MINE TRAGEDY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 253, 25 September 1939, Page 8

MINE TRAGEDY

25 CHILDREN FATHERLESS

ALL VICTIMS WERE MARRIED,

Per Press Association

Hamilton, s ep t. 25. Twenty-five children are left fatherless as the result of the mine tragedy at Glen Afton. All the victims were married. Messrs Ireland and Turley had no children and. Mr Blackburn had one, Mr Brown one, Mr Wilcox an adult family of lour, Mr Cole four, Mr Marshall two, Mr Bell three, Mr Peden'five, Mr Hunter two and Mr Clarke two children and one adult daughter. Tlie work of attempting to locate the remaining three bodies, those of Messrs Ireland, Turley and Bell, was continued throughout the night, but was unsuccessful. The fire has been located about half a mile from the Glen Afton end and the work is proceeding of sealing the shaft. This is expected to be completed b.y mid-day, and after the fumes have been blown out another attempt to recover the bodies will be made.

The\ inquest on the bodies of the eight men that have been recovered was opened before Mr W. H. Freeman, 8.M., at 11.30 this morning, and after evidence of identification had been given•• by Alexander Johnston, president and secretary of the Glen Afton branch of the Miners’ Union, was adjourned sine die.

An earlier message relating to the above appears on page 7.