THE OTIRA TUNNEL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 379, 3 May 1910, Page 5

THE OTIRA TUNNEL

FALL OF EARTH. . ') . TWO KILLED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Monday. Information lias been received by Messrs. McLean Urn-., contractors, that a fall occurred at the Bealey end of the Otira tunnel, with sumo lo«s of life. At lirst a serious disaster was fo.ired, but the latent lews states that t\Vi lives only were lost. FCKTIIER DETAILS. R ESC I E I'AIiTY ENTOMBED. Grey mouth, M°nday. The Otira tunnel collapsed at the Bealey end at S o'clock this morning, entombing a nunilier of miners. A search party went to the rescue, and they also were entombed. A apodal train is leaving here immediately, conveying doctors, nurses, etc. Later. The llealey tunnel catastrophe is not so serious as at lirst reported. Of the men injured one has a broken leg, one has hurt his hack, and one has a broken ankle. Of eight others rescued four are more or less injured. Two men are still unaccounted for. LIST OF INJURED. Wellington, Last Night. Messrs. McLean and Sons have received the following names of those injured in the Otira tunnel:—J. McKeich (broken leg), ,1. Shaw (broken ankle), J; Mahonev and C. Bray ('bruised shoulders and back}. Five men were caught under timber. Of these, three are known to be alive. The names of the five men are—C. Boomer, G. Pitts, J. Doyle, J. Duggan, and A. Baird. SENSATION JN GREYMOUTH. PROMPT RESCUES. ' LIST OF THE INJURED. Grey mouth, Last Night. A great sensation was caused in town this morning when the rumors were spread to the effect that a dire disaster had occurred at the Bealey end of the Otira tunnel. , The first news suggested that 20 men had .heen entombed, and that of these eighteen had boon killed outright. Later reports minimised the extent of the dis« aster. The latest information shows that at r.bout S o'clock this morning the roof at the Bealey end of the tunnel collapsed, entombing the men ordinarily employed at the face. A relief party was immediately sent in ibut another fall occurred, completely cutting them oil'. Steps were at <ynee taken to succour the entombed men, ani by 11 o'clock eight were safe, leaving two still missing. Of the eight who are safe four are injured, one suffering from a 'broken leg, another from injuries 10 the head, a third from a fractured ankle, and the fourth from injuries to the j'ack. The names of the sutferers are unknown. The fate of the two other men is un« certain, though it is feared that thay have, been killed.

j Immediately on the news being knowflt the District Traffic -manager, with come I mendable promptitude, arranged for & special train, which left for Otira at 11.15 and reached there at 1.30 p.m. On the train were Dr. Mcßrearty and Nurse Drewitte, with the necessary appliances for rendering aid to the injued. The men Pctts and Hand, when rescued, were found to lie suffering from minec injuries from shock and cold. The rescue partv had got Beemer'S shoulders uncovered, but the stuff wag still holding his legs. It was, however, expected that he would be extracted in ar. hour. Doyle and Dnggan appear to be alive, as they keep on tapping the water pipe. The rescue party are putting in a small heading, and hoe to get them out in the morning. The drive is being put in at the side of the hill. The tunnel men were timbering when the collapse took place. The injured men are staying at the Bealey till the morning, as the weather was considered too cold to ibrfng them on at night. They will come 011 to the Greymouth Hospital, this being the nearest. Two of the men who were onlf slightly injured went on to (.'hristchnrcfe' bv coaoh, and will be lodged in the hospital there. The train was got away with groat promptitude morning. The news did not reach here till after 9 o'clock, and the train with the doctor, nurse and ambulance wis despatched ai few minutes after 10. A special train was cent up aftei* wards. Twentv-five Blackball miners TOlurt* 'cored to help in the rescue of the Otira men if required. The names of the injured men are;—* Jas. Shaw, leg broken in two places. .las. McKeech, crushed foot, and head cut. Claude Bray, injured ba*k and head. Waller l'ae, cut about head and hands. .1. Mnloney. badly crushed while resell* inar 'titers. It was the two first named who wer| sent to Christehureh.

The Mavnr of Kutntira wired otlnng •20 minors i;' needed. A Wll'vK FROM THE MINE. i[ Wellington. Last Night. Mr Murdoch McLean. one of the contruclors constructing tho Otira tunnel* « received tlic following telegram from : Tiealey Fiat at 8.5 p.m.: —"'Pitts and Tiaird rescued. sufVorinj; from shock only. Can «ot hold (if Hecmer, hut his legs ... arc pinned down: hope have him out in.; about hnr. C>ui hoar Doyle and Duggas '•> tapping on water pipes. Have put ill * drive about four chais from fa<w length about' :ifl foot. Hone to have men out , early to-morrow morning. '<

M«K KM'H AXD SHAW. _ i Chmtohureh. Last Xig'it. ?; Two of the men injured in the OtiiU ,> tunnel accident are MeKeeeh, under* 'ij "round foreman, and .T. Shaw, tnicker« Thev arrived bv the late train from, ■ Broken River tn-ni<rht. and were taken j, to the hospital, where they are being j, operated on. Shaw i* suffering from a broken leg, . > and MeKeeeh from generat bodily in- > juries. .