THE BULLI EXPLOSION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1561, 29 March 1887, Page 2

THE BULLI EXPLOSION.

Sydney, March 25. A correspondent thus describes the scene at Bulli yesterday. “ The people were densest near the tunnel mouth, bat were also scattered over a considerable area of trackway, a.ua about the embank* I meets were seatevi women bewailing the loss of those dearest to them. They had passed the night at Mhe pit* Further on the houses of the miners were all doseited, and a few yards away, in a large stone house, on a floor covered with ‘ha newmown hay, lay the bodies iu rows. Most of them ware badly bruised, and some frightfully mangled, without a vestige of clothing or hair. The remains of fallen, rocks tell their tale of mutilation* Onjl the other side stands the carpenty’s where rough coffins are being time. The names of the victims are being written on them in chalk. All this is being done in the presence of the widows and orphans. Rescue patties rush into the tunnel regardless of danger. the first half mile the air is good and thi9sJ|

tunnel pretty clear, but gradually it be* conies worse, and the air is thick and .{ heavy. However, undaunted, they pro* ceed over rocks, fallen timber, and in almost absolute darkness. The side*, roofs, and tunnels are twisted as if they were matchwood. Bodies aie met with $ here and there, most of them being covered with clods. Then a then of

the patty are overcome and compelled to return in a semi-conscious st-it'-, but they are not taken out at the moot i of ihe tunnel for fear of nosing fals* hopes.” The cause of the explosion is not yet ascertained.

The following is the narrative of a survivor of the Buili colliery catastrophe : - “John Cavil! said that iu company with two others he was engaged in opening a fresh connection between the grip and the western district of the mine, about a mile and a quarter from the opening of the tunnel. Whilst engaged in making a hole through a fall of stone they heard the exp'osion. It blew the lights out and the fumes smelt like powder smoke. At the same lime they could see a light mist. They turned back »nd there was a good deal of after-damp, which was very bid until they got to the bunk-ln-ad, They bad only five matches and experienced great difficulty in obtaining a lightTheir escape was miraculous.” Most oi the men in this district used safety lamps, but further out in tho direction of t 1 e opening, open lights were used, but wiih great ca-e. All the men lost were working with! - radius of 200 yatds, and none but s.f. v amps were iu use there. The Minister of Mines proceeded to Buili this morning. Liberal contribution--for the relief of the sufferers are being icceived from all parts of the colony. The latest accounts from Buili repnit, that 75 bodies have been recovered. Lis now stated that only 77 men were iu thimine whoa the explosion took place. March 26.

The latest news from Buili stales that 83 bodies are recovered, and it is believe ! there are no more in the mine. Th< search, however, continues; A special telegram to the Argus from Buili says the miners are complaining of the number, of unskilled men employed in the mine, and that the inspection was performed in a perfunctory manner.