COLLIERY DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 21 August 1908, Page 7

COLLIERY DISASTER.

PATHETIC SCENES. TWENTY BODIES FOUND. DEADLY FUMES STOP RESCUE WORK. (BI TELECSBArn—I'KESS ASSOCIATION—COrtItIOHT.) London, August 19. • In connection witli the disaster at No. 1 Mayp'olo colliery, Abram, Lancashire, where an explosion entombed 76 mon and fired the mine, pathetic scenes are being witnessed at the pit's'mouth, whiclj. is thronged with frenzied relatives and frionds of the entombed men. Special life-saving apparatus and gangs of 1 men have been sent from Howe Bridge and Altofts. Three men escaped alive by walking through the Wigan Junction colliery. They encountered many obstacles in the shape of heavy falls from the roof. • Twenty bodies have been recovered. RESCUERS NEARLY OVERCOME. A WELLiEQUI'PPfJD MINE. N (Rec. August 20, 10.15' p.m.) . " London, August 20. The explorers who endeavoured 'to rescue . the enfcojnbed men report that mutilated limbs ate scattered in all directions. Deadly vapours, besides the fire (which is Btill burniig), interfered with their operation. A party of explorers was almost over- ' come last night, and some of them reeled on reaching "the surface. A rush of smoke at midnight compelled the suspension of operalions.'. ' The disaster occurred while the shifts were changing. Of 600 men below, 524 had, stopped work, and' had ascended to the sur- ' face. The position of the corpses found yesterday indicates that they were making their way to the pit shaft when they were overtaken by the fire following on the explosion. ; Some had their , arms across their faces. One succumbed while in the attitude of prayer. Tlie Maypole Colliery was properly constructed, and was fitted with all the latest appliances.'