HEART-RENDING SCENES

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1041, 25 February 1879, Page 2

HEART-RENDING SCENES

the tidings with us little delay as possible, and prompt measures were at once taken for the relief of those m the mine, who, it was thought al first, numbered GO. Men at once set to work excitedly, it must be said, but determinedly, while Mr J. B. Griften, station- master, despatched a special train to Balclutha for medical assistance. Tne men prosecuted their self-imposed labor with the greatest possible expedition, but the prevalence of fire damp greatly retarded the work. Shortly after 12 o'clock one dead oody was recovered, and at about the same time three other bodies. These were found about 200 yards from the mouth of the miue. At one o'clock the scene afe the pit's mouth was pitiable m the extreme. The wives and children of the men who were burried stood around the workings, and gave every conceivable expression to their frantic grief. All of them were crying bitterly, while some were uttering load and heartfelt laments, and others seemed quite demented. As each body was brought out, the cries and manifestations of de3p sorrow were renewed. [per press association.] A telegram from Kaitangata, dated G p.m. of Friday is as follows : — All the men have been found dead Hodge, the manager, included, except Archie Hodge, his son. The mine is clear of damp now. The greater number have been killed by the fire-damp. It is stated that Twinning, a professional coal-miner, examined the mine last week, and no later than yesterday told one of the directors that the ventilation arrangements were perfect, and everything m excellent order m the mine. He could uot possibly conceive how the accident could have occured. He went to Kaitangata to-day to superintend the arrangements of getting the men out. THE LATEST. The following aye the latest particulars up to 9 o'clock to-night : — Twenfcy-eight dead bodies have been got out of the mine. Four bodies were seen at that hour, and would be got out as soon as the debris were taken off them. The only one known for certain to be m the mine i 3 Archie' Hodge, the son of the manager, who will, no doubt, be dead also. There may be one or two more, but it is not known decisively how many were m the mine. The oulj' persons who could give positive information would be, of course, those m the mine, who ara all killed. j About 20 widows aie left by the calamity, and fully 100 orphans.

THIRY-THREE LIVES LOST.

TWENTY WIDOWS AND ONE HUNDRED ORPHANS.

(Further Particulars.) DUNEIN, Saturday. The men commenced to work yesterday morning, unaware of any element of danger. All went well till nine o'clock, when a thundering report and explosion occurred. A mass of debris shot 'up a considerable distance m the air. The mine fell into ruins, and a boy named Edward Dunn, who was entering at the time with a horse, was blown a distance of fifty yards. Death mast have come to both boy aud horse instantaneously, those operatives who escaped unhurt pominuuicatotl