BEYOND THE DOMINION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 133, 22 February 1909, Page 5

BEYOND THE DOMINION.

Durham Colliery Disaster

A terrific pxpioaion in the West Stanley pit, Durham, entombed 147 miners who wer» at work below at the time of the explosion. A huge tongue of flame shot up the shaft, destroying the shafting and the hauling gear, there being thus no mean-* of egress from the mine. At first it was feared that all the men below had perished, but the rescue parties were stimulated by hearing rappings, suggesting that some men in one of the four seams were still alive, and were signalling the fact to their comrades. By heroic efforts the rescuers reached thirtyseven of the entombed miners and conveyed them to the surface. They had escaped death by remaining in a byway until the gases had cleared. It is feared that the remaining 110 have all perished. A number of bodies have already been recovered, many of them being badly burned and mutilated by the flying masses f coal. The scenes at the-pit's mouth, where wives and mothers arc waiting, in hope and despair, for tidings of their relatives, are heartrending. Earthquake (n Asia Belated reports show that the earthquake which was recorded in Asia Minor. India, and Africa on January 23. and which was supposed to have had its centre in Tibet, was most severely felt in Luristan. a mountainous province in the west of Persia. A wide area of country was devastated by the heavy shocks which were felt, and in several square miles hardly a building is left standing. The loss of life is very great, and it is estimated that a total of fiOOO perished. Sixty villages which formerly stood in the stricken earthquake area wcr? demolished, the whole of the buildings being destroyed. The Berlin "Ripper" Thirty-one "Jack the Riper'* outrage* upon women have now taken place in Beriln. The perpetrator of one outrage was caught in the act.

Aerial Navigation The "Evening Standard" announces that secret army experiments in avia'ion have been conducted in remote parts of the country for many months past. The results achieved, declares the "Standard," place Britain ahend of any other nation in aerial navigation for army purposes.

Roosevelt and the Canal President Roosevelt, in a message to Congress, strongly supports the lock system in preference to the sea-level proposal, for the Panama Canal. He suggests reduction in the height of the great Gatun dam of twenty feet The complete cost of the canal under these proposals is estimated at seventy two millions sterling. Those Suffragettes The'suffragists are merrily eonlinu* ing their campaign, and to-day twentyfour were arrested while attempting to raid the Premier's bouse in Downing Street. Turkey's Policy The Turkish Chamber of Deputies has carried a vote of confidence in the new Grand Vixier, Hilmi Pasha, who said that he recognised Cabinet's responsibility to the Chamber. He announced that he would continue KianuTs policy. Affairs In Ireland In the course of the debate on the Address irv Reply in the House of Lords, the Marquis of Londonderry. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1886 to 1889. attacking the Government, said the condition of things in Ireland was a scandal and disgrace to any civilised country. He emphasised the in? creased outrages under the administration of Mr Birrell. Secretary for Ireland. In some counties the horror was inconceivable, and the people's lives were a hell upon earth. Lord Denham replied that two-thirds of the country was peaceable. After referring to intimidation in other parts, be admitted that circumstances might conceivably arise compelling the enforcement of the Crimes Act. or an appeal to the Legislature for special additional powers. Lord Macdonald stated that I personally be would have been inclined to give short shrift to the agitation. He hoped the land purchase would be completed in ten or fifteen I years.