A MINE ON FIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8183, 16 July 1906, Page 5

A MINE ON FIRE.

FOUIJ MEN ENTOMBED. DUNEDIN, July 14. The Alexandra Coal Company's mine at Alexandra South is ou fire. Four men are entombed. Their names are:— Samuel Churchill William King Mhhaol Keane Archibald Bruoe Churchill is a married man with a family. The others are sinele men. Latest advices report that 150 men, with piok and shovel, suooeeded in turning water into the mine. The entomtied miners signal all well. Th< manager and other experienced miners express the opiaion that the men will be rescued safely be'ore night. THE MEN RESCUED. DUNEDIN, July 15. The fire was first noticed by B. Burgess, the engine-driver, who shut off steam ai a warning to t»e men below. Getting no signal iu return he at once summoned aid. He lowered his brother down the shaft, but the smoke was so dense that he had to hoist him up before be had gone lar. The firebell was then rung, by whioh time theshafb was ablaze; The people from the town and tb» dredge hands hastened to the scene of the fire and systematic attempts were made to resuue the entombed men, from whom signals were received showing that they were all alive. *.s all efforts to penetrate into the mine failod, a bucket brigade was first organised to pour water down the shaft. Then about 200 men set to work to divert the water race which supplies the borough with water so as to flood out the fire. Two hours saw this work accomplished, and after pumps bad been got to work it was seen that the fire was under control. Determined efforts were made to reach the men and a couple of rescuers reached the bottom of the"shaft, but were unable to go further By 4 o'clock in the afternoon the fire had been subdued, and the rescuers penetrated a distance of sixty feet, but owing to the heat and bad air could only remain below for a few minutes. The entombed men continued signalling, and this inspired the rescuers to renewedfefforts. About 8.30 o'clock one of the rescuers was brought up, and reported that the fire was all oat, and that the men were safe. They bad erected a barrier and kept the fire back from their quarter. It was expeoted that the men would be got out within an hour or bo. Ashworth, one of the rescuers, was badly affeoted by the fire-damp. Intimation came to hand to day that all the men had been safely rescued at 11 o'clock last night, and appeared not likely to suffer from the effects of the trying experience. The brave rescuers have also nearly quite recovered from their efforts.