A COLLIERY DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1923, Page 3

A COLLIERY DISASTER.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. m (50 LIVES LOST. (Received this day at 8 a.in.) LONDON, Sept. 21. It is feared that over sixty lives were lost in a. colliery disaster near Falkirk. FURTHER PARTICULARS. i*-' (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 25. Sixty-five- colliers perished in Redding pit, near Falkirk, through an iniusli of water from a- disused working, owing to a collapsed barrier, leu engaged ini an adjoining section, miraculously escaped. TWELVE MEN ESCAPE,. [Rectkiis Teleouams.] (Received this day at 11.10 a.v.i.) LONDON, September 25. The death mil at Redding was not ns heavy ns was feared. Twelve ot the entombed men miraculously escaped. Their cries were hoard at uuon from an old pit shaft thirty-five fathoms deep, half a mile from Redding, under a potato field. Rescue operations resulted in the twelve men being brought up alive, some of whom were unconscious. FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Received this day at 12.15 p.mA LONDON. Sept. 2.i. ' The disaster at Redding occurred at ' five in the. morning. A survivor interviewed, said ho was preparing to go to the shaft bottom after finishing Ins shift when he was startled hv a intainet of water which blinded him and swept him off his feet. He reached the shaft with the greatest difiieulty . seramhled to the pit hem.. He <on siilers it one of the luckiest escanes ol hi-' life. The rescuers let down eanaius in' cages to test the atmosphere. Ihe canaries were .lead when bought u, . There were pathetic scenes at the p - heml An old man. whose son was n the l it telephoned turn from the Companv’s office, and he replied that he s Later was rising fast, and had all. ads .■U reaelied his waist and several of his mates were drowned. Shortly afteiwards the telephone was mterrupted. The rescuers hrouglit up tsseu \ alive and three dead, leaving inrly-oue entombed.