MINE EXPLOSION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 700, 28 November 1933, Page 5

MINE EXPLOSION

(Press Assn.-

GAS IGNITES one man killed and two others injured MANY NARROW • ESCAPES

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

Greymouth, Monday. An explosion oecurred at the main level of the Paparoa Mine shortly after work commenced at 8 o'clock this morning. Frank McQuoid, single, aged about 40 years, a native of Ir eland, was killed. Frank Martin, had a leg broken and received cuts on the head and burns. William Walker, single, aged 35 years, was knocked over by the force of the explosion, and received burns on the arms and head. McQuoid and Walker were workmates and were at the face. Walker left his working place with a truck, the explosion occurring during his absence. Martin was working 50 yards away, and was knocked over by a truck, which was driven along the level by the force of the explosion. Working Alone McQuoid was at the face alone at the time of the explosion which apparently was at a spot about 50 yards distant in the roof of the main west level. The cause of the ignition of the gas, has not yet been aseertained. Martin was driving a hors.e drawing six empty truclcs along the west level where the explosion began. Walker encountered the explosion when he was returning with a truck load of timber. Both the injured men escaped the full force of the blast which, igniting the coal dust, travelled along into McQuoid's jig where deceased received the full ei> fects. Falls of Coal There were at the time 20 men in the colliery and nearly all felt the force of the shake being thrown off their feet in many instances and falls of coal were caused in several places while trucks and pieces of timber were hurled -about. Martin's leg was probably broken by a truck striking it. Walker appeared to have been very fortunate in escaping without worse injury owing to the presence of after-damp gas. The horse Martin was driving was cut and ; singed and ealced with coal dust. Martin was brought down the steep , mountain track where a doctor at- j tended him before his conveyance to Greymouth hospital by ambulance. I Walker was able to walk down and | later same to Greymouth. Miners Knocked Down j No other miners required treat- j ment. Among the miners flattened on j their backs by the explosion were j Andrew Leitch, another named Climo, ! and Martin's 19-year-old son, who | stated that the experience was ter- j rible. All rushed to the rescue of the ' men injured and to McQuoid's face. : Mr. Strongman, the mine inspector, confines his statement so far to the fact that the explosion was due to gas ignition, but the cause of the ignition is as yet a mystery. The Paparoa Mine had been worked on tribute lines by a party whom the company paid so much per ton. The mine was opened in 1908 by the Paparoa Coal Coy and cost £70,000. The injured men to-night were progressing favourably. An inquest and. inquiry will open on Friday.