COLLIERY EXPLOSION

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1926, Page 3

COLLIERY EXPLOSION

IN NEWCASTLE DISTRICT. Australia it N.Z. Cable Association.] SYDNEY, January 21. There was an explosion in the Readhead colliery, near Belmont, Lake MarQuarrie, in the Newcastle district. It injured twenty men. It is rumoured that two men were entombed. .Host of thsoe injured were badly burned.

LATER DETAILS. ONE KILLED AND 11 INJURED. (Received this day at 8 a.m.i SYDNEY, January 22. Later details of the Redhead explosion state that one man was killed and eleven injured. The explosion occurred about a mile from the surface in a tunnel line. It caught the men unawares and was followed by a fire, which later was soon extinguished but not before the miners wore badly burned. One of the survivors described his experience when the explosion occurred as being thrown about like corks. He believed tlie explosion followed a fall of coal. The first indication at the pithead of the disaster was a telephone mosssage saying: “ Come down quickly. There has been an unusual hurst of air.” By the time assistance from the surface came the seat ol the explosion had lieen located and rescuers, getting to work, found AVilliam AAylic killed and eleven others badly injured, all suffering from burns. AVylie was found lying in one of the old workings some distance from the other men. A rumour that two men are entombed is not confirmed. The details ire very meagre. When tho news of the explosion was conveyed to the mine office, the mine manager, Mr Fallons, oliickilv descended the mine to search for the injured.

EXPLOSION PARTTCULARS. SYDNEY. Jan. 22

The explosion at Redhead Colliery is attributed to a naked light coming in contact with a pocket of gas. AA hen the flare occurred there was no loud report. None of the injured suffered from concussion. The colliery has always been regarded as a safe mine and naked lights have been used freely. This is the first accident of the kind in this colliery, which has been operated for 40 years. None of those Mtjured are in a critical condition, though the injuries of two are serums.