OVERCOME BY GAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1081, 19 September 1930, Page 1

OVERCOME BY GAS

TWO MEN KILLED IN COAL MINE TRAGEDY IN SOUTH OTAGO Press Association DUNEDIN, Thursday. The Bruce Railway and Coal Company’s coal mine at Waronui, South Otago, was the scene of a tragic accident today when two men lost their i lives. They were: | James Carruthers, aged about 40, mine manager, a married man with three childreh. Joseph Morris, miner, married. Mr. Carruthers and Mr. Morris had | resumed work after the lunch hour at driving a new air shaft into the mine ! workings, the former air shaft having j been blocked by a fall of earth. The new shaft had been completed for j slightly more than 30ft, at which point j there were two sharp dips to the roof jof the mine. On knocking off the planking of the mine roof there must have been a sudden rush of carbon dioxide gas, by which they were overcome. RESCUERS DRIVEN BACK j They signalled for assistance to two miners, Messrs. Henreich Hansen and Robert Boyd, who were work- | ing on the surface. Mr. Hansen j rushed into the drive but was immediately driven back by the fumes. Mr. Boyd attempted a rescue, but was also driven back. Mr. Hansen then rushed away for assistance to another fihrt of the mine some distance away. Mr. Robert McDonald came with a rope and, with this attached to his body, proceeded into the drive, hut he was overcome by the fumes and was pulled out by Hansen and Boyd in a semi-conscious condition. After receiving medical attention he was removed during the afternoon to the hospital at Milton. He was reported tonight to be progressing favourably. Gas masks were procured from exservicemen in Milton, but these proved useless for rescue purposes, and nothing could be done until the arrival by motor-car of a party from the Kaitangata mine, equipped with the proper appliances. This party consisted of Messrs. William Carson, J mine manager, Frederick Carson and | George Duggan, inspector of mines 1 for Otago. Mr. Duggan happened to j be visiting Kaitangata when the news f of the tragedy came to hand. The party arrived at Waronui at 1 about 4 p.m. After fitting on a gas . helmet, Mr. William Carson entered \ the shaft and almost immediately dis- | covered the bodies, which were lying j about 35 feet from the entrance. He I had to make several trips, coming out j for air, before the bodies could be } taken out. BODIES RECOVERED ! After strenuous and heroic work under most dangerous conditions, the bodies were recovered. Mr. Carru thers’ body was the first to be recovered, being brought out at about 4.45 p.m. Mr. Morris’s body was recov ered at 5.25 -p.m. Artificial respira tion was applied without avail, and the bodies were conveyed to Milton. Mr. Carruthers was a returned soldier, having served in the Rifle Brigade and Tunnelling Corps. He had held the position of mine manager for more than 10 years. -Mr. Morris had been employed at the mine for a considerable period. This is the first fatal accident that has occurred at the mine since it was i opened more thau 20 years ago..