A MINING DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 389, 14 May 1910, Page 5

A MINING DISASTER

EXPLOSION IN GOLD MINE. 131 MIEN ENTOMBED. FAINT HOPES OF RESCUE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, May 12. Through an explosion at the Wellington pit, Whitehaven, 130 men were entombed. Four of them have been rescued. The pit belongs to the Earl of Lonsdale. A terrific report was heard at 8 p.m., near a spot where 10l men were working. Dense fumes hampered the work of the rescuers. Two of the men saved belonged to a gang oi thirteen, the rest of whom failed to reach the shaft. The mine is now on fire. The majority of the men entombed are in a deep seam under the sea, three miles from land and a mile away from those rescued. The rescuers are now within eight yards of the fire. London, Later. There are 131 miners still entombed at Wellington pit, and there are but faint hopes of saving them. RESCUERS BAFFLED. GREAT WALL OF FLAME. NO HOPE FOR THE ENTOMBED. Received May 14, 0.45 a.m. London, May 13. Experienced rescue parties at Whitehaven are still baffled. There was terrible disappointment on their returning and reporting that the task was impossible. There is little hope of rescue, as there is a solid wall of flame to fight. The Inspector of Mines ordered the rescuers to desist, fearing a further explosion. Steele, the manager of the pit, stated that the rescuers gained three hundred yards on the fire, which is five hundred yards from the shaft bottom. It is impossible that any of the entombed miners will return, the intake being, filled with flames and the return fouled with noxious gases.

The fire drove the rescuers back. Lamps repeatedly exploded and would ■not live in the atmosphere. It is believed that one party of sixteen of the entombed men is behind a closed door. Little Woods, a Sheffielder, who descended the Maypole on the 9th instant, has arrived with special apparatus, and descended Whitehaven last night in the hope of extinguishing the fire with chemicals. He has not yet reported. The latest estimate is that 137 are entombed.