The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1887. THE BULLI DISASTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1551, 6 May 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1887. THE BULLI DISASTER.

An appeal is now being made throughout the Australasian Colonies for assistance towards those whose breadwinners were victims of the terrible disaster that occurred m the Bulli colliery, New South Wales, on March 23rd. Of upwards of eighty men and youths m the mine when the fearful explosion took place, not one was left to tell the awlul tale of their terrible death. Most of the ill-fated men were married, and, therefore, leave sorrowing widows and many helpless children — numbering together about two hundred. Regarding the straitened, as well as sad, circumstances m which these widows and orphans are placed, it need only be mentioned that at the time of the disaster work had been resumed at the colliery only a few weeks after a six months' strike, by which the miners lost all and' gained nothing. And married men only having been reemployed after the strike, causes the number of widows and orphans to be greater m proportion to the lost than under ordinary circumstances would be the case. In fact, the victims of the disaster were cut off under peculiarly distressing circumstances as well as m a terrible manner, all being men either whose means had become exhausted during the strike or whose want of means and inability to obtain any other employment caused them to go to work m the colliery. These sad facts tell their own pitiful tale concerning the position of the widows and orphans, who as a body, it is pleasing here to state, are most respectable. Altogether, considering the melancholy cause for the Bulli Relief Fund movement, and the large number of widows and orphans overtaken by such desolating ruin, the crushing effects of their position must be bitterly felt by them for many long years, unless assistance of a most generous character be extended to them. It is feivently to be hoped, therefore, that united and individual action for the raising of the fund to a total amount somewhat eqnal to the magnitude of the requirements of the occasion will be taken most heartily and effectively all over the Australian colonies. Immediately after tho occurrence of the terrible event a Committee was formed at Wollongong, the chief town of the district m which the disaster took place, and the Committee has addressed a touching appeal on behalf of the widowed women and orphaned children for whom their dead husbands and fathers " now plead as it were with the silent eloquence cf the grave.". In another column will be found a notice referring to the direction of contributions and though times are hard we feel sure that the charitably disposed m this district will be able to give something towards an object so laudable.