FIGHT IN A MINE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8234, 11 September 1906, Page 3

FIGHT IN A MINE.

.POLICE HELD Al BAY BST RAND COOLIES. A sensation was recently caused in the Weßt Rand by the discovery -of three Chinese armed wilh LeeMetford rifles hiding in a disused shaft. The Folice surrounded the shaft -and Bent down a Chinaman to demand their surrender but the reply was that the first man down would be shot. The police uamped around the shaft all night lighting up the veldt with their fires. Next day a crowd of people went to the spot. Attempts were made to smoke tiie -coolies out with a barrell of gelatine and with straw. Then dynamite was fired without detonators but this proved of no avail. Finally a party of poliuo armed with revolvers descended the abaft, orept towards the deserters, and fired half a dozen shots where the bairell of a Lee-Metford rifle projected. Luckily the coolies did not fire, although it was known that they possessed seventy rounds. The firing extingaished the lanterns, and the police retreated. Later two coolies eirerged, but the third man with his rifle was misaing. It is believed that he was ■ muidered ana thrown into an underground pool. These coolies are the last of a gang of five who have terrorised the district for. several days.