TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT MANGAHA

Otaki Mail, 3 July 1922, Page 3

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT MANGAHA

SEVEN MEN LOSE THEE* LIVES. ANOTHEK IN SEKIOUS CONDITION BY GAS FUMES. Shortly after nine o'clock last night two men on the shift in tho Arapeti tunnel did not appear when expected, and the men at the sub-station became uneasy and thre" entered the tunnel. Twenty chains in tbey found they could get no farther owing to the presence of gas fumes. They came out and wore joined by Engineer Miller and another. All five entered the tunnel, but did not re-appear. The sub-station attendant, when relieved at 10. SO entered the tunand found tho men all overcome. He gut out and gave the ahum. The camp tvas around and rescue parties brought the. men out, and artificial respiration j was tried for ninety minutes without \ result. The names of the deceased are: — I

W. K. -Miller, assistant engineer, single. Dunedin. 11. F. Maxwell, tunnel foreman. Wanganui, married, five children. F. Birss, tunueller, Arthur's Pass, married, four children. W. Birss. son of above, tunueller, single. P. Graham, tunnelier. Arthur's Pass, married, four children. F. Graham, tunueller. Hastings, mar ricd. four children. B. Butler, pump attendant, single, ohannon. It. was 2.30 this morning when the men were got out. Ail their heads were pointing towards the entrance to '.he tunnel, indicating they were making their way out. Triggs and Kinzett, who were prominent in the recovery of the bodies, vi-fre overcome by the f times, and the latter has been rent to the Palmerston North hospital in a serious condition.