THE DUDLEY COLLIERY DISASTER.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9992, 23 March 1898, Page 5

THE DUDLEY COLLIERY DISASTER.

THE SEARCH FOE THE ENTOMBED MINERS. THREE BODIES FOUND. NO HOPE OF FINDING THE MEN ALIVE. THE MINE UNSAFE. United Pre3s Association—By Electric Te!esrraph— Copyright Received March 22nd, 9.10 a.m. Sydney, March 22. While the roofing and brickwork of the air shaft in the Dudley mine were lifted bodily and thrown in all directions, the machinery was not damaged. The simultaneous explosion in the main shaft sent the debris a quarter of a mile away, and destroyed the winding gear. The deputies and others who were constantly descending into the pit did not notice any extraordinary smell of gas, and not the slightest danger was apprehended. After the explosion the gas fumes poured out for some time. After the repairs to the cage guides were effected the first exploring party, consisting of the senior Inspector of Collieries, the manager of the Dudley mine, and the managers of two adjacent mines, descended. After getting down a couple of hundred feet they had to return owing to the after damp. Later, when the ventilation was improved they got below and found the main workings blocked by debris. The pumping machinery at the bottom of the shaft, weighing many tons, was completely wrenched from the bearings and capsized by the force of the explosion. Late in the afternoon the first working party descended to remove the debris and endeavour to get at the entombed miners. It was found that the stoppiugs used for directing the current of air from the ventilating shaft had been carried away by tbe explosion, thus interfering seriously with the ventilation of the workings. When this state of affairs was found to exist all hopes of findiDg any of the men alive were abandoned. Owing to the destruction of the stoppings the air produced by the fan passed out without circulating through the mine. This hampers the search party, who have to brattice as they proceed. The auguish round the pit mouth during the afternoon and last night was intense, but the women bore the trial bravely. About fifty relatives of the entombed men, with scores of sympathisers, maintained a sad watch, while the search parties worked unceasingly. About ten o'clock the body of Dorrity was discovered two hundred yards from the bottom of the pit. The remains were much charred and mutilated. The deceased must have been in that vicinity of the explosion, and was carried some distance along the workings, the bones of his body being badly broken. The accumulation of foul gas must be very rapid and due to some, unknown cause.- The gas which caused the explosion was carbonated hydrogen. Early this morning the exploring parties reported that the mine was unsafe, the roof of the drives showing signs of caving in. Another effort was to be made at 6 a.m. Later. The body of Benson, the pumpman, has been found near the main shaft, considerably smashed about. Received Maro'a 22uc1, 9.50 p.m. Sydney, March 22. Theskfii, and in some places the flesh, were torn off the bodies of the two men recovered in the Dudley mine. The water is now becoming a serious obstacle to the work of the relief party, as it is gathering in the pit to a considerable extent. It is expected that the other bodies will be reached to-night. Received March 22nd, 10.35 p.m. THE MINE ON FIR hi. Sydney, March 22. The Dudley mine is so damaged that it will take months to put it right. The exploring party encountered smoke, showing that the mine was on fire. One fire has been located, but whether any extended conflagration exists is not yet known. Received March 22nd, 10.35 a.m. A PATHETIC INCIDENT. Sydney, March 22. The after-damp in the Dudley mine is proving troublesome, and the greatest care has to be exercised to prevent another explosion. The medical examination of the two bodies recovered proves that death was not instantaneous, the men having inhaled poisonous gas. A pathetic incident occurred as the relief party was about to descend for to-day's work. A worn, aged and wrinkled man unostentatiously pushed his way to the front. " You can't go down," said-Jones, the leader of the party, in a kindly voice, as he recognised the old man as one whose son was missing. " You had better not go down. We will do all mortal men can do. Rest assured of that." And the grief-stricken father reluctantly sat down on the ground close by and wept silently. Receive- March 23rd. 12.35 _,m. Sydney, March 22. The body of Humphries was recovered from the Dudley mine this evening.