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TUNNEL COLLAPSES.

AT BEALEY OPEKIN-S!'

TEN MEN ENTOMBfcD.

By Telegraph—Press Association GREYMOUTH. May 2.

Shortly before 9 o'clock, this morning, the Bealey end of the Otira tunnel fell in, entombing a number of men. A rescue party was also caught by a second fall of earih. At 11 o'clock the tunnel manager telegraphed: —Started off inside end of the opening out, and fell all of a lump. Five men caught, and one alive. As far as we know four badly hurt. One with leg broken. Tunnel still falling inside."

A RELIEF TRAIN

At, 10.45 a special train was sent to Otira with doctors, nurses and miners. GOVERNMENT ACTION.

When the news of the accident reached him, the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) telegraphed to Mr Gavin, Public Works Department engineer at the tunnel: "I reg-et to hear of the accident in the Otira Tunnel. I will be glad to know wnat facilities there are foe medical assistance, and for nursing, and for what may be required, as the Government will send a special train with all assistance necessary immediately. Kindly wire me fully." Mr Gavin replied:—"Thanks for your wire. Special train arranged, arriving first opportunity fsom Greymouth with doctor and nurses, who will proceed at once to Bealey Flat. Arrangements have been made to take the men to hospital. Ten men are involved. Cannot yet give list of their injuries."

THE LATEST. TWO WEN STILL IN THE DEBRI?.

By Telegraph—Press Association. GREYMOUTH, May 2.

The news here is very brief, but the latest message states that ten men were entombed, of whom eight have been recovered. Four were injured, and four apparently were not any worse for their ordeal.

Two miners were still in the ruins at 10.30.

A great sensation was caused in the town, as the nsws at first was of a mostalarming nature.

FIVE MEN STILL ENTOMBED.

By Telegraph —Press Association, Received 5.5 p.m. GREYMOUTH, May 2. The "Star's" special reporter advises that two injured men have been sent to Ghristchurch by the ordinary coach and three are at Bealey. Five men are still in the tunnel, and a gang is working, removing fallen debris. The five men can be heard by the rescuers. NAMES OF THE ENTOMBED MEN.

THREE KNOWN TO BE ALIVE,

Received 6 p.m. GREYMOUTEI, May 2.

The managers of the Wellington office of the contractors, Messrs McLean and Sons, havo received the following names of those injured at Otira:—J. McKeich, broken leg; J. Shaw, broken ankle; J. Mahony and C. Bray, bruised shoulders and back. Five men were caught in the under timber. Of these three are known to be alive. The names of the five men are:—-C. Beem?r, G. Pitts, J. Doyle, J. Duggan and li. Band.

RESCUINU THE ENTOMBED FlVlii.

SPLENDID WORK ACCOMPLISHED.

MEN STILL ALIVE,

By Telegraph —Press Association. GREYMOUTH. 11.30 p.m. Pitts and Baird were got out, and were found to be suffering from only minor injuries, shock and the cold and dnmp. The re&cue party have got Beem?r's shoulders uncovered.but ' the stuif is still holding his legs. It is expected that he will be extricated in an hour. Doyle and Duergan appear to be alive at the face, as they keep on tapping the water p'pe. The rescue party are putting in a small heading, j and hone to get them odt in the morning. The drive is being put in at ihe side of the hill the tunnel 1 men were timbering when xhe cavein took place. The injured men are I staying at the Bealey till the morning, as the weather was considered too coid to bring them on to-night. They will come on to Greymowth Hospital, being the nearest, 'two of the men, who were only slightly injured, went on to Christchurch by the coach, and will be lodged in the hospital there. The train was got away with great promptitude this morning,and afterwards 25 Blackball miners volunteered to help in the rescue if required. The names of the injured men arc!:—Jaa. Shaw. leg broken in two places; Jas. McKeecb, crushed foot and head cut; Claude Bray, injured back and head; Walter Rae, cut about head and bands; J. , Maloney, badly crushed while rescu- ' ing ethers. It was the two first-

named who were sent to Chmchurch. v 3Jhe Mayor oi'Kumnra wired offer ing twentyg miners if needed.

ARRIVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH.

TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

By Telegraph—Press Received 11.35 p.m.

CHRISTCHURCH. May 2,

Two of the men injured in the Otira tunnel accident—McKeech, underground foreman, and J. Shaw, trucker, arrived by the late train from Broken River, and were taicen to the hospital, where they are being operated on. Shaw is suffering from a broken leg, and McKeech from general bodily injuries.

THE VERY LATEST,

HOPES FOR THE MORNING.

Received 12.25 a.m WELLINGTON, May 3.

Mr Murdoch McLean, one of the contractors constructing the Otira tunnel, received the following telegram from Bealey Flat, at 8.5 p.m,: - Pitts and Baird rescued, suffering from shork. We can only get a hold of beemer, as nis legs are pinned down. Hope to have him out in about an hour. We can hear Doyle and liuugan tapping on the water pipes. Have put in drive about four chains from the face—length about 30 feet —nnrl hope to have the men out ear y tc-morrow morning.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19100503.2.16

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10034, 3 May 1910, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
886

TUNNEL COLLAPSES. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10034, 3 May 1910, Page 5

TUNNEL COLLAPSES. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10034, 3 May 1910, Page 5

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