FIRE AND EXPLOSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1589, 30 October 1905, Page 2

FIRE AND EXPLOSION.

DBEADFUD MINING DISASTER. SEVERAL LIVES LOST.

By, lißleigrapbfl Press ’Ass’n,, Copyright Received 12.32 a.m., Oo*. 80.

Sydnoy, October 29. A disastrous explosion occurred at the Stanford Merthyr mine, in tho Maitland district. _ The explosion was preceded by a nro which broke out in No. 2 tunnel. It was discovered by the enginemao, who, owing to its being pay Saturday, was the only ono in tho mine at the time of the outbreak. The firo had a good hold before he notioed it. , He gave an immediate alarm, and helpers flooked in from all parts of the district. . Attempts to block the burniDg tunnel failed. ' The flames wore soon belching 60 feet high in tho air. It was then deoidod to seal tho mine. While this was a fearful explosion ooourred. It was like a heavy charge of shrapnel. _ It Bhook houses half a mile away, ana scattered wreckage in all directions _ This included an immense air-fan weighing over a thousand tons, which was blown to pieces. Those engaged in sealing operations received tho full force of the explosion, and were buried in the debris. . < There .was a terrible Beene, the groans and cries of the wound mingling in the It was some time, before the Bmoke-dust was oleared away and the rescuers got at aod removed the dead and wounded. In the meantime doctors bad been summoned, and plenty of medical aid was available.

THE KILLED. The list of those killed so far as is known is as follows : ■ TT. Adams, director of the Stanford colliery. . , , • • John Evans and James Greener, deputies. f> , David Jones and John Jones, shiftmen. WOUNDED MEN. The wounded are: O. K. Young, Chairman of Directors; H.. M. Williams, manager; Wm. Williams, under manager; G. Leitoh, G. Fawins, Wat Jones, deputies ; Colin McKenzie, H. Thomas, manager of the East Greta colliery.

Received 1.15 a.m., Oot. 30,

Telegrams to-night state that the fire is Btili'raging fiercely. A large force is attempting to check the fire. i ■; ; It is proposed to flood tho mine by turning a oreek into it.

Reoeived 1.5 a.m., Oot. 30.

Several of those injured are in a serious condition. The large proportion of managers and. deputies amongst the killed is aooounted for by the faot of the management of the neighboring collieries oomiog to the assistance. The fire was discovered early this morning. ’ There were several minor explosions before the big one, which occurred just before noon. The rescue operations were delayed by the dense volumes of smoke pouriug from the mine.