FIFTY-EIGHT MINERS ENTOMBED IN YORES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 186, 7 August 1936, Page 7

FIFTY-EIGHT MINERS ENTOMBED IN YORES.

HOPE ON THE WANE

Terrific Fire Follows

Explosion.

I HEROIC RESCUE WORK VAIN. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 6. An explosion occurred to-day in the Wharncliife Woodmoor colliery, near Barnsley. Rescue work was impeded by falls from the roof. It is officially stated that 58 men are entombed. It is known that 21 are killed and the hope of recovering the remainder has been practically abandoned A terrific fire followed the explosion. Rescuers, working heroically to reach the entombed men, were gravely hindered by gas and continual falls of rock. They found three bodies. Despite the proximity of fire, the air sweeping through the workings was so cold that the rescuers had to be wrapped in blankets to enable them to continue their efforts. Hundreds of anxious relatives gathered in rain at the pithead, praying. A doctor, who went down the pit, says there is little hope that any of the men will be rescued. Most of the bodies found indicated that the mens were killed by the violence of the explosion. The attitude of others suggested suffocation.

PRAYERS AT PITHEAD.

CROWD'S ANXIOUS VIGIL. • British Official Wireless. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, August 6. In connection with the Wharncliffe disaster, an injured man has been brought to the surface, but was too seriously hurt to give an account of what happened. He was found threequarters of a mile from where the explosion occurred, and his injuries indicate its terrific force.

One of the doctors assisting the rescue parties, which have been cutting their way through the falls from the roof in order to get into the affected area, on returning to the surface," said that many of the bodies found were terribly injured, and these men must have been killed by the violence of the explosion. The attitudes of others suggested suffocation by gas.

Captain Crookshank, Secretary of Mines, arrived during the afternoon at the pithead, where all day a crowd of over 2000 waited anxiously for news from bp low. The vicar of the parish conducted prayers.

This evening the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, telegraphed a message of sympathy to the families and friends of those who so tragically lost their lives.