The Mine Fire.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 130, 19 October 1912, Page 5

The Mine Fire.

. THE DEATH ROLL DISPUTED. A WDDOW'S DEATH. By Cable—lTess Association—Copyright. Hobart, October 18. Efforts are now centred on quellin* the iire in the 700 ft level. The fire is now confined to a small area. There is a conflict of opinion regarding the death-roll. Accdrding to the company's figures 95 men were entombed, of whom 54 were rescued and 41 are dead. The president of the Gormanstown Miners' Union declares that the roll-call showed 102 entombed. ' He believes that 48 are dead. Twenty-eight bodies have been recovered. A rumor which is spreading in the Gormanstown district that there are 57 dead is based probably on the fact that 57 coffins were ordered. Mrs. McCarthy, widow of J. McCarthy, an entombed Lyell miner, who left a piteous letter of farewell, died of grief. She was in delicate health.

PARLIAMENTARY HELP. Melbourne, October 18. The Tasmanian members of the Federal House have opened a relief fund for the Lyell widows and orphans. THE DEAD RECOVERED. RELIEF FOR THE FAMILIES. Received 18, 10.15 p.m. Hobart, October 18. Rescue parties have discovered the bodies of all the forty-two missing men at the 850 ft. level. Coffins were sent down and brought to, the surface to-day. It transpires that Bennett is not missing, but the name of McGowan is to be added to the list. Enquiries are proceeding with a view to the Government and the Mount Lyell Company jointly distributing relief to the families of the dead miners. THE JAMMED CAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. Received 19, 1 ajn. Hobart, October 18. Though officially notified that the fire is almost under, heavy fumes are rising from the shaft. The miners at Gormanston express the belief that there are four additional dead. The cage was jammed between the 750 ft. and 700 ft. levels. All attempts to shift it were futile. The men complain of the reticence of the officials and their tardiness in supplying official lists of the dead; also the refusal on Sunday to attempt to reach or communicate with the entombed. They declare that the company neglected to supply proper protection from fire, though two previous fires had occurred at the same place but were extinguished before they spread. They allege that all iwere caused by sparks from a self-acting electric machine. THE FIRE QUEXCHED. Hobart. October 18. The fire in the mine has been quenched.