1914 DISASTER

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

1914 DISASTER

EXPLOSION AT HUNTLY 43 MEN LOSE THEIR LIVES TASK OF RESCUE PARTIES The second greatest mine disaster in the Dominion was that which occurred in Ralph’s Mine, Huntly, at half-past-seven on the morning of September 12, 1914, only a month after outbreak of the Great War. Huntly was rocked to such an extent that people close to the scene of the explosion were knocked down by the concussion. Altogether 43 of the 58 miners working in the mine lost their lives and 100 children were left fatherless. Usually 250 were engaged at that hour but as it was Saturday, which was observed as pay-day, considerably fewer were working. After the first batch of survivors had been recovered from the mine desparate efforts were made to reach others farther down. The work of the rescuers was hampered considerably by the fact that the hauling gear was damaged in the explosion. It was discovered, also, that fires had occurred at several points in the mine and only one man, who in spite of his injuries managed to crawl away from the danger zone, escaped from these regions. Hindered by Gas The rescue parties were forced to carry out their task in the face of continuous attacks of deadly gas, and it was some time before they could penetrate even half-a-mile into the mine. In addition to the 43 miners who lost their lives, several horses were killed. Among those who escaped from the mine were several men working on a new shaft. All the scaffolding was knocked down and the workmen saved themselves by clinging to the bucket in use there. It had been declared by experts that Ralph’s Mine was the safest in the world. The main shaft was in the centre of Huntly and the workings extended miles westward passing under the Waikato River. The Royal Commission which inquired into the disaster came to the conclusion that there had been an explosion of fire damp, which raised and ignited a cloud of coal dust, intensifying and carrying on the explosion. Previous Disaster An earlier disaster a quarter of a century before, took place in another of Messrs Ralph’s mines, on the night of December 22, 1890. A false set of timbering at the head of a new dip which was being driven to strike a new seam under Huntly township gave way, causing the other timbers behind to cave in. Twelve men in shifts of four were engaged upon the work. Two of them were buried in the first fall. Another two who were under the impression that they had reached a point of safety retraced their steps with a view to rendering assistance to their comrades, but they were caught by a second fall nearer the mouth of the dip. They were not killed by the fall, however, and they could be seen and spoken to over the fallen debris. Another miner was passing a hot drink to the men beyond the debris when a third fall killed them and almost buried the man who was attending them. His spine was seriously injured and he died in the Waikato Hospital five months later. A relief fund was raised on behalf of the families of the victims. Westland Fatality The major disaster in New Zealand occurred in the Brunner Mine, Westland, on March 26, 1896, when 65 persons were killed in an explosion, not one man at work in the mine at the time escaping. Sixty years ago at Kaitangata an explosion in a mine caused 34 deaths, 24 of the men being married. Among more recent disasters was one at the Linton Coal Company’s mine at Linton, Southland, in February, 1927. A coal gas explosion was followed by fire, and for a time 27 miners were trapped. Three were killed and four seriously injured. MEN AND APPARATUS GREYMOUTH TO HUNTLY SYMPATHY OF MINISTER (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday “On receipt of information of the Huntly mine disaster I immediately arranged for a special plane to be ready on Monday morning to convey experienced men and life-saving apparatus from Greymouth to Hamilton,” said the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb. “We are awaiting advice from the mine manager before sending the men. In any case the Mines Department has made all arrangements to render whatever assistance is necessary. Efforts are being made to put stoppings in to prevent the fire spreading. It may be a little while before the other three bodies can be rescued. “The deepest sympathy of myself and the Government goes out to the relatives and everyone associated with the men. I was positively shocked by the news. We have had a remarkably good run over the last few years, and the disaster comes as a painful shock. It is one of those accidents which it is almost certain would have happened just the same even if a life-saving brigade had been established in the district.”