TERRIBLE COALMINE DISASTER
EXPLOSIONS IN DOBSON MINE: NIGHT SHIFT ENTOMBED EIGHT MEN KILLED RESCUE WORK ABANDONED: BURNING MINE TO BE FLOODED Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, December 3. At ten minutes past 3 o’clock this morning a disastrous explosion occurred at the Dobson mine. The night shift were in the mine at the time, and they numbered ten. All were entombed. The names are:— JAMES RICHARDS, deputy, a single man, aged 40. ERIC ASHTON, trucker. ROBERT HUNTER, winch-driver. THOMAS BLACK, miner. JOHN LINDSAY, miner. EDWARD PARTINGTON, miner. ALFRED NOAKES, miner. ERNEST BRAMMER, miner, aged 40, married. JAMES MARSHALL. The explosion was of terrible force, and wrecked the telephone and telegraph wires and threw debris a distance of a quarter of a mile. Truck wheels were hurled from the mine mouth. RESCUED MAN DIES: FURTHER EXPLOSIONS IN MINE Later details state that of the nine men in the mine two had been rescued, but one died soon afterwards, and that the other is in a serious condition. A second explosion took place; the mine is on fire, and is to be flooded and sealed up, all hope of rescuing the entombed men having been abandoned.
MEN DESCEND MINE TO RESCUE ENTOMBED MEN. The fan of the mine was restarted at 4.30 a.zn., and soon after a number of men descended the shaft in order to attempt a rescue. In the meantime word was sent to the managers of the Blackball mine and the State colliery for the dispatch of rescue apparatus located at Runanga, while workers were summoned from Blackball. Most of the men entombed were comparatively new arrivals in the district. The Dobson mine is known to be rather gassy. FIVE MEN ENTOMBED The first news of the disaster had to be brought by car to Greymouth owing to the interruption of the wires. However, when the fans were restarted hopes were raised that the rescue of tho entombed men at the faces might be effected. There were five men engaged at the face when the explosion took place, while three were trucking at the time of the explosion. Subsequently two bodies were recovered, those of Richards and Hunter. Ashton and Lindsay were rescued and sent to the Greymouth Hospital. Five others are still entombed at 8.30 a.m., and there is little hope of rescue. HEARD MILES AWAY Two explosions occurred. The first, which was the greater, was heard at Runanga, six miles away. Much surface damage was done. Heavy colliery wheels were blown 400 yards away, and a 20-ton concrete block at the mine entrance was shifted a few yards. Houses at Dobson had their roofs pierced and windows broken by falling debris. The cause of the explosions is unknown. The rescue party cannot get beyond the main dip 1200 feet into the mine, where the workings sharply turn. At this point four men were found (Richards, Hunter, Ashton, and Lindsay). 'The other men were further in, and until the L*as clears nothing can he done for them. J. Smeaton, with the two other miners who formed a tunnelling party, had a lucky escape. They came out of the mine two minutes before the explosion to havf their “crib.” It was the first time they had thus come out for fully a fortnight. PATHETIC CIRCUMSTANCES Marshall, on© of the entombed men, attended the Grey Band’s solo competitions last evening and was given special leave to play first in order to get hack to Dobson for his night shift, and was placed first in the euphonium solo contest with 99 marks out of a possible 100, the judge remarking that it was an outstanding performance. Richards, who resided at Ta.ylorville, lost his father and uncle in the Brunner mine explosion 30 years ago. and two brothers were killed in the war. Richards was dead when the rescuers reached him. Hunter was alive, but was in a hopeless condition, and died soon after 6 o’clock. He was a nroininent local Methodist, and a nephew of Mr C. Hunter, formerly manager of the Dobson mine. Erio Ashton, who was removed to the hospital, formerly resided in Ashburton and joined the mine staff three weeks ago as a trucker. He was semi-conscious when rescued. He was terribly burned. John Lindsay was similarly injured and was totally unconscious. Both nr© in a critical condition. There are pathetic circumstances in connection with Thomas Black, who is entombed- His wife is an inmate of a nursing home with twins a few days old. Mrs Black’s father was killed some months ago at the Dobson Mine. Marshall is a married man with two children, Noakes a married man with no family, Brammer is married with no family, and Fardiugton is single. SCENES AT MINE The scenes at the mine mouth were full of pathos, where groups df women and men watched and waited. Dr. Violet Reins and Dr. Mcßrearty were early on the scene and did all that was possible for the rescued men. Further explosions are possible and warnings were given to the largo crowd which assembled. Another party of rescuers in charge of Mr D. J. Davis, Inspector of Mines, descended undaunted by the frightful risk, and after half an hour returned with the news of the failure to reach the entombed men. It is proposed now to seal the mine to put out the fire, as all hope of rescue has been abandoned. MINE ON FIRE “NO HOPE OF~RESCUING ENTOMBED MEN.” The following further telegram has been received from the O’hief Postmaster, Greymouth, iu connection
