THE WEST COAST MINING DISASTER.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 228, 30 March 1896, Page 2

THE WEST COAST MINING DISASTER.

LATEST PARTICULARS. SIXTY-SIX BODIES RECOVERED. (Per Press Association.) Greymouth, March 29. All Saturday the work of rescue continued, and it was very pitiful to see the wives and mothers identifying and claiming the bodies of their- husbands and sons. A settled melancholy seemed to have fallen on all. Everything was calm and there was no scene of any kind. After 8 a.m. on Saturday, the bodies were brought out quickly and by 11 the same night six had been recovered. One is yet missing, that is supposed to be Kent, though it is not certain, as one body recovered thought; to be Anderson from the position in the mine, is unrecognisable. A great many bodies were mutilated, some entirely beyond recognition, and only proved by the clothing or some distinguishing mark. Kent is supposed to buried under a fall of stone. It is expected it will take 20 feet of driving before the body is reached. From the appearance of the bodies it is evident that some were killed outright by the shock of the explosion, while others suffocated by choke damp. The bodies were found in all kinds of positions, some in holes, in crevices of rock and coal. Others with their coats on and cans in hand, and some with picks. It is evident that after the explosion some had made a rush to get out but were overtaken by gas and suffocated. One man was found with his head wrapped in a bag, and another with his body wrapped in canvas. The latter was also much mutilated. Some bodies were completely naked, others only half clad. Some horses were killed and completely disemboweled, and the stench was awful. Owing to the machinery being broken the explosion pumps are not working and the water is rising rapidly in the mine. If Kent is not found soon he will be covered with water, and then it will not be possible to recover the body till the mine is again worked. Many men had their hands to their heads when found as if wading off some blow. In the mine in 3ome places pillars were blown out, and a very wrecked appearance is presented, while in others there is no evidence of any explosion. When the explosion occurred the telephone bell from the mine gave three distinct rings, which is the daDger signals. It is thought that more than one explosion occurred, and Parsons, who was at the dynamo, heard the explosion and save the signal, and was then immediately killed 'by a second explosion. He was much burnt aud mutilated and evidently killed instantaneously. A largo number of ladies went from Grey to Brunner on Saturday to make clothes for the sufferers. The saddest sight of all was when the women aud children were brought into the temporary mortuary to identify the bodies. Not a tear was visible, but a terrible calmness prevailed. The bodies were dressed in calico, the relatives being allowed immediately to remove them to their various residences. Business and everything is at a complete standstill in the district, over which a most intense gloom hangs. The community is only now commencing to realise the immensity of the catastrophe. The following bodies have been recovered, viz. : J. Allen, M. Mooney, J. Morris, M. Brisbane, John Roberts, Mark Masters, Robert Pascoe, Humphrey Smith, Thos. Clark, Joseph Mclvor, M. Liddle, Henry Dettert, John Langdon, Joseph Baxter, Jas. Richards, Geoffrey Geogeghan, Jas. Geogeghan, Robert Duncan, Jas. Worshley, John Tuart, Edward Collins, T. Beoman, W. McCluskie, Robert McCluskie, T. Moore, T. Moore, junr., Win, Hunter, Henry Denniston, Jas. Scott, Charles James, Paul Peillon, W. McMinn, George Baxter, W. Boyd, John White, Alf "Williams, Jas. Rowe, John Dunn, Robert McMahon, D. Hooley, John Watchman, John W. Patterson, John W. Roberts, Joaiah Masters, Thos, Heslin, Win. Henderson, R. W. Kear, R. T. Me Ivor, Jas. McDonald, Richard O'Loughlin, R. Pascoe, junr., Jas. Scoble, junr,, W. McKinnon, David Roberts, Fred Franklin, Win. Cunliffe, Patrick McDonald, B. Hill, Henry Julian, Chas. Baxter, David Anderson, David Hall, John Parsons, Samuel Roberts. On Saturday the bodies of Parsons, Brislane, T. Moore, senr., T. Moore, junr., P. McDonald, senr., and J. McDonald, were buried in the Grey cemetery. There must have been 4000 followers in all. Fifty bodies were buried in Stillwater cemetery, one large grave containing 33. On arrival at Brunner a great crowd were assembled at the station, and the procession was headed by the Kumara, Reefton, Grey, and Black's Point bands, playing the Dead March. The procession was nearly a mile long and the order as follows : — First came th« bands, then Masons, members of Star of West Lodge, Salvation Army, the Druids and Oddfellows, all in regalia. The procession took over half-an-hour to pass across Stillwater bridge. A train conveyed the bodies to within 200 yards of the cemetery, and a special train from Brunner to Stillwater for women and children only. The Premier was among those present. It was very sad at the burial ground, women weeping piteously and children screaming for fathers, and strong men overcome by the violence of grief. • Several women fainted at the cemetery and one young lady, Miss Baxter, whose father was buried to-day with others, has been in a faint for two hours and has not yet recovered. It was at first thought she was dead and a doctor was sent for. The funeral service was lengthy and touching. The Revs. York, Stewart, Spence, Dart, Father Carew and the Capt. of tbe Salvation Army officiated and tbfe mourners sang at different times "The sweet bye and bye," "Rock of Ages," and " Safe in the arms of Jesus." At the conclusion a great many wreaths were sent and two by the Grey Football Club, who had some members killed in the explosion. After the funeral at Stillwater was concluded the train ran to the Grey where the rest of the bodies were interred. It was an awful spectacle to see the 33 coffins side by side in one huge grave, and the effect was gceatly increased by the wailing of the men, women, and children. Kumaka, March 29. Mr Seddon communicated as follows to the Mayor of Brunnerton— " Regret did not see you when at Brunnerton yesterday, and personally convey 'to you jmy great sorrow and sympathy with sufferers by the dreadful disaster, which has occurred at the Brunner mine. I visited many homes of the widows and orphans and cheered them up as best I could in their great hour of trial. The scene at the pit's mouth and in the homes of the bereaved were heartrending, and once witnessed never to be forgotten. The mothers of New Zealand will, I feel sure, do their best to assuage the grief of their sorrowing sisters at Brunner aud though their | bread winners are beyond human aid, ' still the blow may bo softened by placing the widows and orphans beyond want, and in the noblo work, j feel assured, you will haye tho assistance of an hearty co-operation of the women of New jZealaud." Christchusch, March 29. At a mass meeting pouyened and addressed by W. W. Collins, M.H.R., held iv Cathedral Square last night to raise funds tor. toe relief of the Br.unD.er. suf<

