The Colliery Disaster at Lithgow. Noble Efforts of the Resouers. (From Auckland "Star," Feb 24.)

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 143, 27 February 1886, Page 3

The Colliery Disaster at Lithgow. Noble Efforts of the Resouers. (From Auckland "Star," Feb 24.)

From Sydney papers to hand to-day we learn further particulars of the catastrophe at Lithgow Colliery, by which three livea wero sacrificec 1 . On the night of 14*-h inst. it was reported that the Litbgow Colliery Company's mine was full of smoke, and evidently something had occurred in the mine to set it on fire. John Doig, manager of tho colliory, with Charles Younger, a bank-man, proceeded to the mine, and, entering tLo tuimcl, endeavoured to as- ! certain the circumstances which had led to the report. While in the mine they were joined by a young miner named William Martin, and another day workman named William Rowe. Eventually the smoke became overpowering, and the meu had to retreat. On their way back they came to a new crosscut, which had juat been started in tho mine, and Doig said he would see whether he could go up this crosscut, and open a heading opposite the boiler and furnace, where it was supposed the fire was. Martin here became sick and unab'e to benr the smoke and the accumulating bad ai M and said he must go out of the pifc. Ifc was then about half-past 12 or 1 oVock in tho n?orning, and, leaving the others, Martin came out of the pit, Rowe giving him a message to Howes friend that he was in the mine. No danger waa apprehended, and, wishing the men good night, Martin went away, Early next morning tho miners who went to work found that they could not enter any distance because of tho smoke- and heat, and immediately an alarm was raised. Volunteers were very quickly at the mine, and immediately made pieparations to enter it, and search for the miesing men. The smoke and heat were unbearable, and several members of the search party were overcome by foul air and had to be conveyed back to the mouth of the tunnel. One of those overcome was the son of Rowe one of the missing rren. He was carried out of tho mino quito insensible. Doig was first found. Two of the searchers, on reaching the crosscut where the formor had parted from the missing men on the previous night, took a route which they supj] posed Doig and his companion muet have gone, and after proceeding a short distance they heard a sigh and a groanjj Searching in tho vicinity, they discovered Doig lying near the side of the passage, quite insensible, and apparently swollen through inhaling the foul air. So bad \\ n the air that tho rescuers were obliged for -> mrb of their journey to crawl on . ,Vir Lauds and knees. They lifted D.-v f om the ground, and as qunkly as pot ibio carried him to a part of tho mine whcio tho air was purer, and eventually ho was taken to his residence, but without hiving recovered consciousness. Shortly afterwards Doig's two companions. Younger and Rowe, were found quito dead, and showing signs of having been dead for at least four hours. The bodies wero lying in the same drive a& that in which Doig waa discovered, though nob in the same heading. They were cloee together, Younger on hfe face, and Rowe on his back. Rowe had in his hand Younger's lamp as well as his own, from which it might be inforred that Younger was the first to swccuinb. Mr Doig, as telegraphed, died shortly after removal to his house. Half an hour before ho breathed his last he seemed to partly recover consciousness, but not sufficiently to either make any statement or recognise any one. ll is death destroys the only chance there was of ever learning anything of the circumstances that occurred from the time he and his two unfortnnato companions parted from Martin until they were overcome by the foul air, Late&t advices state :— Nothing new has to bo recordod at the mine except that tho work of bricking up tho various tunnels is being rapidly proceeded with. There is a fear that the tire will be fed by air from the Eskbank pit, the workings of which are connected with those of the Lithgow Valley Colliery in one or two places ; but Mr W. Pitt, tho manager of tho former, has given instructions to wall up the su3pected places. Of course, the air in the workings is still veiy foul, but the smoke and damp are shut off by a canvas brettice, erected under the supervision of Mr J. B. Turnbull, who has been the active pp'nit of the work of recovering the bodies and making provision for extinguishing the fire. It is thought that once the tunnol is closed the fire will die out in three weeks ; but if it is supplied with air from the other pit, or from tho roof, which is very thin in places, it may take months to accomplish this. The heroism of the rescuing party cannot be too highly lauded. They fought back the smoke and the deadly carbonic acid gas with more than the pluck it takes to face a batteiy. Time after time they fell fainting on the floor of the tunnel, and had to be borne away aud attended to save their lives ; but with true British and, it may bo added, Australian dauntlossness, -whenever a man dropped out there were two to tako his place if need be. Sevoral had very narrow escapes. A son of the unfortunate man Rowe, himself a miner, had to bo restrained in his filial bravery, and, as it was, nearly succumbed. John Sheedy, a towering 6ft 4in native of the mountains, proved himself a true man. He was the first volunteer to accompany Martin, and his great strength and endurance were invaluable. If ever a man deserved tho Humane Society's medal, he doos.

To titk Puniito.— l, the undersigned, do this clay make the following statement, in hopes that others "who have gone through a bimilar aftliction may profit thereby :— For many months have I been sick ; so had that life was a burden. The mental depression and physical prostration were something that cannot he described. Doctors and patent medicines I have tried without any relief, but getting worse all the time. As a forlorn hope I called on Dr. Speer, Palmerston Buildings, Qucen-strcoi. He examined mo, and without asking a qucs'ion, gave mo every symptom I had. Said ho avou ld treat me. From the fli-st teaspoonful of his medicine I felt relief, and have boon constantly getting better ever since. Words cannot express my gratitude The above statement I make without any solicitation, and I am willing to verify the same before a J.P.— ltespcol fully yours, 11. Adambon, Charlotte-street, ISrton Torraco.