MINING TRAGEDY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10525, 12 January 1912, Page 5

MINING TRAGEDY

DEATH STRUGGLE IN DARKNESS TWO MEN OVERPOWERED. PITIFUL SCENE AT THE FIT'S MOUTH., {By Telegraph — Press Association.) THAMES, Last Night. A fatality by wihiuh two men named James Williams (an- elderly man) luid Thomas Gmy (36 years of age) lost their lives, oecurired in the MayQueen Mine to-day. Guy, with 'five other miners l mimed Crawley, Adams, James, Vercoe and Mulchy, wit'li G. Herivel a,. shift

boss, «ere working in a stope above the JNo. 6 level, whidh for years ha's been* jmonuie from gas. Williams was 'working on a leader 5i another part of the mine above the same level. Adams was. sent for water tor the. drills., but soon returned, shouting a warning that gas was in the level. The minersi descended the ladder way, and reached the level in safely." ' Gas* was present in great volumes, and soon one candle after" another -went out, until • a solitary candle lield by Adams remained ignited.

Soon this went out, and in the dark a deadly struggle ensued to reach the chamber" above, where fresh air flow.Several fell in tlhe journey, but all reacliedl safety except Guy, \\ illianis and Crawley. Assistance .wassecured, the Eiifferers, who were ail in a state of collapse, were sent to the surface. The three named could not .be found.

A search was then made, and Orawfiey and Guy were first found. The former had evidently been overcome while e/udeavtowring to rescue Guy, for ho was supporting the latter's heau.

Botih '-were taken to the surface, and artificial means of respiration used.

'Crawley recovered sufficiently to be taken to the Hospital, but Guy died soon after he reached the surface. The search in the meantime was being iriade for Williams. Evidently lie"bad 'missed his way in the darkness, for'he was lying in the tunnel leading to the machine. He had a l ™ received; a Berious injury to the head. He was dead when' brought to the surface. There was : a pitiful scene at the •mouth, of the shaft when the wives •of the deceased.men arrived. Jr* Coroner's inquiry was opened, and formal evidence, identifying the deceased men, was given. . . The sicene of the accident will he inspected to-morrow, after which the inquiry wil he. adjourned; as several important 'witnesses as-to what caused the inrush'tof gass will be requii--ed.