SEVERAL LIVES LOST.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12014, 15 October 1904, Page 7

SEVERAL LIVES LOST.

(Received October 14th, 11.1 p.m.) BRISBANE, October 14. The firo at Ohartm Towers was d»at 1 o'clock this morning by five tributes—John Russell, William Knins, Alfred Mountain, W. Nixon, and Sandy ; Mitchell—in the Brilliant block and Mexican EaMi mhiM. They were working''Mb the time of tho outbreak, and it is believed A:cy hnvc all lost tlioir live*. RuskU'm ucttly was recoveivd, and two other* wes» :•.■«» by tho rescue parties. Many men .n tho n<l joining mines were overoom© oy tjio funvee, but were rescued. One Wan , nanwd Mitchell, a. broUier of one of tb» missing men, succumbed to the effects Many rescue parties are at work. The fire is still raging. It is surmised Tho seat of the outbreak w the old timbering J shaft, and it ia feared it* progroM mil J not be easily checked. (Received October 15tJi, 1.18 a.m.) Heavy rains caused interruption, to the Quensland telegraph linw, and detail* of the fire are meagre. The Brilliant Mine was practically worked out, tho company* operations being restricted to the raising of a little ore, but there was a number of tributors at work. The latest report is that the rescue operations are being impeded by the spread of the fire, the dense fumes and the fears of a. collapse. There is anxiety for one of tlie rescue parties which has not returned. [Charters Towcm is the gnat quarts' mining centre of Nor&ern Queensland, the mines being worked to a great depth. The Brilliant mine has extensive working* at a doptij of 2500 feet, where payable gold hw been obtained. It had always been regarded aa one of tlie best paying properties on tho field. Tho Brilliant, and Brilliant and St. George mines, in conjunction, divided over £140,000 amongst their shareholders during tlie Inst, recorded yew, opt of a total, of £302,000 paid in dividends by the sixteen companies working on the field.]