ELEVEN MINERS PERISH

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20918, 25 September 1939, Page 9

ELEVEN MINERS PERISH

TRAGEDY AT GLEN AFTON

TRAPPED BY GAS

BESCUE PARTY LOST VOLUNTEERS ANSWER ALARM PERILOUS TASK BELOW GROUND Whether or not a mine is being worked a daily inspection is compulsory, and during this morning’s tour by two deputies, or section foremen, Messrs Cole and Ireland, a defect was discovered in the electrical system of the Glen Afton mine. The affected system was isolated from the rest, and shortly after 8 a.m. two electricians, Messrs Bell and Turley, entered the mine with the deputies. Like the MacDonald mine, the Glen Afton mine is the “walk-in” type and the party walked a considerable distance into the tunnel. Saying that carbon monoxide gas was present in the mine in large quantities, Mr Cole telpehoned Mr Blackburn, the mine manager, about 9 a.m. Mr Blackburn entered the mine and later telephoned to the engineer, Mr Thomas, asking him to turn the fans on to keep a supply of fresh air running through. Engineer’s Escape Within a few minutes a party was organised by the engineer, and a short time after the receipt of the managers message Messrs Brown, Hunter, Peden, Clark, Marshall and Wilcox were below the surface. Shortly before mid-day Mr Thomas took refreshments into the mine for the men, but before he had covered half a mile of the tunnel he felt the effects of the deadly mine gases and beat a hasty retreat. The effect of the carbon monoxide was sudden and the engineer barely had time to reach the pit head before he collapsed. Up till this time no fear had been felt for the safety of the men who had gone below the surface, but before Mr Thomas lost consciousness he was able to tell other miners at the entrance of the tunnel of the presence of the gas. On the alarm being given, miners from all parts of the district volunteered their services in the effort to bring the trapped men to safety. The exact location of the fault was unknown and this made the task doubly hard. The first party entered the mine from the Glen Afton end shortly after mid-day, but was unsuccessful in its search. Further parties also went below the surface from the McDonald end, but here again the search was of no avail. Search for the Bodies Although constant efforts were made in the ensuing two or three hours, the first body, that of Mr Brown, was not recovered until 3.30 p.m. Watchers who were guarding a life-line attached to one of the rescuers, saw a miner’s light hundreds of feet below the surface waver and fall to the ground. Hurriedly they hauled in the line and brought up Mr James Mitchell, who, although nearly overcome by the gas, had managed to * cling to the body of Mr Brown. The work at the Glen Afton end became increasingly hard as the time wore on, and the workers met with more success from the MacDonald

MINISTER’S VISIT

MEN OVERCOME BY GAS MINE MANAGER INCLUDED IN VICTIMS RESCUE WORK TAKES MANY HOURS (Times Special Reporter) HUNTLY, Sunday Eleven miners, all married men, lost their lives in the Glen Afton coal mine today when they were trapped by gas generated by a fire seated half-a-mile down the mine. It was the biggest colliery disaster in the North Island since September 12, 1914, about a month after the outbreak of the Great War, when 43 miners perished in an explosion which partially wrecked Ralph’s Mine, Huntly. The first intimation that there was anything amiss in the mine was when the usual daily inspection committee telephoned from the mine to the manager, Mr Christopher Blackburn, stating that a fault had developed underground. Accompanied by other men Mr Blackburn entered the mine and later phoned for more men. The third party, bringing the total to eleven, entered the mine shortly after 10 a.m. and were not heard of again. Rescue work commenced immediately after the alarm was given on the discovery of one of the men, and continued throughout the day and night. Every available miner offered his services for rescue work. The men killed in the disaster were as follows: Mr Christopher Blackburn, mine manager, aged 40, married with one child. Mr William Brown, under manager, aged 40, married with one child. Mr William Wilcox, under viewer, aged 35, married with an adult family of four. Mr Richard Ireland, deputy, aged 60, married without children. Mr Walter George Cole, deputy, aged 45, married with four children. Mr Jack Marshall, acting-deputy, aged 37, married with two children. Mr William Bell, electrician, aged 37, married with three children. Mr Raymond Turley, electrician, aged 34, married without children. * Mr William Peden, miner, aged 50, married with five children. Mr George Hunter, shift man, aged 35, married with two children. Mr James Clark, shift man, aged 50, married with two children and an adult daughter.

end. Even from that entrance the task was a difficult one, for the men had to go about two miles into the tunnel to reach the seat of operations, and when another five bodies were discovered at about 7.30 p.m. there was a long march before they could be brought to the surface. The five bodies which were recovered were those of Messrs Blackburn, Cole, Marshall, Clark and Hunter, and almost simultaneously the bodies of Messrs Peden and Wilcox were recovered at the Glen Afton end. Clear of Gas, but Dead Although efforts to resuscitate the men were undertaken for some time they were of no avail. Meanwhile further rescue parties went below the surface in search of Messrs Ireland, Bell and Turley, who were the only ones remaining in the mine. When four of the dead men were discovered they were clear of the gas area near a junction in the mine about two miles from the Glen Afton pithead. Although they had managed to struggle clear of the gas belt they apparently had insufficient strength to walk any further from the danger zone. Evidence of heroism among the trapped men was found by the rescue party. Many of the rescuers who had gone down the shaft emerged after a trying experience drawn in face and almost exhausted. Fire raged in one of the sectors but the location could not be found. Experienced miners said they could smell the smoke, but there wets not the slightest Indication of the seat of the fire. Although rescuers were in a weakened condition when they came to the fresh air many went back a second time. All through the night men waited their turn to form rescue units. MR RAYMOND TURLEY FORMER HAMILTON MAN Mr Raymond Turley, one of the electricians who was killed in the mine disaster, was formerly a resident of Hamilton and was well known in the town. He was employed by Turnbull and Jones for some years and left for Huntly about 12 years ago. He married Miss Mabel Bowman, of Hamilton. Mrs R. Kemp, of Okoroire, is a sister of deceased. Mr Walter George Cole, one of the victims of the disaster, was a brother of the late Mr William Cole, who was killed about two years ago in a motor accident near Waingaro when a party of six crashed over a bank and were drowned in a stream. Three years ago, Mr Walter Cole’s nephew, who was a son of the victim of the Waingaro accident, was killed at Waingaro in practically the same place and under similar circum- , stances to his father.

FLYING FROM WELLINGTON (Special 10 Times) HUNTLY, Monday At Glen Afton it is understood that the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, will visit the scene of the tragedy this afternoon. It was stated' that the Minister left Wellington by aeroplane this morning, and will drive to Glen Afton from Auckland.