FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 November 1901, Page 3

FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

[pep. PPvESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.] Sydney, Nov 13. A terrible colliery explosion of gas occurred at the now workings at the Burwood colliery near Newcastle. Fortunately but few men were in the vicinity at the time. It is supposed that a lamp fired a quantity of undetected gas hanging to the roof. A miner named Molloy was killed instantly and another (Patterson) hopelessly injured. Sevetal others met with slight injuries. Owing to the excellence of the ventilation no effect was produced by the after damp.

Patterson is dead. A third man (Champion) is seriously injured,

3 Brock, undermanager of the colliery* f visited the spot a few minutes before the . explosion. He was with two other men > swept along to the shaft. Brock received nasty cuts on the head and a severe shook the others slight injuries. All lights were extinguished. There was considerable excitement at the time. The rescue party quickly arrived. Sydney, This Day. • The explosion was confined to a small area. The damage to the property was slight. Over three hundred men were in other parts of the mine at the time. They were withdrawn and work has been stopped, pending an examination by the Government inspector. The manager is unable to account for the accident. The place was examined every few hours and no trace of gas was even found. Every precaution was observed. An official enquiry has been ordered.