COAL MINE EXPLOSION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 176, 10 July 1912, Page 5

COAL MINE EXPLOSION.

THIRTY MINERS KILLED. London. July 9. Two explosions occurred in the Cadeby pit, at Conisbrough, Yorkshire, this morning, thirty men being killed. FROM GAIETY TO DESPAIR. FURTHER EXPLOSIONS. 84 RESCUERS ENTOMBED. (Received Kt, 11.30 a.m.) London, July 9. On Monday evening the King and Queen travelling from Doncaster to visit Earl Fitzwilliam at Wentworth, stepped for tea with Lord Yarborough at Conisbrough Castle. Thousands of colliers lined the route to tlie rums.

The King ascended to the high Norman keep and bowed to the crowd.

To-day Conisbrough is plunged in gloom owing to the fatalities following on the explosions in Cadeby p’t. Five hundred men were down in the mine, thirty-five being in isolated workings where the explosion occurred. It is believed all the latter are dead. A hundred others were absent owing to the festivities in connection with the Royal visit.

Reports of the explosion were heard two miles away. There was a rush of miners’ wives to the pithead.

Rescuers descended under Mr. Pickering, the Government inspector. .

Many returned exhausted, but fresh volunteers were forthcoming. Bodies were found in shrinking postures with arms covering 1 heneyes. Most of the bodies were shrivelled by the heat. One was blown to atoms.

Two further explosions occurred at mid-day, and the roofs falling in cut off 84 of the rescuers. The worst is feared.

The bodies of Mr. Pickering and Mr. Chambers (manager of the pit) have been recovered.

The King sent a message saying he was shocked at the disaster, particularly after the scenes of rejoicing at Conesbrough on the previous day. THE DEATH ROLL. (Received 10, 2.0 p.m.) London, July 9. Seventy-four arc dead, including 45 rescuers.

Sixty-nine bodies have been discovered, including Hewitt and Tickle, inspectors of the Sheffield and Doncaster mines, respectively. Despite the disaster King George descended the Elsecar mine to a depth of 1000 feet.