TRAPPED IN MINE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 13094, 16 February 1937, Page 5

TRAPPED IN MINE

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION AT WONTHAGGI. THIRTEEN MEN UNDERGROUND

LITTLE HOPE OF RESCUE.

TEARFUL SCENES AT PITHEAD

(U.P.A. by Elec. Te!. Copy .fight). (Received I’eb. 15, 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Feb. 15. A terrific explosion occurred at 10 o’clock this morning in No. 20 shaft at the State coal mine at Wontliaggi. Thirteen men are entombed in the mine 190 feet underground, and there is little iiope of rescue. Tlio explosion blew up the cages from the 150 feet level, and the shaft collapsed. The cage was followed by a cloud of dust, fumes and smoke, which rose 100 foot in the air. The bulk of the men were attending a stop work meeting in the town when tlie news was received and the mooting disbanded hurriedly. Firo brigades, ambulance men and miners rushed to the pit head to aid their comrades. As the news spread, women left their homes and children their schools to form tearful and anxious groups, while rescuers sought to lind the extent of tlie disaster. The cause so far is not known, but it is easily the biggest disaster in the. history of the W ontliaggi field.

ALL HOPE ABANDONED < U.P.A. by Elec. Tel Copyright;. MELBOURNE. Feb. 15. The mine manager (Mr J. AlcCleish), the underground manager, (Air T. Johnstone) and one volunteer wearing gas masks, descended in the cage and discovered the entrance ta true tunnel where the men are supposed to be, completely blocked with debris. There was no sign of foul u£ir. All hope has been abandoned for tiie Wonthaggi entombed men. The mine officials announce that, if the men were fret killed by the explosion they must have died shortly afterwards from carbon monoxide poisoning. No l bodies have yet been recovered.'