Terrific Disaster

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 125, 14 October 1912, Page 5

Terrific Disaster

NORTH MT. LYELL MINE IN FLAMES. A HUNDRED MEN ENTOMBED. PATHETIC SCENES. RESCUE WORK PROCEEDING. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Received 14, 12.25 a.m. Hobart, October 12.

A hundred men have been entombed in the North Mount Lyell Mine, as the result of a Are, since noon on Saturday. The fire occurred on the 700 feet level, and was caused by the blowing out of a water pump. The flames quickly spread to the chamber hohuse, which is lined with inflammable wood and stored with oily waste and bagging. Thence it spread to the ore body, which ignited. The fire spread with alarming quickness, and the smoke permeated the various workings, where 150 men were employed.

| FIFTY ESCAPE. HEROIC HELPERS. Received 14, 12;50 a.m. Hobart, October 13. The alarm quickly spread, and numbers of men escaped by the cage, about fifty reaching the surface, assisted by the heroic efforts of some miners who battled through the smoke.

News of the outbreak was sent to Queenstown, and doctors and other helpers quickly arrived, including many men from the Mount Lyell Mine. PUMPING COMPRESSED AIR. THE WORK OF RESCUE. Received 14, 12.50 a.m. Hobart, October 13. Rescue parties are at work under the directions of the general manager find the engineer of the Lyell Mine. Compressed air at the rate of. 7000 feet a minute is being pumped into the workings, and other urgent efforts are being made to save the entombed men.

A PATHETIC MESSAGE. THE SCENE AT THE MINE. Hobart, October 13. A telephone message received from the 1000 ft. level said, "For God's sake give us more uair." Dense volumes of smoke are issuing from the main tunnel. There is a big crowd round the mine. At last reports four men had been rescued from the 500 ft. level, which is regarded as about the worst position from the point of view of smoke. This lends hope that most or all will be rescued. ,

LESS HOPEFUL REPORTS. RESCUERS DRIVEN BACK. NINETY-THREE STILL ENTOMBED. Received 14, 12.50 a.m. Hobart, October 13. Latest reports are less; hopeful. One dead body lias been found in the 500 ft. level. The rescuers were then driven back by the smoke.

When the alarm was given, 72 had escaped, but 03 arc still entombed.

A SURVIVOR'S NARRATIVE. Hobart, October 13. O'Connor, one of the rescued, interviewed, said that he was working in the 850 feet level. At crib time on Saturday he was startled by cries of "Fire!" The smoke was- soon so dense that they were unable to see. He and a number of others groped their way to the cage. When being drawn up the smoke was so thick that they were almost choked, and had to cling together to prevent their falling. He had grave fears for those in the lower levels. The only chance was to get to the dead-end and use the air being pumped in. One cage Is working as quickly as possible to act as a pump drawing out the smoke.

STRENUOUS RESCUE WORK. SPLENDID DEVOTION. Gangs are removing the filling of some of the passes to allow more air to enter. Received 14, 1.3 a.m. Hobart, October 13. Strenuous rescue work was unremittingly continued throughout last night. To-day a hundred miners flocked from surrounding districts. As one party retired exhausted many others were ready to replace them, and made desperate and heroic efforts to penetrate the deadly fumes arising from the ore. A magnificent spirit of splendid devotion is being displayed.

AT THE PIT MOUTH. A PITIABLE SCENE. Hobart. October 13. The scene at the mine is pathetic. Strong men with tear-stained faces are standing in groups, hoping for the best. Streams of people from the surrounding townships have gathered at the mouth of the mine.

DIVERS' SUITS USED. Divers' suits are being obtained, and will be utilised for penetrating the lower leyels. SMALL CHANCE FOR THE ENTOMBED Received 14, 12.50 a.m. Hobart. October 13. Chemists and mine officials hold the view that the men at the bottom levels have a chance of escape, as the tendency of the poisonous fumes is to rise, not to descend, though they admit tlyit the chance is slender. It is now feared that the loss of life will be heavy. The fire is still spreading.