HEROIC MINERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 961, 31 October 1910, Page 6

HEROIC MINERS.

CORONER'S WARM TRIBUTE. 7.7 (By ,'TcleEraph.—Press Association.!. - :■■ ■■ Wcstport, October 29. The bodies of John Muir and Jameß Bowers, which were buried through the 'roof, of the Coalbrookdale Mine falling m on Wednesday, were recovered this morning at 2.15 and 6.45. Tho unfortunate men were apparently smothered without warning; . At the inquest on Saturday a verdict was returned that death was accidental, no blame . being attachable to anyone. The evidence went to show that a crush of earth that' could not have been forseen had occurred, and apparently a fall took place, partly covering Bowers, : towards whom Muir was making to'free him when Muir himself was ovortako;i by a further fall and. asphyxiated.. -V 7- • -7' ■ ■ 'v.''- ■',

Mr. Rawson, S.M., coroner, in addressing the • jury I said . that the ■ men who had' worked in the recovery party had upheld tho best traditions ;of the British .miner, .He' believed that .any one of them would have risked his life to save a fellow-worker/ The jury, .Mr. Marshall . (Inspector of Mines), and Mr. Dixon (the Wcstport Coal Company's district manager) endorsed the Coroner's remarks, and stated , that ■ the miners ' had .worked in a most heroic manner. ■' 7;

The funeral took place this afternoon; the cortege, being a very lengthy one, with the AVestport Garrison Band in attendance playing funeral marches. The Rev. T. Miller, M.A., Presbyterian minister,: conducted ail impressive funeral service. ■■, ■'