MINING DISASTER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 April 1925, Page 9

MINING DISASTER.

THIRTY-EIGHT MEN MISSING

HOPE ALMOST ABANDONED

DESPAIR AT TIH PITHEAD.

BV CAEI.E-P-RESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

Received April 1, 11. 10 a.m. LONDON, March 31

Thirty-eight men ar e missing in the Sootswood pit disaster. , Twenty-six of these are mart fed. , Tlie situation underground has become worse, owing to black damp, and the water is increasing in volume Rescue operations are proceeding strenuously though hope has been practically abandoned.There were intensely moving scenes at the pithead. All night long crowds of women and grim-faced men ac-ouainted-with the workings of the pitvainly awaited an opportunity to commence rescue work, and in the meantime joined in the prayers which were ‘•(inducted by clergymen of all denominations throughout the township. Sympathetic- references to- the disaster were, made in the House -of Commons, which unanimously deoided to give precedence to a private motion on mining accidents tq-night, , A Labourite asked the Speaker to invite the members of the House of Commons to express their symapthy with the relatives of the victims, similarly, with the recent expression of sympathy with the relatives of Marquis Curzon. The Speaker, replied that he was convinced that the whole House sympathised with the suggestin.—Reuter.