ENTOMBED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 817, 14 May 1910, Page 5

ENTOMBED.

COLLIERY DISASTER. BENEATH THE SEAOVER ONE HUNDRED .IN PERIL. By Telegraph-Press Associatlon-Oopyrlsht London, May 12. A terrible coalmine disaster has occurred at Whitehaven, the Cumberland seaport and mining centre, where the mines extend a long way. under tht town beneath the sea. About 8 o'clock in the evening, a. ' terrific report was heard from tie Wellington pit. The explosion occurred near a spot where 141 men were working. Tho mine caught fire. So far, four men have been rescued. Two of them belonged to a gang of thirteen. ' The rest failed to ..Breach, the shaft. x The majority of the entombed miners are in a deep seam under tie sea three miles from land, and a mile away from thoso who were rescued. ' Dense fumes hampered the work of the rescuers. They are now wittiin eight yards, of the fire. The number of men still entombed : is 131.. There is scant hope that they will be.rescued. King George V has sent iea condol-. ences. The pit belongs to the Earl of Lonsdale. RESCUE IMPOSSIBLE, FIRE AND GASES:'EXPLOSION Of LAMPS. •■ DISMAY AT PITS MOTJTH; (Rec. May 14, 0.45 a.m.) London, May 13. Parties composed of men experienced in. rescuo, work in collieries ale still baffled in their efforts at the Wellington pit. Those waiting at the pit mouth ex-, perienced terrible disappointment on the rescuers returning and. reporting that . the task is impossible, and that there is little hope of walling off the flames. The Inspector of Mines has ordered. the. rescuers to desist, in view of the danger of a further explosion. Mr. Steele, manager .of the pit, stated that the rescuers had gained 300 yards on the fire,. which was .500 yards from the bottom of tho shaft.' .Be states that it is impossible for any of the entombed men to return, the intake being filled with flames and the return being fouled with noxious gases. The fire drove the rescuers back. Their lamps repeatedly exploded, and would not live in the atmosphere. ' It is believed that one party of 16 of' the entombed is behind a closed door. An experT from Sheffield who has > been successful on other occasions ;arrived with a special apparatus, and descended the pit last night,, hoping to.' extinguish the fire with chemicals. The result is not yet reported. . • '. ' The latest estimate" places the irons-. her of men entombed at 137. The disaster, recalls .the coincidence of the Hariey Colliery accident, occurring shortly after Prince Albert's funeral. ' •,