ferers, £11 2s Id was collected in the crowd. The Christchurch Working Men's Club votes £25 out of its funds for the same purpose. Reference was made to the disaster in the churches today' and it is expected that in response to the Bishop's appeal the offerteries in most of the Anglican churches will be given to the relief fnnd. TheKaiapdi Woollen employes started a subscription, which the directors have headed with £25. Wellington, This Day. Feeling references were made in all the churches yesterday to the Brunner disaster. Auckland, March 28. The Mayor of Auckland has convened a meeting for the relief of the Brunnerton sufferers. The Auckland Stock and Shareholders Association have wired £30, which the Bank sent free of exchange. Mr Towsey offered the Mayor a concert, and the circus proprietor, Bosco Wilson, has offered the proceeds of performances. , . The Banks are receiving subscriptions to forward. Stewart Dawson and the Mayor forwarded ten guineas each. Marton, This Day. The Marton Brass Band gave an openair concert in aid of the Brunner relief fund yesterday, the collection amounting to five guineas. Mr J. Stevens, M.H.R., for Rangitikei, has received a telegram from Mr A. R. Guinness, member for Greymouth, asking for assistance to the Brunner sufferers from the Rangitikei district. In response to the telegram Mr Stevens has forwarded a cheque for two guineas to the MartoH Mercury. Beunnerton, This Day. The search party resumed work at midnight and are still inside endeavouring to obtain Kent's body before the water rises too high. Messrs Cochrane, Scott, Brown, Lindof, and Bishop are to investigate the cause of the explosion to-day, and an enquiry will be held on Thursday.

Subscriptions in aid of the sufferers by the dreadful diaaster in the Brunnerfcon Coal Mine will be received at the office of the Feilding Star. The following have already come to hand : —

£ 6. d. Kirton and Curtis ... 110 J. C. Thompson ... 10 6 James Scott ... ... 10 0 E. G. Wilson 10 0 J. S. Milson 5 0 J. Darragh 5 0 A. Eade 10 0 J. Punlop 110 W. T. Watts 10 0 T. 11. James 10 6 An old Geoi'die 2 6 James Mnckay 2 0 0 Mrs Haatie 110 W. W. Corpe 10 0 D. P. Buchanan ... 10 0 Mrs D. P. Buchanan ... 10 0 D. Entwisle 10 6 Scottie 10 0 Splints 3 0 R. H. Garlick 5 0 C. Wickham 10 0 J. Beckley 10 0 W. Manson 2 2 0 Isabelle Manson ... 110 Mr Walsh 2 6 A. Dermer 10 0