FIGHT IN A MINE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81848, 18 September 1906, Page 4

FIGHT IN A MINE.

POLICE HKLU AT BAY BY RAND COOLIES. A sensation was recently caused n ihe West Rand by tin- discovery of three Chinese armed with Lee-Met-ford rifles hiding in a disused shaft. The p lice surrounded the shaft and sent doan a Chinaman to demand their surrender, but the reply was that the tirr-t man down wc-u.d be shot. The police camped around the shaft all night lighting up the veldt with fires. Next day a crowd of people went to the spot. Attempts were made to smoke the coolies out with a barrel of gelatine and with straw. Then dynamite was fired with detonators, but this proved of no avail. Finally a party of police arm ed with revolvers descended the shaft, crept towards the and fired half a dozen shots where the barrel of a Lee-Metford rifle projected. Luckily the coolies did not fire, although it was known that they possessed seventy rounds. The firing ex tinguished the lanterns,, and the poiice retreated. Later two coolies emerged, but the third man with his rifle was missing. It is believed that he was murdered and thrown into an underground pool- These coolies are the last of a gang of five who have terrorised the district for several days.