.A., did the same thing. j

A second exit did exist. Not long ago it fell in, and tho company was too mean to re-opea it. The mine inspector was too impotent to enforce it.

Among those working at Mt. Lyell wore a large number of New Zealand miners, particularly from Waiuta and Globe Hill. I cannot discover whether any of them are among tho murdered. Some are almost certain to be. A brother of H. Kennedy, of Waihi, is among those who escaped, as is also Lnu Lanqdon, well known in the Grey and Buller districts; also R. Spencer, Into of Millerton, and one or two Oth-

As a result of this slaughtering of miners, I left Tasmania earlier than I anticipated. I left it wrapped in a mantle of grief.