CGLLIERY EXPLOSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 322, 11 July 1912, Page 5

CGLLIERY EXPLOSION.

THE CONISBROUGH FATALITY. By Cable—Pms Awociation—Copyright. London, July 9. On Monday evening the King and Queen were travelling from Doncaster to visit Earl Fitzwilliam at Wentworth. They stopped for tea with Lord Yarborough at Conisbrough Castle. Thousands of colliers lined the route to the ruins. The King ascended the high Norman keep and bowed to the crowd. To-day, Conisbrough is plunged in gloom owing to the fatalities following on the explosion in the Cadeby pit. Five hundred men were down in the ■nine, thirty-five being in isolated workings, where the explosions occurred. It H believed that the latter are dead. One hundred others were absent owing to the festivities in connection with the Royal visit. The reports of the explosion were heard two miles away. There was a rush of miners' wives to the pit head. Rescuers descended under Mr. Pickering, the Government inspector. Many returned exhausted, but fresh volunteers were forthcoming. The bodies were found in a shrinking posture, with the arms covering the eyes. Many of the bodies were shrivelled by the head, and one was blown to atoms. Three further explosions occurred at midday, and the roofs falling cut off rescuers. The worst is feared. The bodies of Messrs. Pickering and Chambers (manager of the pit) have been recovered. The King sent a message saying he was shocked, particularly after the scenes of rejoicing at Conisbrough.

SEVENTY-FIVE LIVES LOST. ' London, July 9. There are seventy-four dead, including 45 rescuers. Sixty-nine bouic-s have been recovered, including those of Hewitt : iad Tickle, inspectors of Sheffield and Doiicaster respectively. Despite the disaster, the King de-fcjt-nded the Elseear mine to a depth of one thousand feet. THE KING'S VISIT. ROYAL SYMPATHY. Received 10, 11.5 p.m. London. July 10. During the visit of their Majesties to Yorkshire a request was made that there should be no addressed bouquets and as little ceremony as possible. They desired to see how their Subjects live and work. The tour of the mining villages has already covered forty miles. The Union Jack was Hown at nearly every pit shaft. Everywhere the utmost loyalty and enthusiasm was displayed. The visit to Elsecar was the first instance of a British monarch descending a colliery. The King was lowered 350 yards in 59 seconds, and proceeded half a mile underground. Borrowing a pick, he hewed a quantity of coal, keeping some pieces as a memento. He was below for forty minutes.

Their Majesties visited Cadeby in the evening, and were deeply affected at hearing th.' details rf the disaster. They condoled with the bereaved. Many of the bodks recovered were unrecognisable. The second explosion killed thirtythree men. The management is emphatic that the disaster was not due to a shot firing or to faulty electricity. When their Majesties left the people realised that it was not an occasion for cheering, but by clapping their hands •howed their appreciation of the Royal sympathy.

A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. A SURVIVOR'S NARRATIVE. Received 11. 12.45 a.m. London, July 10. Murgatroyd. villi Pickering's rescuers, narrates that he reached the scene of the explosion. He was the only wearer of a respirator. Tlit air was vety good, but suddenly the atmosphere trembled. There was no time to reach safety, and the explosion was upon them witl) a fearful roar, with clouds of dust and smoke. He remembered seeing Pickering and Bury, one of the managers of the pit, lying apparently asleep. He staggered through the thick darkness and realised that he was lost. He came to a great fall and was so exhausted that he collapsed. He ultimately found the telephone nnd was soon rescued. Bury and Witty (sub-manager) were brought to the >urface. both in a critical condition.