THIRTEEN MINERS ENTOMBED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 27, 16 February 1937, Page 5

THIRTEEN MINERS ENTOMBED

-PresB Assn.-

Shaft CoIIapses After Explosion LITTLE HOPE OF RESCUE

(By Teiegraph-

Copyrieht.)

(Received 16, 8.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Feb. 15. A terrific explosion occurred at ten o'clock this morning in Ne. 20 shaft at the State eoal mine at Wonthaggi. Thirteen men were trapped in the mine and there is little hope of rescue. The explosion blew up cages from the 150 feet level and the shaft collapsed. The bulk of the men were attending a stop-work meeting in town. When the news was received the meeting disoanded hurriedly and fire brigades, ambulance men and miners rushed to che pit-head to aid fheir comrades. As the news spread, women left their homes and children their schools to jornx tearful, anxious groups, while rescuers sought to find the extent of the disaster. The cause ao far is not known, but it is easily the biggest disaster in tho history of Wonthaggi. The thirteen men are entombed 190 feet underground. The force of the explosion drove the cage up the shaft to the poppet-head followed by a cioud of dust, fumes and smoke, which rose one hundred feet into the air. The mine manager, Mr J. McLeish, underground manager, Mr T. Johnston, and one volunteer, wearing gas masks, descended in a cage and discovered the entrance to the tunnel where the men were supposed to be, completely blocked writh debris. There is no sxgn of foul air.