WEST COAST MINE CATASTROPHE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12622, 6 December 1926, Page 7

WEST COAST MINE CATASTROPHE

WORKMEN SAVED FROM BEING KILLED BY WARNING RUMBLE RESCUED MAN (ERIC ASHTON) DIES IMPRESSIVE SERVICES AT FUNERAL OF FOUR OF THE VICTIMS Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, December 5. The third explosion at Dobson mine on Friday night moved a block of concrete weighing many tons ten feet, and rocks were hurled half a mile away. The mi ne is now being flooded, a process that will take several days. The rescued man (Eric Ashton) died from injuries. There was a very large attendance at the funeral of the victims.

Following the thiril big explosion at 9 p.m. on Friday tlie exports decided that the only recourse was to flood the mine. Accordingly the PowerHoard stall were engaged yesterday installing the wiring for the pumping plant, the work being hampered by the fact that the explosion on l-'riday night brought down the wires. However, pumping began at 3.40 p.m. yesterday at a rate of thirty thousand gallons per hour from the Grey river, the water entering at the exhaust on the fan outlet on the western side. It was feared that further explosions might occur, but the apprehension was not borne out. Tho pumping apparatus to-day was augmented and enabled fifty thousand gallons hourly to be lifted. At this rate it will require two or three days to extinguish the fire which is deep down in the dips where five miners were engaged at tho time of the explosion, and whose bodies remain underground. Friday night’s explosion was preceded by a warning rumble. One man hurried away, called to his mates to follow and they just got to a point of safety when a terrific explosion hurled debris hundreds ot yards and rock of about 150 pounds weight a distance of quarter of a mile. Near the hotel another big stone crashed through the roof of Mr Roberts’s house and fell close to a sleeping child. About ten houses were then vacated in North Dobson. The first explosion blew one block of concrete of 20 tons weight from the entrance of the mine and last night s explosion blew the same block a further ten feet. Friday afternoon’s explosion ot 2.55 o’clock was not so severe. ERIC ASHTON DIES The death occurred yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock in the hospital of Eric Ashton, trucker, the fourth of the meu got out of the mine oil Friday morning, thus every one of the nine men within the mine when the original explosion occurred lost their lives. Ashton regained consciousness at brief intervals and was thought to be recovering, but sank to a dying condition yesterday afternoon without giving any information as to the location of the explosion. His father and brother arrived half an hour later by express from Ashburtou. The wife of Thomas .Black, one ot those whose bodies remain in the mine, after giving birth to twins a few days ago, is reported to be in a grave condition, consequent on learning of her husband’s fate. IMPRESSIVE BURIAL SCENE Between 3000 and 4000 attended, the funeral of the four victims to-day. JThe deceased were: Deputy John Richards, aged 43 years, single, and a native of BrunUer. John Lindsay, miner, 40 years of age, single, a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland. Eric Ashton, trucker, 26 years of iige, a native of Ashburton and till recently a railway employee. Robert Hunter, aged 21 years, single, winch driver, and a son of tho manager of the Hunter Hctberington Collieries, Rotowaro. A train of twenty coaches conveyed the mourners from Brunner to the cemetery, and residents from every district in the Grey Valley as well as other mining centres, were present The Municipal Band played the dead march and other appropriate music. The burial service was a combined one by Archdeacon Carr, tho Rev. Martin (Methodist), Salvation Armv captain, and the Worshipful Master, Mr Hugh Hart, of the Advanced Masonic Lodge of Brunner. The Druids were also present, Richards being a member of that Order. The services were impressive, and

deep feeling evident on every hand. AGES OF ENTOMBED MEN The ages of the men whose bodies remain entombed are:— Ernest Brammer, married, 42 years of age. Alfred Noakes, 40 years of age. James Marshall, 40 years of age. Edward Partington, 34 years of age. The Mayors of Greymouth, Brunner and Runanga also Mr Janies O’Brien and others are organising a relief fund. Tho Mayor of St. Kilda (Dunedin) has already lent his co-operation. It is expected that Mr Walter Leitch, the original manager ,of the Dobson mine will arrive on Tuesday, and the directors, Messrs Hognrth, Chellington (chairman), and Catclipole (Auckland) are coming here. Many messages of condolence have beon received by the Mayor of Brunner. The coroner, Mr Meldrum, S.M., hold an inquest to-morrow at midday, and an inquiry will follow later.

FLOODING DOBSON WORKINGS A LUCKY DECISION THREE MENESCAPE DEATH Per Press Association. GRiiYMOl'Tri, December 4. further explosions were expected at Dobson, but none occurred since last night. Flooding operations are progressing. The funeral of Richards, Lindsay, and Hunter will take place to-morrow at Ixaroro. Special trains are running. A largo public attendance is expected. Ashton, the soie survivor, who is in hospital, was reported at 11 a.m. to-day to be very weak. SUPPER IN THE OPEN Three members of the watch, Jack Smeaton, Tom Nimmo, and W. Chetwynd, had a miraculous escape. They were employed in transporting rails from the mine entrance to the bottom of the dip, and just at crib time were at the surface. They accordingly decided to have it in the open-air instead of joining their comrades in the mine. Before they again descended the explosion occurred. The enginedriver, A. Robertson, was the only other wan on duty at the surface at the time. Smeaton is president of the Grey Valley Miners’ Union. EVERY PRECAUTION TAKEN MINISTER’S INSTRUCTIONS. The Minister for Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) states that as long ago as April 3rd, 1925, he gave instructions that the inspection staff was to keep a close watch on the operations then being carried out at the Dobson mine, and to see that every precaution was taken in the interests of the safety of the men. Those instructions were given shortly after the mino started working, and he was advised that the instructions had been carried out by responsible officers. HEARTFELTSYMPATHY MESSAGE FROM GOVERNORGENERAL. The Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) has received from His Excellency the Governor-General a message asking him to convey to the families of those who have lost their lives in the Dobson mine disaster the heartfelt sympathy of Her Excellency and himself in their sad loss. Mr Stewart and the Minister for Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) have also forwarded telegrams of condolence to the bereaved.