NORTH MT. LYELL FIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 45, 17 October 1912, Page 5

NORTH MT. LYELL FIRE.

SAVED FROM THE 1000 FT. LEVEL. THE TOTAL DEATH ROLL. (By Electric Telegraph.—-Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Hobart, October 16. The official reason given for the slowness of getting the cage re-working is that the skids are out of repair. It is now understood that the timbering in the shaft is so badly buckled and partially fallen in as to prevent ingress or egress that way. Fourteen of the survivors have been brought to the surface. Six dead bodies were discovered in the 850 ft. level, standing erect round an air drill, as if endeavouring to utilise it for obtaining air. It is reported that altogether twentyfour dead have so far been found. The main shaft being unavailable owing to the jammed cage, communication is being established with tho entombed men through the engine winze, to where the rescued are being brought. They are thence hauled in buckets to the surface. There is adverse comment on tits medium of rescue not being utilised earlier, instead of wasting time in efforts to release the cage. The bad condition of the air when the winze was holed through is the probable explanation. Brattices had to bo erected to improve the a:r, rendering progress very slow. Tho waiting crowds grew impatient, and made a hostile demonstration until assured that everything possible was being done. The telegraph service is badly overtaxed ,and the officials are worn out. ‘ Thirty-four survivors have been brought to tho surface. The majority are in good condition after their Jong entombment. A want of food is reported. Thirty-five more dead have been taken from the 80ft. level, making 4j known to have succumbed. The res cuers report that they counted seven teen in one heap there. Fifty, all alive, in the 1000 ft. level have been brought safely to the sur face, amid great excitement and pathetic scenes as each batch arrived. The exploration of the other levels it proceeding. There arc gloomy forebodings as regards the balance of the men, and ii is considered unlikely that any mort will be rescued alive. The fumes arc still bad, and exploration work is risky and slow. The return of the oxplor-, ers from the other levels is anxiously awaited. ’ . , : . . .ACCOUNTING' FOR THE ME^ (Received 9.85 ta.m.) 1 v -.ii,j fVJlelbourne,, .October, 16. , Ninety-live of tho entombed are.aecounted for so far, as follows: —Rescued on Monday: Foufsaved from the (,000ft. level; fifty. Dead, fifteen unaccounted for but it is feared the number of the dead is twentysix.

Ul -T TWICE LAY DOWN TO DIE,” Hobhrt, Qctobex 1 16. A message from Gorin an s town gives an account of an interview with Albert Mitchell, who i was rescued from lUUOfb. level. “I lay down to die twice, but kept myseif alive by ; wetting my head with copper water that- came through the holes bored by the diamond drill. About fourteen men dropped in Jess than an Jiour. We douced them with water, and turned the compres_sed air on cJiem. The candles burned out on Sunday night, and, then we were in darkness. We took turn to go to the shaft twice per shift for food. Four men went every time for ono was sure to drop. 1 thought every minute we would go. We could feej it was only copper water we had to drink, but it saved our lives.” Continuing, Mitchell said: “Soon after the alarm, Wright said, ‘Come on Mitch, we will walk to the loaders.” I replied: ‘No; the air is too strong.’. Wright went away, and I never saw him again. Riley went out. of the stope without saying a word to anyone. Some of the fallows who were the heartiest and seemingly the strongest were the first to drop on account oi the fumes, which took them all of a sudden. Their legs seemed to drop from under them.” Braise was awarded to John Ryan, shift boss, for his fine leadership. Ho sept many in the shelter of the stope wJien they were anxious to attempt to reach the surface.

THE WORK OF HEROES. Hobart, October 17. Interviewed at Gormanstown, Mr W. Jamieson, chairman of directors, mud ho was delighted at the rescue work. The tiling had been done as well as human endeavour could have done it. There was no trouble to get the men to work in the danger zone. The men behaved like heroes. “You bail only to ask a man,” he said, “to walk straight into the mine—filled, as it was. with poisonous gas, and half <i dozen would step forward. Everything is being done to explo.e the 85) feet level thoroughly. Before we brought up the men from the 1000 ft. level, we asked them whether we snoufd leave them there and search the 850 ft. level before rescuing, but they unanimously decided to be rescued first. They felt, as we and everyone feels, that the unfortunates in tne 850 ft. level are all dead. However. one or two may be alive, who existed without food.” Every endeavour is being made to speedily locate the company’s losses, which are estimated at £200,000, mainly owing to the stoppage for some weeks.