COLLAPSE OF A PIT. MANY MINERS ENTOMBED. DISTRESSING SCENES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 380, 26 June 1889, Page 5

COLLAPSE OF A PIT. MANY MINERS ENTOMBED. DISTRESSING SCENES.

Sydney, June 22. (SreAT excitement has been caused here owing to the collapse of 1 the ?oof of «a company's coal mine near Newcastle. 80 far as is known at present, fourteen miners were entombed. Eight have been rescued, and as the shouts of the others can be heard, there is a probability of all being rescued aiive. , The collapse is believed to have been caused by the removal of pillars in workings about to be abandoned. ' At the mouth of the mine the scene was most heartrending. A large number of women and children and friends of the entombed miners surrounded the pit, and eagerly awaited tidings of those dear to them. t The information that has reached gives only scant details. Every effort is being made to recover the others.

Newcastle, June 23. The scene of the disaster, where the roof of the mine collapsed, is the Globe 'pit, about two miles distant from the city. From forty to fifty miners were engaged removing pillars which support the roof when the collapse occurred. For some time unpleasant noises and strange rumblings like murmurs of an earthquake have been heard, and an impression got abroad that a portion of the mine was likely to subside. The men held a meeting early in the month to discuss the danger. Many of the men were of opinion tbat there was no reascn or cause for alarm, and others that the unusual noise warranted some steps being taken for their safety. Ultimately it was decided that a deputation should wait on the manager of the colliery, and impress upon him the necessity for placing " rapper " wire in different districts, to warn miners of any immediate danger. On Saturday morning a fall of coal accompanying the noises frightened some of the men working, and caused them to leave the place, but on the advice of old and experienced miners they returned to work. The crisis was reached at nine o'clock on Saturday morning, when mass after mass fell with adeafeningand bewildering roar resembling heavy cannonade. Blasts of air followed each fall with teirih'c force, and stopings were overthrown. All the lights were extinguished, and everything was in a state of chaos. Numbers of the men who were below had a miraculous escape. Nothing is authentically known as to the actual number imprisoned, but it is believed to have been twenty-five. Of these eleven have been rescued. Relief parties are working continuously to rescue the remainder. Thousands of persons are assembled at the pit mouth, awaiting to hear news of the missing men.