COLLIERY DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1923, Page 1

COLLIERY DISASTER.

AT SOUTH AfiITLAND. GAS CAUSES A FIRE. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SYDNEY, Sept, 2. One of the worst mine disasters in the history of Australia, and the most disastrous one which has ever occurred in: South Alaitlnnd field, happened-at the Bellbird Colliery, Cassnock, on Saturday afternoon. A fire broke out, and cut off 31 men from the surface. The news quickly spread, and the pit mouth became crowded with the relatives of those who were imprisoned, and with volunteers for rescue work. Rescuers at once entered the mine, and lighting their way in by inches against fumes, they brought out seven men, only two of whom, however, were alive. Soon eight more corpses were brought up. The rescue work had now become very dangerous. Dense volumes of smoke are pouring from the air shaft, but the number of volunteers have not diminished. It included four mining managers, out of whom one, John Brown aas overcome by fumes, and lie is believed to be dead, as he had to l>c abandoned in a tunnel, the man he was working with also being overcome. After a conference between the managers and the employees,' it was unanimously agreed that any further attempts at a rescue would only, be futile, as all the merf must be dead. it Was decided that the work of sealing tho tunnel should bo pushed on with all haste.

Fumes from the fire are now being carried into the workings, where, it is feared the renia’ining men will have taken refuge. There is 'very little hope of their safety, hut there is a faint hope 'that they may have got to some other part of the working when they found that they wore trapped. Th only explanation of the disaster is gas. This may have penetrated the bricks scaling off the old workings. These have long been- sealed off, but the bricks may have given way. 'The mine was never regarded as a gassy one, or us dangerous. Fifty miners in a now tunnel had a narrow escape, only a timely "'aiming giving the alarm. The men were just getting out as the bad air flamed up. The scaling down will not iinmediate!v subdue the fire, which is expected to burn for six months.

HEARTRENDING SCENES. There were heartrending scenes at the pit mouth, whore women waited to view tho bodies as they were brought up. Had the disaster occurred in the morning there would have been lour hundred men below. THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS. The names of the men whoso lxidies have been recovered are:— AV. Griffin, Harold Richards, Phillip Roberts, John Morgan, George Sneddon, John Grabber, A. Hines, Al. Hymns, J. AlcLaehlan. G. Chapman, Fred Lambert, Charles Mills, Jack Stewart. The names of some of the missing men are: —- John Brown (rescuer), A. Corns, F-. Aloody, AI. Bailey, AY. Hartley. Three men who were brought up alive, and who are suffering severely from poison gas, are: R. Wilson, JSneddon and George Noble (undermanager).

RESCUERS’ REPORTS. 21 BODIES FOUND. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept, 3,

One of the rescuers, AYilliain Hughes Bellbird stated lie first noticed smoke issuing from tbp mine and went down the travelling, tunnel. Be found four dead men and with the aid of others the bodies were brought to tho surface.. He returned again to the pit and tho party found nine men and three horses all dead. The circumstances under which they were found indicated Uie whole of the men had news of their danger and were trying to reach safety by hanging , on to the harness ”1 tile horses. Eight dead men found, had 'their faces on the ground in an effort to save themselves. The ninth was sitting with his arms folded and head hanging down. Another rescuer stated he was at the hotel when news of the, disaster reached him. He immediately went to the mine and went down the tra\ e»liug tunnel where he' met Tennant, Knke and Wilson, all deputies. The last named was suffering from fumes and he had to be helped to the surface. Noble was suffering from fumes hut with another pressed on. Liter his companions had to return. Nobleecu tinned on his way after a search was made for him, but no trace could he'found, the- fumes being very bad. Another party found four more bodies which later were carried out. Brown (Alanager of Abedai'c Collieries) "ho also searched for bodies, found two and said to his companion: “Do not go any further, one live man is better than ten dead men,” but he went on and found six drillers and three wheelers and three horses all dead. Brown then ordered his companions back to the office to tell them not to allow any more men down the mine but to send stretchers. Jeffries (.Manager of Ahennnin Collieries) who organised rescue operations until the arrival of the manager, saul lie mot Brown going down tho travelling tunnel where he found nine dead men. He then suggested all hands to lie taken hack to the surface and rescue work systematised. This was agreed to and at six in the evening volunteers were called and two parties formed to carry out the bodies. Shortly after his party went into the mine again -two distinct explosions occurred beween them and the surface and their retreat .was cut off by poison gas. The party therefore divided into two. One partv went through the old workings ro reach the surface, and came to a brick stopping place and with pocket Knives scraped away the plaster and used an old sleeper as a battering ram. By this time all were feeling the effects of the fumes and heir strength 'was. failing, lint by working in shifts they managed to break through. Brown became exhausted and had to be- dragged along bv a man, Alavshall, who also was very weak. Brown managed to gasp, to do the best he could for himself and leave nim. Afarshall groped liis way, hut became lost and shortly afterwards lost control of liis actions. The next Thing he knew was he heard shouts of a party and they rescued him.

During the night a number of explosions'’occurred in the mine, one of which damaged the fan drift buildings. Tho number killed is t"enty-me. A 'revised list of the names of the oodies recovered is—AYilliain Griffin, Charles Alills, Gordon, Locking, Alfred Lynes. John Stewart, Jack Graham. George Robertson Kelly. The bodies of six sealed in the mine include AVilkie, Hartley, Frederick, Six hundred miners are rendered idle bv the sealing of the mine.