SHOCKING DISASTER AT COLLIERY

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1926, Page 13

SHOCKING DISASTER AT COLLIERY

EXPLOSIONS SHATTER THE DOBSON COALMINE EIGHT MEN HOPELESSLY ENTOMBED IN WRECKED PIT TWO INJURED MEN RESCUED; TWO BODIES RECOVERED A disastrous explosion shattered the Dobson coalmine at Greymouth at 3.10 a.m. yesterday. The night shift was in the mine at the time and ten men were entombed. Of these two were rescued in an injured condition, two were found dead and six are still entombed. Hope of their rescue has been abandoned, and it has been decided to seal down the mine to extinguish the fire resulting from the explosion.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Greymouth, Dee. 3. The explosion was one of terrible force. It wrecked the telephone and telegraph wires and threw debris a distance of a quarter of a mile. Truck wheels were hurled from the mine mouth. The fan of the mine was re-started at 4.30 aun. and soon afterwards a number of men descended the shaft in order to attempt a rescue. The men concerned in the tragedy are:— James Richards, deputy, single, aged 40. Eric Ashton, trucker. Robert Hunter, winch driver. Thomas Biack, miner. John Lindsay, miner. Edward Partington, miner. Alfred Noakes, miner. Ernest Brammer, miner, aged 40, married. James Marshall. Word was sent to the managers of the Blackball mine and the State colliery. The rescue apparatus was located at Runanga and workers were summoned from Blackball. Most of the men entombed are comparatively new arrivals. in the district. The Dobson mine is known to be rather gaseous. The first news of the disaster had to be brought by car to Greymouth, owing, to the interruption of the wires. However, when the fane were re-started, hopes were raised that the rescue of the entombed men at the faces might be effected. There were five men engaged at the face when the explosion took place,'while three were trucking at the time of the explosion. Subsequently, two bodies were recovered, those of Richards and Hunter. Ashton and Lindsay were rescued and sent to the Greymdujh Hospital. The five others were etill entombed at 6.30 with little hope of rescue. • TWO EXPLOSIONS OCCUR:

Two explosions occurred. The first, which was the greater, was heard at Runanga, six miles away. Much surface damage was done. The heavy colliery wheels were blown 400 yards away and a 20-ton concrete block at the mine entrance was shifted a few yards. Houses at Dobeon had their roofs pierced and windows broken by falling debris. The cause of the explosion is unknown, and it is believed that it never will be discovered. The rescue party cannot get beyond the main dip at 1200 feet in the mine, where the workings sharply turn. At this point four men were found (Richards, Hunter, Ashton and Lindsay). The other men are further in, and until the gas clears nothing can be done for the entombed nien. The working of the mine engine was stopped, through fear of further explosions. J. Smeaton, with two other miners forming a tunnelling party, had a lucky escape. They came out of the mine two minutes before the explosion to have their "crib.” It was the first time they had thus come out for fully a fortnight. .. - Marshall, one of the entombed meh, attended the Grey Band’s solo competitions last evening, and was given special leave to play first in order to get back to Dobson for his night shift. He was ultimately placed first in the euphonium solo contest, with 99 marks out of a possible 100, the . judge remarking that his was an outstanding .performance. PATHETIC SCENES AT PITHEAD. The scenes at the mine mouth were full of pathos where groups of women and men watched and waited. Dr. Violet Reins and Dr. Moßrearty were early on the! scene and did all possible for the rescued men. Further explosions are possible, and i warnings were given to the large crowd which assembled. Another party of rescuers in charge of D. J. Davis, Inspector of Mines, descended undaunted by the frightful risk, and after half-an-hour returned with news of failure to reach the entombed men. It is now proposed to seal the mine to put out the fire, as all hope of rescue is abandoned. Richards resided at Taylorville and his father and uncle lost their lives in the. Brunner mine explosion 30 years ago. Two brothers were killed in the war. Richards was dead when the rescuers reached him. Hunter was alive, but in a hopeless condition and died soon after 6 o'clock. He was a prominent local Methodist and a nephew of C. Hunter, formerly manager at Dobson.

Eric, who was removed to hospital, formerly resided at Ashburton and joined the mine Waff three weeks ago as a trucker. He was semi-conscious when rescued and kept rep eating "I’m cold.” He was terribly burned. John Lindsay, who was similarly injured, was totally unconscious and both are in b critical condition. Pathetic are the circumstances in connection with Thomas Black (entombed), whose wife is an inmate of a nursing home with twin? a few days old. Mrs. Black’s father was. killed some months ago at the Dobson mine. Marshall is married with two children; Noakes is married with >.o family; Brammer is married with no family; and Partington is single; TENTH MAN MISSING. Wellington, Dee. 3. A telegram has lieen received by the

