The Creswick Mining Catastrophe.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4361, 22 December 1882, Page 1

The Creswick Mining Catastrophe.

- HEARTRENDING DETAILS.

Melboubne, December 14; , - The disaster at the Australasian mine* „ Creawick, has caused the greatest sensation. All Wednesday ..the fate of the unfortunate miners remained undecided. ,' On Thursday the nine was so; far freed, ~. from foul air that the men could work below. At six p.m. a pitman named, Clarke*was hoisted to the surface, and ; ; shouted as he neared the mouth *' They .... are all right." Wild, joyous, and exultant ' : cheers followed, men jumping. frantically.- ~ about hugging and kissing each other for joy. The intense excitement spread like wildfire to Ores wick, where the people cheered lustily, In a'lifctk;, »^»^&a .-- half an hour the firs* of the survivor! . was brought up amidst loud shouts of thanksgiving. The man was deadly pale, and apparently unconscious. It was found that he suffered chiefly from lack ofnourishment. The tank was again lowered, and another man brought up, ■apparently more weak. Fire men were thus brought up, more dead than alire. Then came a long pause, and when the . manager of the mine and two others came up, it was then learned that the „ remaining 22 men were all dead. Sudden wails of anguish, shrill and piercing. ■ startled the ear. The men had, one after the other, taken cramp and perished. The bereaved widows and relations of the unfortunate men became almost wild with grief. One of the survivors gives a graphic account of the sufferings of the man. They were without lights, and he heard his companions drop off the face into the water. They spoke of their wives and little ones, and they said some, prayers, and s%n& some, hymns. The air was terrible, but it improved as the men died. It was v.cry hot, and they could. not drink the water. They heard -ihe men at work, but could not answer back. The men were of good cheer, and the narrator says he was sure they thought they would fee rescued.