LYELL DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1575, 19 October 1912, Page 5

LYELL DISASTER.

42 BODIES DISCOVEREDCHARGES BY MINERS AGAINST THE COMPANY. TWO PREVIOUS FIRESBy Telarranh—Press Association—CoDj-rietat (Rec. October 19, 1 a.m.) Hobart, October 18. Tho firo in the North Mount Lyell Mine has been quenched. The rescue parties have discovered tho bodies-of all tho forty-two missing men at tho 850 ft. level. Collins have been sent down, and tho bodies will bo brought to the surface to-day. It transpires Bennett is not amoiig the missing, but the namo of J. M'Gowan has been added to the list. Inquiries are proceeding with a view to the Government' and the Lyell Company jointly distributing relief to the families of the dead minors. THE JAMMED CAGE. ARE THERE MORE BODIES IN IT? (Rec. October 18, 11.15 p.m.) Hobart. October 18. Though it has been officially notified that the fire in the mine is almost under, heavy fumes are rising from the shaft.

Tho miners at Gprmanston express the belief that four additional bodies are in tho cage, which is jammed between the 750 and 700 ft. levels. All attempts to shift it have been futile. - \ The men complain of the -reticence of the officials and the tardiness in supplying official lists of the dead, and also tho refusal on Sunday to attempt to reach or communicate with the entombed men. They declare that the company neglected to supply proper protection against fire, though there had been two previous fires at the same place, which were extinguished before they had spread. The men allege that all tho fires were caused by sparks from a self-acting electric machine.

THE TOTAL DEATH-ROLL. DIVERSE ESTIMATES. Hobart, October 18. There is a conflict of opinion regarding the death-roll. According to the company's 1 figures, ninety-five men wero entombed, fifty-four were rescued, and forty-one are dead. The president of the Gormanston Miners' Union declares that the roll-call showed that 102 were entombed, and he believes that forty-eight aro dead.

Twenty-eight bodies have been recovered. \ A rumour is spreading in the Gormanston district that fifty-seven men are dead. It is based probably on the fact that fifty-seven coffins have been ordered.

Efforts aro being contred on the quelling of the fire in tho 700 feet level. It is now confined to a small area.

Mrs. M'Carthy, widow of J. M'Carthy, the entombed miner who left a piteous letter of farowell, expired through grief. She was in delicate health.

RELIEF FPND OPENED. "'""''Melbourne, 'ftctoWlii; 7 ' Tho Tasmanian members cf the Federal House of Eepresentatives have opened a relief fund for the Lyell miners' widows and orphans.