Secretary of the Post Office from the postmaster at Greymouth giving similar details to the message already sent, but it adds that a tenth man, unnamed, is missing and that another explosion is feared. MINE RECENTLY INSPECTED. CAUSE OF DISASTER A MYSTERY. Christchurch, Dec. 3. On receipt of the news of the Dobson disaster the local directors of the Grey Valley Collieries, Ltd., the company owning the mine, held a meeting and at the conclusion, a statement was issued that the mine was inspected a fortnight ago by the chief inspector of mines and the local inspectors, no defects being reported to the directorate. That directors have no idea whatever as to how the explosion could have occurred, or as to any contingent factors. The news has come as a very great shock to them-. A tragic coincidence at Dobson is that the father of James Richards was killed in the Brunner disaster in 1896. MINISTER’S SYMPATHY. ASSISTANCE FOR RESCUERS. Wellington, Last Night. The Minister of Mines, Hon. J. G. Anderson, .in the course of a statement to-day, said he regretted the unfortunate occurrence at the Dobson mine very deeply. He was not in possession of all the facts, and therefore could not say anything at present in regard to the disaster, further than that the fullest investigation would be made. Apart, from the departmental investigation, an inquest will be held. Shortly after the receipt of the news of.the disaster by the Mines Department instructions were issued to the officials of the State mine to do everything pos; sible to render assistance in rescue work, etc. The Under-Secretary of Mmes, Mr. A. H, Kimbell, sent the following urgent telegram to the Superintendent of State collieries at Greymouth: "Please Tender every possible assistance in rescuing men in Dobson mine.” Later in the morning, upon receipt of a fur ther message from Greymouth, the following wire was dispatched: “Minister directs that no expense is to be spared by you in rescue work, and that, if' required, you arrange for special train or motors. Please wire me hourly results of rescue work.”

The department points out that the accident occurred during the “dog” watch, which does duty from 10 o’clock at night until 6 the next morning, when I the fewest number of men is employed in the mine. Had . the explosion occurred either in the course of the day shift or the afternoon shift, the death toll probably would have been very much heavier, as many more men would be in the mine in daylight hours. THE LATEST REPORT. ANOTHER VICTIM SUCCUMBS. Greymouth, Last Night. While crowds of people stood around the- mouth and fairway at either fond of the Dobson mine at 2.45 p.iii. another big explosion occurred, as had been feared it would earlier in the day. The mine is burning from the foot of the main dip along the western end, and probably in the two dips from the western level where the bodies of the five entombed men are located. The explosion blew out the temporary stoppings placed at both entrances to the workings, adding further havoc •to the scene of destruction at-the mine. Dense sinora is emerging from the cntrhnee to the fan drive. It was thought that another blast might take place, and there.was fortunately no one in the danger zone. ■ This has destroyed the last hope entertained that the five men entombed might be alive, but the probability is they were killed by the force of the first explosion, as they -were in a dead end, as it were, where, the gas-was thickest. John Lindsay, one of the two surviving the explosions, died a 1.30 p.m. at the hospital. At 7.30 p.m. Mr. Ashton was reported to be still alive at the hospital, but his condition was very grave. He formerly resided at Ashburton, and until three weeks ago was employed by the Railway Department or the West Coast. He then left the department's staff and went into the mine as a trucker. After being rescued he was in a semi-conscious condition am! kept "repeating “I’m cold.” He was terribly burned. It was decided after this afternoon’s explosion, which sent a cloud of smoke and fumes skywards, that the mine be re-sealed and the work is now being done with temporary stoppings, which will remain up for some days. In addition to- the stoppings it has been decided also to flood, the mine as the surest means of extinguishing the lire. The water will be let into the workings this evening. Operations are largely being directed by Mr. Georg: Miller.- Slate mines, engineer, who. had experii I e in 1896 in the Biunner dis LAST DAMAGING EXPLOSION.LOCAL HOUSES SUFFER. Grey mouth, Last Night. A furilivi violent explosion at 9 p.m. was reffi.-ted in the town by the. momentary extinction of the electric

light.- The powerhouse is half a mile from the mine. It is evident that the cause, of the explosions is gas accumulation due to the lire, but it is anticipated that the effect of the explosion will be to extinguish the fire. The explosion at 9 o’clock damaged a number of houses in the. vicinity of the mine, the inmates of which left them and came to spend the night in Greymouth. Quantities of stone were deposited upon one house. Ashton’s condition remains unchanged. Operations to cope with the lire were suspended before 11 p.m., as it was feared that further explosions would occur unless the mine was left open overnight. .Flooding from the river will be used in the morning. The 9 p.m. explosion did more surface damage than previous ones. All the people in North Dobson left their bom -s, including the following families: Forde, Thompsons, Carsens, Messrs. Roberts and Eder, and Mesdames MeLusky, Templey and Erskine. The explosion crossed the electric lines in front of the Wallseiid mine, causing a short circuit, but the town supply was not affected. It is not expected there will be any more explosions to-night, as the mine is now open and explosive mixtures cannot be formed. Ashtpn’s condition is improving and is mow hopeful. ’ FURTHER EXPLOSIONS OCCUR. NO FURTHER INJURIES. Grey mouth,- Last Night. A further explosion occurred at 2.45 p.pir. blowing out the temporary stoppings at both entrances to the mine. Nobody was injured, ns the explosion was expected and the crowd kept back. THE MINE TO BE FLOODED. CAUSE TO BE INVESTIGATED. Wellington, Last Night. A message received to-night by the Minister from the Superintendent of State Coal Mines states that- a conference of inspectors of mine managers, inspected the mine and found it on fir >. It was agreed that the entombed men were dead, that it was dangerous to take further risks, and that the mine entrances should he sealed up. This was partly done when the second explosion occurred, fortunately without loss. It has now been decided to flood tlxmine by pumping from the Grey River. The Minister stated that as long age as April. 1925. he gave written instructions that the inspecting staff were to keep a dose watch on the. operations in the mine. He was advised that these instructions had been carried out bv the officers: The cause of the disaster would be thoroughly investigated.