The Mine Fire.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 129, 18 October 1912, Page 5

The Mine Fire.

THE DEATH ROLL. By Cable—Press Association— Copyright. , „ Melbourne, Thursday. The ninety-five miners entombed are accounted for as follows:—Rescued on Monday, four; saved from 1000 ft. level on Wednesday, 50, and fifteen dead; twenty-six are unaccounted for, but it is feared they are dead. A SURVIVOR'S NARRATIVE. THE MEN'S EXPERIENCE. SHIFT BOSS' LEADERSHIP. Hobart, October 17. message from Gormanstown gives interview with Albert Mitchell, who was one of those rescued from the 1000 ft level.

"I lay down to die. Twice I kept myself alive by wetting my head. It was copper water that came through holes bored by the diamond drill. About fourteen men dropped in less than an hour. We douched them with water a,nd turned compressed air on them. The candles were burned out on Sunday night, and then we were in darkness. We took turns to go to the shaft twice per shift, for food. Four men went every time, for one was sure to drop. We thought that every minute we would go. We would feel that the air was bad, and we had only copper water to drink, but that saved our lives. Wright, soon after the alarm, said, 'Come on, Mitch., we will walk the ladders.' I replied, 'No; the' air is too strong.' Wright went away, and I never saw him again. Riley went out of the stope without saying a word to anyone. Some of the fellows who were the hardiest an<J seemed to be the strongest were the first to drop. This is accounted for by th« fumes, which took them all of a sudden. Their legs seemed to drop from under •them."

Praise is awarded to John Ryan ; shift boss, for his fine leadership. He kept many in the shelter of the stope when they were anxious to attempt to reach the surface.

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. : HEROISM OF THE MEN. • Hobart, October 17. Interviewed at Gormanstown, Mr. W. Jamieson, chairman of directors, said he was delighted with the rescue work. The thing had been done as well as human endeavor could have done it. No trouble, work, or danger was shirked by the men, who behaved like heroes. "You had only to ask a man to walk straight into the mine, filled as it was with poisonous gas, and half-a-dozen would step forward." Everything Is being done to explore the 850 ft level thoroughly. Before we brought up the men from the 1000 ft level we asked them whether we should leave them there and search the 850 ft level before rescuing them, but they unanimously decided to be rescued first. They felt, as we and everyone feels, that the unfortunates on the 850 ft levei are all dead. However, there may be one or two alive who have existed without' food. Every endeavor is being made to locate them speedily. The company's , losses are estimated at £200,000. mainly owing to the stoppage which will be necessary for'some weeks."

FIGHTING FOR LIFE. HOW THE MEN LIVED. Hobart, October 17. Gormanstown advices state that the search party returned from the 850 ft level at midnight. Ten bodies were found, making the total dead twenty-six. There are still twenty-two missing. The iron oxide gas' in number 22 stope is very bad. The investigations, which were interrupted by fatigue, will be resumed today.

McCoy, who was: rescued in .the 1000 ft level, stated that when the men realised the mine 'was afire one rushed to the air cock and turned it on. The air drove the smoke back, and held it at the shaft. All made towards No. 40 stope and managed to "reach it. On Saturday night Riley tried to get to the shaft as they ■were very hungry and anxious, fearing the air which they had switched into the drive to keep, the smoke back might give out. Riley only got fifty yards and fell dead. Later three others tried,- but never came back. It must have been Sunday morning when the gas began to beat the air pipes and come on to the stope. The smoke was being < driven away but was eddying back off the draught. Then the men began to drop like ninepins. He came to with men dashing cold water in his face. Ryan, at the critical moment, turned the pipes into the stope instead of down the drive as they had been, and the air, dashing against the rock, rebounded and drove the smoke away.

' Just previously Ryari had addressed the men and said, "If there is no hope we will die bravely." All those conscious had sat back against the rock and prepared for death. Then Ryan got the idea that saved them.

KIND ONLY TO BE CRUEL. THE LIST OF THE DEAD. Received 17, 10.30 p.m. Hobart, October 17. An apparently purposeful effort on the part of the men and officials to keep the ■women in the dark until it is definitely ascertained who are dead, renders it difficult to obtain the names. So far as is ascertainable, the following forty-two, including those already cabled as dead, or missing, are to be accounted for'r Bray, Burke, Bourke, Boden, Brooke, Bennett, Bolton, Creedon, Dacey, Gays, Green, Guy, Home, Hill, Jones, Jenkins, Jul], Lewis, Leeman, Moore, Maher, Mitchell, McCarthen, McCullough, MeCloughlin, McMasters, McCasliling (or McCashland), O'Dea, O'Keefe, Park. F. Rolfe, P. Rolfe, Reilly. Studwell, Saunderson, Scott, Smith, Treverton, W. Tregonning, J. Tregonning, Valentine and Wright. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. Received 17, 10.40 p.m. Hobart, October 17. The Assembly met and the Premier and Leader of the Opposition agreed that in view of the Lyeil disaster they were unprepared to proceed with business, and the House adjourned until next ■week.

SURVIVORS' STORIES. NOBLE RECORD OF HEROISM. Received 18, 12.20 a.m. Hobart, October 17. Further interviews with the rescued confirm the statement that if the men in the 850 ft. level had treated the warnseriously they could all have escaped. Bennett stated that he treated it more or less as a joke, and sat down to eat. It was not till he was again warned by the smoke that he attempted to reach the cage. Many men were overcome after they reached it. There were numerous instances of splendid self-sac-rifice. Trevertot, one of the missing, helped a sick man to the cage, and jrhco urged himself to enter it replied

that he was going round to see if he could get any more boys. Cox, the foreman, remained below helping till he was werconfe. Bennett was sure that no one would be able to live two minutes in the fumes. Ryan, the hero of the 1000 ft. level, was one of the worst sufferers. He deprecated his own noble efforts. As soon as he saw it was going to be bad he got the men down the stope. He thought that if the air had failed, another twentyfour hours would have seen the end of the boys.