!with the Dobson Mine disaster:— “Dobson mine disaster: Min 6 on fire, impossible rescue parties enter, and decided to seal mine for three days; apparently no hope for five entombed men. Ashton died before reaching hospital.” I An earlier message from the Post- ' master refers to a tenth man involvi ed, name unknown, but this does ! not coincide with the other accounts. !He also stated that another explosion was feared. recentlylnspected NO DEFECTS REPORTED. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, December 3. *Oll receipt of the news of the Dobsou' disaster, the local directors of the Grey Valley Ltd., Company, owners of the mine, held a meeting, and at the conclusion a statement was issued that t!*o mine was inspected a fortnight ago by the , Chief Inspector of Mines and the 10. . cal inspectors, and no defects were I reported to the directorate. Thedirecj tors had no idea whatever as to how l the explosion could have occurred, or as to any contingent factors. The news had come as a very great shook to them. GOVERNMENTASSISTANCE NO EXPENSE TO BE SPARED MINISTER’S INSTRUCTIONS. The Minister for Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) stated this morning that he regretted the unfortunate occurrence at the Dobson mine very deeply. He was not in possession of all the facts, and therefore could not say anything at present in regard to the disaster further than that the fullest investigation would be made. Apart from the departmental investigation, an inquest wTH be held. Shortly after the receipt of the news of the disaster by the Mines Department instructions were issued to the officials of the State mine to do everything possible to render assistance in rescue work, etc. The TJndet-Secretary of Mines (Mr A. H. Tsimbcll) sent the following urgent telegram to the superintendent of the State collieries at Greymonth : “Please render every possible assistk ance in rescuing the men in the Dobson mine.” Later in the morning, nnon receipt of a further message from Greymouth, the following wire, was dispatched.:— “The Minister directs that no expense is to be spared by you in rescue work, and that if required arrange for special train or motors. Please wire me hourly results of rescue work.” The department points out that the accident occurred during the “dog” watch, which does duty from 10 o’clock at night until 6 the next morning, when the fewest number of men is employed in the mine. Had tlio explosion occurred cither in the course of the day shift or afternoon shift, the death toll probably would have been very much heavier, as many more men would be in the mine in the daylight hours. “MENAREIEAD” OPINION or CONFERENCE MINE TO RE FLOODED. Tlio following message was received last evening by the Minister from the superintendent of State Coal mines : “Messrs Miller (engineer), King (mine manager), Parsonage (mine manager), and Davies (inspector). have been at Dobson from 6 a.m. to-doy. They have restored ventilation temporarily, and inspected the mine as far as safe to do so, and found the mine on fire. “After inspecting the mine and conferring with the managers, also union executive, it was unanimously agreed that the entombed men were dead, and that it was too dangerous to take any further risk. “It was agreed to seal up both mine entrances, and this work was nearly completed when » second explosion occurred, fortunately without further lose of life. “It has now been decided to flood the mine by pumping from the Grey river.” A FURTHER STATEMENT FROM MINISTER FOR MINES “■WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS.” The Minister for Mines (Hon. Mt Anderson) said last night: “As long ago as April 3rd, 1925, I gave written instructions that the inspecting staff were to keep a close watch on the operations then being carried out, and to see that every precaution was tnken in the interests of , the safety of the men. These infitriMr
tions were given sihortty after the mine started working. X am advised thait the instructions given by me have been carried out by the responsible officers. The cause of the disaster will be thoroughly investigated. The chief inspector, Mr Bayne, left 'Wellington last evening for Greymouth.” A SECOND EXPLOSION SCENE OF DESTRUCTION NO FURTHER CASUALTIES. While crowds of peopile stood around the mouth and fanway at either end of the Dobson mine at 2.45 p.m. another big explosion occurred, as bad boon feared it would earlier in the day. The mine is burning frosn five foot of the main dip along the western end, and probably in. the two dips from the western level whore the bodies of five entombed men are located. The explosion blew out the temporary stoppings placed at bath, entrances to the workings, adding further havoc i to the scene of destruction. Dense smoke is emerging from tho entrance to the fan drive. It was thought that another blast might take place, and there was fortunately no one in tho j danger zone. This has destroyed the, last hope entertained that th 6 five men entombed might be alive, but the probability is they were all killed by the force of the first explosion as 1 they were in a dead end where the gas was thickest. TERRIBLY BURNED John Lindsay, a big man, one of the two surviving, died at 1.30 at the hospital. At 7.30 p.m. Air Ashton was reported to be still alive, but his condition is very grave. He formerly resided at Ashburton, and until three weeks ago was employed by the Railway Department on the West Coast. He went into the mine as a trucker. After being rescued he was in a semiconscious condition, and kept repeating, “I’m cold.” He was terribly burned. It was decided after this afternoon s explosion, which sent clouds of smoke and fumes skywards, that the mine bo rescaled, and the work is now being done with temporary stoppings, which will remain up for .some Hays. In addition to the steppings it has been decided also to flood the mine as the surest means of extinguishing the fire. Tho water will bo let into the working this evening. Tho operations are largely being directed by Mr George Miller, State miners' engineer, who had experience The following further telegram has been received from the Chief Postmaster, Grey mouth, in connection with the Dobson Mine disaster: “Dobson Mine disaster: Mine on fire, impossible rescue parties enter, and decided to seal mine for three days; apparentlv no hope for five entombed moll. Asliton died before reaching hospital.”
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New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12621, 4 December 1926, Page 5
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2,005TERRIBLE COALMINE DISASTER New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12621, 4 December 1926, Page 5
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