En route to Pretoria, I first decided to work during the Universities'summer vacation on a gold mine at Eerstemyn near Welkom in the Orange Free State. While underground as a Trainee Onsetter (or Elevator Operator), there was a big explosion on 28th November 1955.
Immediately the air supply got cut off, and the danger of a further methane explosion was considerable. Scoresofmenstarted pouringinfrom thework-face and groupingroundthemine shaft, where there was still some air. But because the supply of electricity was knocked out by the explosion, none of us there (some 2000 feet below the surface) could get out of the mine.
