TERRIBLE MINING FATALITY.

Hastings Standard, Issue 189, 5 December 1896, Page 2

TERRIBLE MINING FATALITY.

CABLES.

IN NEW SOUTH WALES. EIGHT MEN SUFFOCATED

A GALLANT RESCUE PARTY. HEART-RENDING SCENES AT THE PIT'S MOUTH™ r DEATH VERY SUDDEN. (P<v IVc.s.x Association. —< 'opyriyht.) Sydney, Dec. 4. A terrible fatality occurred at the Stockton mine, Newcastle, this morning. A party of miners under Mr Cockburn, mine surveyor, entered the mine to ascertain the cause which led to the death of two men a few days ago. The party were suddenly overcome by the fumes, and a rescue party went to their assistance, but three of these lost their lives, together with live of the original party. Seven bodies have been recovered, one is still in the mine, and one man is in the hospital without hope of recovery. Late last night the discovery was made that seven men had been suffocated in the Stockton mine. Intense excitement prevailed, and crowds wended their way to the pit's mouth. When the return of the exploring party were not signalled the mine officials apprehended that something was wrong, and called for a rescue party, who succeeded in rescuing seven men, who were brought up in an insensible condition. Those engaged in the rescue work had a hard battle with foul air. The following were brought up dead Cockburn (surveyor), Bailey, M'Alpine (2), Sweeney, Gascoigne, Charles Worth, mid Fitzpatrick. A ninth named Sneddon was brought up insensible and his recovery is regarded as hopeless. As the bodies were brought to the surface there were heartrending scenes. M'Auliffe, the manager, says that when he saw four of the men lying down helpless he picked one up, who clutched him round the waist and cried " For God's sake help me ; save my life, M'Auliffe." He was then overcome by foul air and had to drop the unfortunate fellow. M'Auliffe's lamp then went out, and he had to crawl to the bottom of the shaft. Poor Sweeney had been one of the rescue party and had saved two lives when he too was overcome aud met his death. Fitzpatrick was also oue of the rescue party. Only two of the victims were married, and one was a widower with a number of children. (Received Dec. 5, at 11. a.m.) This day. The bodies recovered from the mine in most instances showed th'-it death had been very sudden. Others, however, appeared to have suffered agony, blood oozing from the mouth and nostrils. Thos. Mc Alpine was much disfigured about the face. He appeared to have laid down on his side when overcome by the foul air. His lamp had burnt down, burning his cap badly scorching his face. Sydney McAlpine, whose body was first recovered, had, on the previous day, acted as pall bearer at the funeral of the victims of the Stockton accident.