MINE FLOODED.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18347, 2 April 1925, Page 9

MINE FLOODED.

THIRTY-EIGHT MEN CUT OFF. HOPE OF RESCUE ABANDONED. (BY CABLE—FRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AXD K.Z. CAB LI ASSOCIATION.) LONDON. March 31. Of the 38 miners trapped in the Montagu colliery at Scotswood, near Newcastle, bv a sudden rush of water, twenty-six arc married. Tile situation underground has become worse owing to black damp, and the water is increasing in volume. Rescue operations are proceeding strenuously, though hope lias been practically abandoned. There were intensely moving scenes at the pithead. All night long crowds of women and grim-faced men acquainted with tho workings of the pit were vainly awaiting an opportunity for reseuo work, in the meantime joining in prayers conducted by clergymen of all denominations. Sympathetic references to the disaster were made in the House of Commons, which unanimously decided to give precedence to a private motion on mining accidents. To-night a Labour member asked the Speaker to invite the House of Commons to express sympathy with the relatives of tho victims similarly with the recent expression of sympathy with the late Lord Curzon's relatives. The Speaker replied that he was convinced that the whole House sympathised with the suggestion. DISASTER DEPLORED. THREE WEEKS' PUMPING AHEAD (BEtTTEB'S TELEGRAMS.) (Received April Ist, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, April 1. In connexion with the Scotswood disaster, the House' of Commons, on the motion of Mr G. H. Hirst, passed a resolution deploring the heavy loss of life and the large number of n on-fatal mining accidents. Tho House recorded as its opinion that legislation should immediately bo introduced to improve and strengthen the Coal Mines Act in order to secure the fullest protection of those engaged in this dangerous iudustry. The consulting engineer at Scotswood has abandoned hope of rescuing any of the entombed men alive. It is estimated it will tako three weeks' pumping at high pressure to dear the pit.