MINE DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1921, Page 5

MINE DISASTER.

MORE BODIES FOUND. DANGEROUS RESCUE WORK. THIRTY-FIVE MISSING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Received Sept. 21, 9.45 p.m. Brisbane, Sept. 21. So far 37 bodies have been recovered from the Mount Mulligan mine. In the opinion of the searchers the last batch died from suffocation. Charred beyond recognition, the latest bodies recovered were gruesome, and so affected the rescuers as to compel them to use respirators. The miners are of opinion that unless the bodies are all got out immediately they will not be recoverable, as decomposition is rapidly setting in. Mr. Watson, general manager of the Chillagoe mines, who was prominent in the rescue work, leading most of the parties in the dangerous task, agrees with the view that the explosion was due to dust and not gas. Those entombed include at least some of the party of thirteen Victorian miners who went to work at Mulligan under an engagement. A considerable proportion of the missing men are married men with families. A relief fund has been started. The member for the district, just prior to the disaster, received a petition asking for increased accommodation at the Mulligan school, the signatures including many of those entombed. The eagerness of the men to push the work of rescue in the face of great dangers is embarrassing those in charge. One particularly pathetic instance is reported of an elderly miner named Dave Hutton, whose two sons and son-in-law are entombed. He seized every opportunity to evade those guarding the entrance, and when the police orderd him to keep away a comrade replied: “He has been in all day, but we cannot keep him out.” Pleading some small duty and promising to come back straight away, Hutton would gain his point. Other exhausted men refused to take rest until they were assured they would be called in time to join the next gang. Sufficient skilled men have now been got together in the various districts to conduct the experienced work required in exploring the workings. Mr. Hewitt, secretary to the Chillagoe Company, said the officers and men freely used acetylene lamps, and appeared to have no doubt regarding their perfect safety. He considers it possible that the explosion was the result of tapping a gas pocket.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MINE NOT ON FfttE.

MOST MEN UNMARRIED. THE KING’S SYMPATHY. Received Sept. 21, 10.30 p.m. Brisbane, Sept. 21. Thirty-five Mulligan miners are still missing. Everybody there is engaged in work in connection with the disaster; some making coffins and others digging the trench graves. A rumour that, the mine is on fire has now been denied. It has also been ascertained that the majority of the entombed men are unmarried. All were insured, and in each instance the payment of compensation of not less than £3OO will follow at a later date. The Miners’ Federation at Newcastle sent £2OOO for the relief of distress. His Majesty the King, through the Governor of Queensland, cabled his sympathy “with all the relatives of those killed and others who suffered, through this unfortunate calamity.” FEARFULNESS OF SCENE. DEFIES DESCRIPTION. SUPERHUMAN RESCUERS. Brisbane, Sept. 21. The Mt. Mulligan explosion blew out the mine tunnel and the air shaft lyEighteen bodies have so far been identified: Gielis, Lieu, Gillies, Latimer, Taylor, Hutton, Leary, Patterson, Camm, Long, Howes, Adams, Jadrinzik, Carney, Minogue, Vallem, Liversedge and Thompson. Thompson’s body was brought out on Tuesday morning, burnt black, destitute of clothes, and hardly recognisable. The charred remains of Carney and Fogarty were also brought up. The only articles of wearing apparel not burnt on the bodies were the boots.

Dr. Clarke says that death must have been instantaneous. The victims were burnt by the flames and died immediately from shock.

There was a remarkable spectacle at the pit-mouth. Women were waiting all night, knowing full well that the chances of their relatives being restored to them alive were hopeless.

The men were working in superhuman fashion to get at the buried miners, those relieved pacing up and down like caged tigers, impatient for their next turn. The fearfulness of the scene defied description. Women and children were weeping broken-heartedly, men working frantically to distract their minds from the horror of the disaster.

The most inspiring sight was that of a brave-hearted woman whose dead husband and sons had been brought out endeavoring to cheer other bereaved wo f taen. She stayed throughout the night at the pit-head making tea to refresh the men and urging them to greater efforts.

Birds in a cage were taken below by the leaders of the relief gangs to detect the presence of gas. If birds topple over the men are warned and retire.

A number of the rescuers have agreed to take a rest. They have been working since Monday. Two rescuers were brought out badly gassed.

The first funeral ever held in Mulligan took place on Tuesday afternoon. Three farmers’ wagons were used as hearses, each carrying several coffins. A later message states that 22 bodies have now been recovered. The latest identified are: Hawes, Mclntyre and D. Hutton.

The northern side tunnel has been fully searched, and work is commencing on the southern side. Searchers believe that the last batch recovered were suffocated, as they were found with their faces to the ground, suggesting that they had been struggling against the fumes. To the tired, nothing is so refreshing as a cup of delicious Tea. Nelson Moate’s teas, flavour/ and choice, are refreshing to those jaded nerves. Always |Ask for