Collapse of a Coalmine

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 4, 25 June 1889, Page 2

Collapse of a Coalmine

SAD LOSS OF LIFE. By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright. (per united press association.) Sydney, June 23. Great excitement has been caused here owing to the collapse of the roof of the A. A. Company's coalmine near Newcastle. Newcastle, June 23. From 40 to 50 miners were engaged removing the pillars which support the roof when the collapse occurred. It is believed 25 miners were entombed. Of these 11 have been rescued. Belief parties are working continuously to rescue the remainder. June 24. The scene at the pit was painful and pathetid Women, in distressful anxiety, believed the men Masson, Pettit, Peate, and son had been killed by the falling roof. After the first fall, a party of seven, after terrible hardship, succeeded in escaping. They presented a pitiable spectacle, many of them bleeding profusely. A mass of coal fell on Pettit. His mates desperately endeavored to release him, but had to abandon him and flee for thoir lives. The following were entombed: — Pettit, Beamont, Gadows, Grant, Hudson, Banfield, Peate, and his son, Mcoson, Proctor, and Boberts. A subsequent fall lias driven the rescuers back a hundred yards. The subsidence extends over fifteen acres. All hopes of recovering the men alive have been abandoned. The prospects of recovering their bodies are small. There is nothing fresh t > report in connection with the colliery disaster.