DREADFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT IN NEW SOUTH Wales.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2295, 26 March 1887, Page 2

DREADFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT IN NEW SOUTH Wales.

terrible LOSS OF LIFE. (BY TELEGRAPH. -COPYRIGHT.) [reuteu's telegrams.] Sydney, March 23. A terrible accident, occasioned by an explosion of gas, by which sixty persons have been entombed, occurred at Bulli Colliery to-day. Seven bodies have already been recovered, and it is feared that none of those entombed will be rescued alive, LATER. [keuter's telegrams.] Sydney, Thursday. With reference to the Colliery explosion at Bulli which occurred yesterday afternoon no news was received till night. The accounts to hand state that a sudden terriffic blast of hot air burst from the tunnel and forced an explosion which blocked the tnnuth of the pit. The search party with difficulty penetrated a distance of three qparters of a mile, when they discovered six charred bodies of adults, and the disembowelled remains of a boy. Efforts are being made to get at the others entombed, who are said to number seventy, but their rescue is believed to be hopeless. Many of the search party have been rendered unconcious by the foul air. A profound sensation has been caused throughout the district, and tho scene of anguish at the tunnel mouth, where the wives and children of the entombed men congregated, is indescribable. The mine has been lying idle for some time owing to the strike, but work has lately been resumed and every precaution taken to insure safety. It is now stated that 85 miners were in the tunnels of the Bulli mine when the explosion took place. A number of bodies have been found which were not disfigured by the explosion; they were clasped in each other's arms, and had evidently died from suffocation. Heartrending scenes took place at the mouth of the tunnels as the bodies were brought out and identified, van loads of coffins already being conveyed to the mine. Sydney, March 24. The last account from Bulli state there was no hope of saving those entombed. It is believed there are about eighty-nine, most of whom are married and have a family. A search party has found eighteen others, and the bodies of some are greatly mutilated. The cause of the. explosion is yet unknown. The lamps being used in the gaseous parts of the mines were probably the cause of the accident, which is supposed to have occurred through negligence. THE LATEST. [Received March 26th, 1.20 p.m.] Sydney, March 20. A correspondent thus describes the scene at Bulli yesterday:—The people were near the tunnel mouth but also scattered over considerable area. On the trackway and about the embankments were seated women bewailing the loss of those dearest to them. They had passed the night at the pit. Further on, the houses of miners were all deserted and a few yards awav, in a large stone house on the floor, covered with new-mown hay, lay the bodies in rows, most of them badly bruised, and some frightfully mangled, without a vestige of clothing or hair. The remains of fallen rocks tell their tale of mutilation. On the other side stands the carpenter's shop, where rough coffins are being made against time, the names of the victims being written on them in chalk. All this is being done in the presence of the widows and orphans. The rescue parties rush into the tunnel regardless of danger. For the first half-mile the air is good, and the tunnel pretty clear, but gradually it becomes worse, and the air is thick and heavy. However, undaunted, they proceed, over rocks, fallen timbers, and in almost absolute darkness. The sides and roof of the tunnels are twisted as if they were matchwood. Bodies are met with here and there, most of them being covered with a cloud, and then the men of the party will be overcome, and compelled to return in a semi-conscious state, but they are not taken out at the mouth of the tunnel for fear of raising false hopes. The cause of the explosion has not yet been ascertained. A Survivor's Narrative. (deceived March 2511 i, 1.10 p.m.) Sydney, Friday. The following is a narrative of a survivor of the Bulli colliery catastrophe. John Cavill said In 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 the fall of stone they heard the explosion. It blew the lights out. The fumes smelt something like powder smoke, and at the same time he could see a light mist. They turned back, and there was a good deal of after damp, which was very bad until they got to the bank head. They had only five matches, and experienced great difficulty in obtaining light. Their escape is miraculous. Most of the men in this district use safety lamps, but further out in the direction of the opening open lights were used, but with great care. All the men lost were working within a radius of 200 yards, and none but safety lamps were in use. There are forty-three bodies now recovered. Operations tor recovery are slow and dangerous. Many recovered cannot be identified. Melancholy processions have been seen all through the day, and the scenes are most heart-rending, distracted widows rushing to the morgue to ascertain who has been recovered. An immense funeral of all the bodies found takes place this afternoon. Arrangements are being made to open up what is known as the Western district, where it is believed most of the bodies are now collected. The Minister of Mines proceeded to Bulli this morning.