COLLIERY DISASTER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2156, 24 June 1889, Page 2

COLLIERY DISASTER

' COLLAPSE OF A MINE/

[Pib Pbbbs Awooiahoh,]

Stdotst, Jons .22.., Great excitement has been caused here owing to the collapse of the roof of the A. A. Company's coalmine, near Newcastle. So far as is kno*h at present, fourteen miners were entombed. Eight have been rescued, and as the shouts of others can be heard there is a probability of all being rescued alive. The collapse is believed to have been caused by the removal of pillars m workings about to be abandoned* At the mouth of the mine the scene was most heartrending. A large number of women and children and friends of the entombed miners surrounded the pit and eagerly waited tidings of -loose dear to them. The information that has arrived gives only scant detaili. Every effort is being made to rescue the others.

Newoastld, Jane 23 The scene of the disaster where the roof of the mine collapsed is the Glebe pit, about two miles distant from the city. From forty to fifty miners were engaged removing the pillars which support the roof when the collapse occurred. For some time unpleasant noises and strange rumblings, . like murmurs of an earthquake, have been heard and the impression got abroad that a portion of the mine was likely to subside. The men held a meeting earlf m the month to discuss the danger. Many were of opinion that there was no reasonable cause for alarm, others that the unusual noises warranted some steps being taken for their -safety. Ultimately it was decided that a deputation should wait on the manager of the colliery, and impress upon him the necessity for placing rapper wire; m different districts to warn the miners of any immediate danger. On Saturday morning a fall of coal, accompanying the noises, frightened some of the men working ia the mine and caused them to leave the place, but on the advice of old and experienced miners they returned to work. The crisis were reached at nine o'clock on Saturday morning, when mass after mass fell with a deafening and bewildering roar resembling a heavy cannonade, blasts of air were displaced by each fall with terrific force, and stopings were overthrown. All lights were extinguished, aud everything was m a state of chaos. Numbers of men who were below had a miraculous escape. Nothing is authentically known as to the actual number imprisoned, butit is believed to have been twenty-five. Of these eleven have been rescued. Relief parties are working continuously to rescue the remainder. Thousands of persons are assembled at the mouth of the pit, waiting to hear news of the missing men. ■ , (Received Jane 24, 12.48 p m.) ■NswoASraK, Jane 24. The scene at the mouth of the pit is a painiul and pathetic one. A, number of women, relations of the entombed miners,have congregated there and their anxiety is distressing and heartrending. It is believed that four miners, Masson, Pettit, and Peate (father and son), Were killed by th,e falling of the roof. After, the first fall a party of seven succeeded after terrible hardship m escaping from the workings m which the disaster took place. They. presented a pitiable spectacle, many of them bleeding profoSely. When the mass fell Pettit's mates made desperate endeavors to release him, but subsequent falls compelled them to abandon the attempt and fly for' their lives.

The following miners are entombed t — Pettit, Beaumont! Gadwas, Grant, Hudson, Bamfield, Peate and son, Masßon, Proctor and Roberts. A subsequent fall has drrrea back the party who were endeavoring to rescue: the imprisoned men, and the drive vi now blocked up for an additional hundred yards. The subsidence extends oter fifteen acres. r tr All hopes of rescuing the men. $£iY<ft now been abandoned, and the prospects of recovering the bodies* are small, ' ■