MINING DISASTER
GABLE NEWS
(United Press Association—By Electric I'tltgraph — Copyright.)
[SEVENTY-FOUR LIVES LOST
SIXTY-NINE BODIES RECOVERED
(Received July 10, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 9. To-day Conisborough is plunged into gloom over the disaster.
Five hundred men were down the mine at the time of the explosions, and of this number thirty-five were engaged in an isolated working where the explosions took place.
It is believed that all of these are dead.
A hundred other miners were rbsent from the mine attending the festivities in connection with tho visit of their Majesties the King and Queen to Conisborough. It is thought that a fire in the waste in an old working ignited the gas. The reports of the explosio7is wero heard two miles away.
There wa ca rush cf men's wives tcf the pit head. Rescuers immediately descended under the charge of Mr Pickering, the Government Inspector. Many returned exhausted, but fresh volunteers at once came forward.
The bodies of some of the unfortunate men were found in a shrinking posture, their arms covering their eyes. Most of them were shrivelled by the heat, and one of them was blown to atoms.
Three further explosions occurred at midday, and the falls from the roof of the mine cut off eighty-four of the rescuers.
The worst is feared for the party. The bodies of Mr Pickering and Mr Chambers (the manager of the pit) were recovered.
Besides those killed many are injured.
His Majesty the King has sent a message of sympathy, stating that he was shocked at the calamity, particularly after the scenes of rejoicing at bis visit to Conisborough.
The death-roll is seventy-four, including forty-five rescuers. Sixty-nine bodies have been recovered, including those of Messrs Hewitt and Tickle, inspectors from Sheffield and Doncaster.
Despite the disaster, King Georgo descended the Elsecar mine 1000 feet.
VISIT OF KING AND QUEEN
ROYAL SYMPATHY EXTENDED
(Received Last Night, 10.20 o'clock.) LONDON, July 10.
Their majesties the King and Queen visited Cadeby in the evening, and were deeply affected on hearing of the details. They condoled with the bereaved ones.
Many bodies were unrecognisable. The management art* emphatic that the disaster was not due to shot firing or faulty electricity. When their Majesties left the peo■r>le r ealfsed th/i it was 'not a,w 'occasicon for cheering, but by clapping hands showed tlieir appreciation of the Royal sympathy.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19120711.2.19.18
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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10684, 11 July 1912, Page 5
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393MINING DISASTER Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10684, 11 July 1912, Page 5
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