MINING HORROR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1908, Page 5

MINING HORROR.

THE MAYPOLE DISASTER. . T

DEADLY VAPOUKS. WORK OF RESCUE SUSPENDED.; ■ By Telegraph.— Frest Association.— Copyright. .= LONDON, 20th August. Parties returned from explorations in the damaged No. 1 Maypole Colliery at Abram, Lancashire, where 76 men were, entombed through an explosion wrecking the shaft and portion of the workings, report that mutilated bodies •■are, scattered in all directions. Deadly vapours still hang about. i.thet ■workings, and the fire in the cannel-coaL! seams which followed the explosion i»^ burning -yet, interfering with the -.work | of tho rescuers. Several of the explorers were almostovercome by gas, and when they reached the surface last night reeled about like drunken men. A rush of smoke ascended the shaft at midnight, and rescue operations had ' to be suspended. The disaster occurred while the shiftswere being changed, just when, out of 600 men employed below, 524 had stopped work and ascended to the surface. From the positions in which the bodies recovered yesterday were found it was clearly indicated that the miners were making their way to the pit shaft when overtaken by fire. Some of the poor fellows had their arms folded across their faces. One succumbed while kneeling in the attitude of prayer. The Maypole Colliery was properly ■constructed, and fitted with all the latest appliances.