WALES COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1927, Page 3

WALES COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

[Australian tfc N.Z. Cahie Association. tßoceivocl this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, .March 2. An explosion occurred in a marine colliery at lav in, Ebbwvalc. There "ere 135 entombed. Seventy arc already rescued and there are bright hopes lor the remainder being rescued. 135 ENTOMBED. A NUMBER K I I.LED. IReceived this day .at 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, .March !. Eight more dead were seen at ivorl;r■ ings at Cwm Ebbwv.’ilc, and three seriously are at present unable to he s lesetted. The marine colliery is one oi the largest, and most modern of South Wales coalfields. It employs 17(H) men. The explosion occurred at one in the moraine. The latest report states l.'id were in Ihe pit. It is estimated that all hut fifty-five have been rescued h.v nine rescue parties from all parts working feverishly, hut much impeded by falls of rocks and after damp. Some members who were overcome by fumes collapsed in the bottom of the shaft, but were brought up to safety. DETAILS OF DISASTER. (Received this clay at 9.30 a.in.) I.OXDOX. .March I. The two simultaneous mine disasters, one at Monmouth and the other at Nottinghamshire, brought widespread tragedy to the homes of scores of mining folk. Thus far it is believed the total death roll at both places is 7d, including (it tit the Cwm Colliery. The Monmouth list is made up as follows: Drought up dead, five; entombed ami presumed dead, thirty-three; dying in workings, twenty-three. The unheralded explosion was succeeded liv flames.

Poisonous gasses were responsible for the Cwm Colliery calamity, while the Dilsthorpe pit was the scene of the Nottingham disaster, where the water pipe’s in the shaft broke loose and hurled the staging, on which there were seventeen men. to the bottom of the shaft. Three were rescued, the remaining fourteen "ere killed by the fall or drowned. Seines of deep pathos marked the alarm of the Cwm disaster, at 1 o’clock in the morning. The night shift, consisting of 150 men had been working for two and a-lialf hours when a terrific explosion shook the workings. Men on the coal face were hurled in all directions. The whole town was soon awakened. Mothers, wives, and children, scantily attired and heedless of the stormy night, rushed to the pithead. whence smoke was issuing. The officials had already gathered, and summoned every rescue station, ambulance and doctor in the district. The first hand of rescuers, consisting of the manager, managing director and others descended almost immediately and were overcome by poisonous gas sweeping the entire workings. It been me

necessary to organise a second rescue party to go to their aid first.

n All ROWING PA RTfC' VDA its. (Received this day at 10.15 a.mA DON DON. March f. Several officials were brought up affected, and had to lie immediately treated. Other rescuers were forthcoming including many doctors. Thera was considerable difficulty in the location of the scene of the explosion, which was 1J miles from the bottom ol the shaft in an area known as the “ Hlaek Vein.”

Rescuers equipped with gas masks had to cut their way through falling earth here and there throughout the workings. The exhausted men were located and rushed to the surface. again a rescuer hail to he sent up. There were many joyful family reunions and many sail scenes, when the others failed to recognise husbands, brothers and sons among the saved. After eight hours heroic endeavour sixty men had been rescued, but the others were cut off by deep falls, and also hemmed in by flames. Tn the meantime falls were continuing and gasses were sweeping the workings. One miner rescued, took a

canary in, in order to test the air. He readied the opening of the main gallery, whose mouth was blocked up roughly by hundreds of tons of coal, and saw twelve men lying in a heap. He managed to drag out two when the canary expired. The miner staggered back and led other rescuers to the spot and they saved the other ten. 'When drawn to the surface, the rescuers collapsed.- The canary’s death warned the party of the presence of dangerous gas. This.was one ol the many brave attempts. Ebbw Vale throughout this time was a heartbreaking spectacle. Through the gloomy valley, long files of men, in rescue kit, inarched to the pithead through muddy roads cut up by the constant coining and going ol ambulances. Groups of white-laced women stood silent at every door, and children released from school clung to their skirts.

There was a most pathetic scene at the pithead shortly after noon, when the Mine Inspector prohibited lurther rescue efforts until the workings had been thoroughly ventilated. Ibis meant abandoning the hope of rescue for at least thirty, who are known to he entombed behind the colossal fall, though no sound was heard Iron! that direction.

One rescuer called out ol the mine said as lie was leaving he saw eight bodies and also three under a partial fall still alive. 'The conditions facing the rescuers, rendered the efforts nothing short of heroic. They faced tr scene of indescribable confusion of coal boulders, broken pitshalts iron girders, corrugated iron roofing, everywhere in tangled mass.

]<T RTHEII PA RTIC HLAII S. LONDON, -March 1. The bodies of hi dead were recovered at C'wni. where rescue operations were suspended owing to alter damp. It is feared that 52 are dead. -..-OTHER PIT DISASTER. LONDON, March 1. Another pit disaster occurred at BHsthorpe Colliery, Nottingham, when the staging, on which the pit sinkers wore working, collapsed and tell to the bottom of the shaft. ft is believed that fourteen were killed. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.l LONDON. March 1. At times, the rescuers discarded tools and used bare hands to move the debris. They progressed twenty yarns in five hours, when they met a clear space only to encounter fresh fumes and another barrage of debris. Eyewitnesses state thhat the scene at the bottom of the mine beggared description. At one point nineteen were lying dead in a huddled group, many were badly burned ns the coal dust caught fire.

As an instance of jiersoiial bravery, a miner named Button, who was in the galleries at the time of the explosion, reach eel the bottom of the shaft uninjured. AVlien lie learned that In's brother was still in the mine, he insisted on going back to search for bis brother.

Later, another rescue party found Button’s father, who was also killed.

In the Commons Sir Cunliffe Lister regretfully announced the inspector's reports on the colliery disasters of the day. ' j [