GRESFORD COLLIERY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 110, 11 May 1935, Page 21

GRESFORD COLLIERY

BBAVE MEN'S TASK

A WOMAN'S SYMPATHY

(From "The Post's!' Representative.). < ■■ LONDON, April 13.

Not Jong ago a New Zealand lady, Mrs. Constantjne, now- in the South of France,', senikt £21!' for distribution among the Gresford. Colliery recovery workersj as attribute to their bravery, arid expressed a desire to know how many there were,; so that the gift might,be increased.to £1 for each' man. She also asked for a personal letter from one of the recipients.-

| This duty, the members of the brigade . delegated, to. Mr... John Harold Thomas, who sent to her a long and interesting account of how the rescue training had been carried on, and how they were faring in the stricken pit After thanking her on behalf of everyone, Mr. Thomas went on to state:—

"There are thirty-one of us who have been training every day for' the last five weeks. • It has been a hard time for us, and we had to pass a medical examination at the end di each day's training so as to ensure tha% every man was fit for the, task. ■

| "We are going down every day now, in teams of six. We are only able .to istay down lhr 40min because the mine is full of gas, and we are absolutely dependent on the oxygen we- carry with us on our backs. We have a I lot of work to do, and it is going to. take a long time to do it, as we cannot work very fast while we are wearing this self-breathing rescue apparatus. THE HAVOC IN THE WORKINGS.

"There is a great deal of water at the bottom of the shaft, and the' mine itself looks as if there had been a terrible earthquake. Big iron girders and large pieces of stone are Jying about along the galleries, and we have greaii difficulty in exploring these places. .■•■■■■■',...

"Most of us have been employed at this colliery for many years, and on the day of the explosion we worked with all our power to try to put, the fire out. ■ After' flighting the flames for about forty hours everyone was withdrawn from the mine as it was too dangerous to be down; and on 'the days following the fire other explosions took place. Although the mine is nearly half a mile deep, we heard them'on the surface, and now we find that they.'have done a lot more' damage. ,: ■ ■;.'•■'.'.■ . ■' "■'

"People ask.us why we take this risk. All T can say is, we owe a debt of honour to those 265 men who lost their lives last September, and if we can find out the cause of the terrible, explosion, and do something to prevent the same occurring elsewhere, we will have done something v/orth while, and the risk;will not have been too great. "If you saw the men's faces when your letter was read to them at the colliery you would say, 'It, is far more blessed to give than to receive.' I am sending, a photograph of the men who are taking part inthe rescue work."

Mr. Thomas has since received a letter from Mrs. Constantine, as follows:— .'•.'.'■' '

. "Your most kind .and interesting letter has given me the greatest pleasure, and it will "be kept.as one of my, most precious.'documents, showing the act of brave, and glorious men. What you are doing is quite as great as the military did in the war. . . : 1 would, indeed, be- delighted to have a photo graph of you all. but as it will be a great expense I shall certainly pay; for^ijj. •■■ Youi-;l,ette.r !lis enough' to' malic one1 weep. "I shall ask my New Zealand/, bank to send £10 more. .."if'l were rich I would give hundreds. I beg each one of you to accept my admiring homage." - » . . Every member of the recovery brigpde has. now received £1 from her.