TERRIBLE MINE EXPLOSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 206, 20 August 1908, Page 2

TERRIBLE MINE EXPLOSION.

SliVJiiMi-cuX AlXMuts JSNTOJIBEL) JiiSKOIC AimiU'liS AT KKSCCK. ALL HOPE ABANDONED ltcceivod iU. i 1.40 p.m. „ ' Lo;iuoii, August 19. An explosion entomUeU 7<i miners in the No. 1 Alaypole colliery a; -i..iuiti, near vVignn, destroying the ventilating drift and cage and blowing tu« uuitier and headgear in all directions, some portions a distance of 200 feet. Clouds of smoke are issuing from the shaft. Thore are indications that the coal in the mine is fired. There is grvat daager of the entombed men being sujfocated. Kopairs to the fan-house are proceeding rapidly. A rescuo party meanwhile descended the Wigau Junction colliery naif a mile distant, wlhich communicates with the No. 2 Alaypole iiiitic. The party penetrated several hundred yards to- , wards the wrecked workings. Approaching these the air was almost unbreathablu. Heavy falls from the roof impeded the party's progress. Several ' dead ponies were come across and then three dead miners were found, 0.10 being terribly mutilated and unrecognis-

able. Tto explorers were unable ,to apeak •with any certainty as to the 'condition of the miho as regards after-damp, although five members of the party suffered therefrom. It was announced at three o'clock 'this morning that all hope of rescuing the entombed miners has been abandoned.