LATER DETAILS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1882, 16 October 1913, Page 7

LATER DETAILS.

AN UNPARALLELED DISASTER,

FOUR HUNDRED MEN CUT OFF,

(Rec. October 15, 11.55 p.m.)

London, October 15. benghonydd is a village nestling in a quiet Welsh valley. If tho worst fears aro realised, tho disaster will be unparalleled in the annajs of Britain. Nino hundred and thirty-fivo men descended tho pit at 6 a.m. Two hours later tho noise of' a torrific explosion rent tho silence of the valloy, and a great column of smoke shot up from tho pit mouth. The machinery at tho pit-head was blown to fragments, and heavy iron platos wero twisted into grotesquo shapes and scattered in every direction. Tho explosion occurred in tho West 1 it, and was followed by the lire. The only hope for tho four hundred miners imprisoned tliero lies in the possibility of a heavy fall having occurred in the roof, cutting off tho fire. A thousand miners flocked to tho scone from tho adjoining districts to succour their comrades. Tho roscuo parties fearlessly descended into tho blazing pit. Tho earliest efforts wero directed toward the saving of tho men on tho eastern sido of the mino. Corpses which wero sent up from below presented a battored appearance, and wero beyond recognition—ono with its head blown off, another with its face torn away.

Around tho pit-head, on the mountain slopes, groups of relatives were congregated. When tho first message of "No hope" was received at tho surface there wero heart-breaking scenes amongst tho hundreds of Btricken ones. Of sixteen bodies brought to the surface only two wore identifiable. Many of tho minors who were brouglit up during tho afternoon wero injured beyond hope of recovery. Through almost impenetrable clouds of coal-dust, tho survivors in tho oast pit had groped their way to tho shaft.

At nightfall tho relief gangs, after many .reverses, succeeded in getting water to the fire, which was still raging fiercely. Thoro were frequent small falls from the roof, which retarded operations.

Relays of men crept through the Bmoko-filled tunnels, and, facing tho treemndous heat, crawlod near tho fire. It was thought possible that the explosion had wrecked tho ventilating system, cutting off tho air supply from a largo section of tho workings. By nightfall a waiting crowd of forty thousand had surrounded tho pit-head. During tho night tho rescuers found eighteen men alivo. .They believe that tlie firo is .now under control. ROYAL SYMPATHY. Tho King has telegraphed:—"The Queen and I are appalled at tho terrible disaster. We aro tho moro shocked through, having visited tho district in If)] 2. Wo trust tho loss of lifo is not so great aB was at first anticipated, and deeply sympathise with tho bereaved. Wo shall bo grateful for particulars regarding the injured."