DISASTER IN A MINE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8469, 22 June 1907, Page 5

DISASTER IN A MINE.

I THREE MEN CUT OFF BY FIRE. By Telegraph—Press Association. INVERCARGILL. June 21. A serious fire broke out at six o'clock this morning in the Nightcaps coal mine. Three men were cut off—William Duncan, William Carson and Patrick Walsh. Duncan's body was recovered, but it is feared there is no hope of the | recovery of the others alive. A rescue party which was organised was unable to enter on account of fire-damp. The managing director of the Nightcaps Company states that as the mine manager is still in the mine conducting the fire extinguishing and rescue operations, full particulars have not yet reached him. The fire is raging near an out-crop. Duncan, who succumbed, was a deputy much esteemed by the proprietary. Rescue parties are hampered by black damp. By Telegraph—Press Association. INVERCARGILL June 21. Men engaged in the rescue work are doing all in their power to combat the. fire and some heroic attempts have been made to rescue the men still missing. All the men are married, and have families dependent on them. Further details show that the fire which has been troublesome in a slight degree for some months, suddenly increased in strength. At the time there were only a few men in and about the mine. Some members of the rescue party, who were suffering from the effects of black damp, received attention at the hands of Dr. Baird, of Otautau. who set out for Nightcaps as soon as the occurrence was reported. Duncan, whose body was recovered, has been in the employ of the company for over a quarter of a century, and was considered to be one of the best men it ever had. Carson and Walsh had worked in the mine for several years. By Telegraph—Press Association. , INVERCARGILL, June 21. Mr Handyside, managing director of the Nightcaps coal company, received word at 9 p.m. that the bodies of the two men, for whom parties were searching, had been recovered. =========== I