WELSH MINE DISASTER

Grey River Argus, 1 November 1913, Page 3

WELSH MINE DISASTER

RESCUERS' STORIES. ■ WANDERED ABOUT. FOR HOURS. LONDON, Oct. 18. No definite news-is ta hand reg-ard-ing the number of dead in the-Uni-versal Mine disaster, althoug-h it is believed that over four hxindred have perished. ■ Rescuers whn were loEt in one section of the mine stated that the exper ience was awful. One member of the wang- said that he was nearly, overcome by the fijmes, and then he fell over a heap of debris. "But we went on," he said, "and we heard cries, and the noise brought us back. Three of our party were lost in the working's We were brought back, and restored with stimulants. " - "We wished t^o go north, but we had no plan of the mine ,and we took the wrong burning. We seemed to be getting- no nearer to our destination, and we wandered up one cutting;, after another. We were always driven back by the fumes or falls. .. "Then one of us began lo feel faint, and w,e all sat down to discuss the situation. But the' fumes seemed to I be fo-llowingr us, and we were compelled to move. Just after we got a^vay there was another fall at the very si>ot where we had been sitting-. "We were in d state of despair then but suddenly we "found the crossroads by a fluke, and got back safely. Some of the rescued men who were found below were lying in what was 'practically a smouldering- heap. They were praying for .water,* and th e temperature was so high that their clothing- and boots were burnt off them. Every moment the roof was cracklingand creeping-, and they were in mortal fear that it would fall. The fire in the .colliery is gradually being" overcome and it is expected that the fate of the entombed men will be. known to-morrow. " The Mansion House- fund was increased by £3000 yesterday.