THE COST OF COAL.

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1926, Page 5

THE COST OF COAL.

120 LIVES LOST

LN NATAL MINE EXPLOSION

CAPETOWN, October 11. The Natal colliery explosion is the worst in the history of South African

mining. Flames shot up hundreds of feet There is no hope for the entombed men, Surprisingly Little damage was done to the mine and work in other shafts was not interrupted. The cause has not been ascertained but the theory is that an electrician

forking in th© mine accidentally fc. Vdropix'd a live \\4re across a tube or thus causing a spark and igniCT!fe~the coal dust. One of the rescued natives lived long enough to confirm the theory that the explosion was due to an accidental short circuit. An electrician stumbled over a cable and fell on Jie rail. According to the native, there was a tiny spark then a shattering explosion killing the electrician outright, and knocking h:'s assistant

senseless. Falls of rock imprisoned the whole night shift and no doubt the miners were choked by carbon-dioxide gas. Heart-breaking scenes were witnessed at the entrance to the mine all yesterday. The natives are digging a trench. 120 yards by six feet wide, to bury the dead. So far, 64 natives have been buried.