MAYPOLE COLLIERY DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9172, 21 August 1908, Page 5

MAYPOLE COLLIERY DISASTER.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association —liy (Uectric Telegraph Copyright.

PATHETIC SCENES. THREW MEN ESCAPE ALIVE. Received August 20, 8.45 a.m. LONDON, August 19. Pathetic scenes are being witnessed at the pit's mouth, which is thronged with frenzied relatives and friends of the entombed men. Special life-saving apparatus and gangs of men have been sent from Howe Bridge and Altofts. Three men escaped alive by walking through the Wigan Junction colliery. They encountered many obstacles in the shape of heavy falls from the roof. Twenty bodies have been recovered. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. Received August 20, 10.15 p.m. LONDON, August 20. The explorers report that they found mutilated limbs scattered i'i all directions. Deadly vapors, besides the fire which is still burning, interfered with the exploration party. The explorers were almost overcome last night, and reeled on reaching the surface. A rush of smoke at midnight suspended the operations. The disaster occurred while the shifts were changing. Of the 600 below 524 had stopped work, and had ascended to the surface. The position of the corpses found yesterday indicated that the men were making their way to the pit shaft when they were overtaken by the fire following the explosion. Some had their arms across their faces. One succumbed in an attitude of prayer. The Maypole colliery property was constructed and fitted with all the latest appliances.