THE WHITEHAVEN DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 991, 5 December 1910, Page 7

THE WHITEHAVEN DISASTER.

.) . VERDICT OF THE INQTJOTL 1 By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Rec. December 4, 5.5 p.m.) S London, December 3. The verdict of the inquiry into the Whitehaven mining disaster is that j there was an explosion of gas and coaldust combined. The evidence was insufficient to show that the disaster was due to a defective safety lamp. ' . ' Tho closing of the pit was rightful 1 and expedient, as thero was no possiblo means of reaching tho entomb«l men. Tho appalling disaster in the Wellington 'I Pit, Whitehaven, by which 13G men lost their lives ocenrred on May XI last. It was at first thought that tho men were beyond help, but after arduous and re- '< peated efforts to reach thorn tho labour ' of rescuo had to be abandoned, and the' burning workings closed up. At 12.30 on Thursday two men, and an hour Inter two more, were carried from til© shaft's mouth ill an exhausted condition. At 2.45 on Friday morning tho rescue 1 party returned to the surface, and reported that it was impossible to reach the burning area. It was then considered impossible that any of the,men in the mine could bo alive. One family named M'Alister was reported to have been prac- ] tically wiped out, tho father, three sons, ] three nephews, and a son-in-law being missiug, and many other families wcro. bereft of more than one member. Eightyeight of tho miners were married meu. The bodies were exhumed in September.