A BURNING COAL MINE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8158, 16 July 1906, Page 2

A BURNING COAL MINE.

FOUR ENTOMBED MINERS. RESCUED AFTER TWENTY HOURS. FIRE SUBDUED AFTER STRENUOUS EFFORTS. BRAVE RESCUERS. PER MESS ASSOCIATION. Dunedin, July 15. Fire broke out shortly after three o'clock on Saturday morning in the Molynoux Coal Company's miue, about two miles from Alexandra, There were four men working in the mine at the time : Samuel Churchill, William Ring, Michael Kean, and Archibald Bruce. All were single except Churchill, who has a wife and family. The fire was first noticed by B. Burgess, the engine driver, who shut off steam as a warning to the men below. Getting no signal in return, he at once summoned aid.

He lowered his brother down th ■ shaft, but the smoke was so dense that he had to hoist him up before he had gone far. The fire bell was then rung, by which time the shaft was ablaze, the staging and poppet heads being on fire.

People from town and dredge hands hastened to the scene of the fire, and systematic attempts were made to rescue the entombed men, from whou. signals were received, showing that they were all alive.

As all efforts to penotrate into the mine failed, a bucket brigade was first organised to pour water down the shaft. Then about 200 men set to work to divert the water race which supplies the borough with water, so as to flood out the fire. Two hours saw this work acc implished, and after the pumps had been got to work, it was seen the fire was under control. Determined efforts were mado to reach the men, and a couple of rescuers reached the bottom of the shaft, but were unable to go further. By four o'clock in the afternoon, the fire had been subdued, and rescuers penetrated to a distance of 60 feet, but owing to the heat and bad air, could only remain below a few minutes.

The entombed men continued signalling, and this inspired the rescuors to renewed efforts. About 8.30 in tho evening, ono of the rescuers brought up a report thai the fire was all out, and that the men were s.ife. They had orcctcd a barrier, and kept tho fire back from their quarter. It was expected that the men would be got out within an hour or so.

Ashworth, one of the rescuers, was badly all eted by fire damp. Intim ition came to hand to-day that all the men had been safely rescued at 11 o'clock last night, and appeared no! likely to suffer from the efforts of their trying experience. The brave rescuers have also nearly quite recovered from their efforts. Mr E. G. Green, Inspector of Mines, who left Dunedin on receiving news of the fire, reached tho mine in time to see I he men rescue.!.