EXPLOSION AND FIRE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 January 1926, Page 5

EXPLOSION AND FIRE.

IN NEW SOUTH WALES MINE. ONE MAN KILLED; 11 INJURED. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT SYDNEY, Jan. 21. One man was killed and 11 were injured in an explosion in the Redhead colliery, near Belmont. Lake MacQuarie, in the Newcastle district. The explosion occurred about a mile from the surface in a tunnel line, and caught the men unawares. The explosion was followed by a fire, but that was soon extinguished, although not before the miners had been badly burned. One of the survivors described the experience when the explosion occurred as “being thrown about like corks.” He believed the explosion followed a fall of coal. The first indication at the pithead of the disaster was a telephone message : “Come down quickly. There has been an unusual burst of air.” By the time assistance from the surface came the seat of the explosion had been located and rescuers were getting to work. The resmiers found William Riley killed and II others badly injured. All were suffering from burns. Riley was found Iving in one of the old workings some distance from the other men. A rumour that two men had been entombed was not confirmed. Details of the disaster, however, are very meagre. When the news of the explosion was conveyed to the mine office the mine manager (Mr Fallons) pluekily descended the mine to search for the injured.