RESCUED MINERS

Evening Star, Issue 20998, 12 January 1932, Page 7

RESCUED MINERS

THE KARSTEN DISASTER PATHETIC SCENES AT PITHEAD Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 11. Fresh air was constantly pumped into the mine, and kept the survivors alive, but they were without food or water for six days 2,000 ft underground. When they were extricated they were speechless and exhausted, and had to be taken to hospital. Two had broken legs. There were pathetic scenes at the pithead, where families were gathered, some being overjoyed at their relatives’ return from the grave. The first thing that the rescued miners asked for was cigarettes. They had a small supply of meat and bread, and later they found water. The uncertainty of their fate was terrible, but one man, by his humour and energy, was always successful in cheering them up. [Working against hope, rescuers at the Karsten colliery, near Beuthen, were astounded to hear faint answering tappings, then a voice announcing that seven entombed men were alive. These men were extricated after feverish tunnelling. The rescuers are endeavouring to penetrate a second Avail of fallen rock, behind Avhich the remaining seven are imprisoned, but they are not expected to be alive.]