MINE FIRE DEATH ROLL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18495, 4 September 1923, Page 8

MINE FIRE DEATH ROLL.

■ ■ «* - VICTIMS.

GALLANT RESCUE WORK.

MANAGER GIVES HIS LIFE.

OVERCOME BY THE FUMES.

?. By Telegraph— • 'SesooJation-r-CopTTieht. - • .: ■■'■■■•; (Received '6 v.mi) -'jt *ndK.Z. '..■" SYDNEY. ■ Sept. 8. . The number of killed in the disaster at the Bcllbird Colliery, Cessnock, on the. South Maitland field, is now stated .; to be 21. . Most of the victims were mar- '• ried ; men. ;"" '*"" ■ * . Fifteen bodies have now been recor- . ered, while six are still in the mine. Tho bodies recovered arc. thqse of. .Messra. 'Richards, Griffin, Mill", Locking,, Hynco, McLaughlin,"; Stewart, Graber, Morgan, Hyaws, Sneddon, Roberts, Kelly, Chapman, and Lambert. The bodies of Messrs. Corns, Hartley, Fone, Bailey, Moooy, and ' Brown (mine. manager who went to the rescue) have not yet been recovered. . •;.-... As soon as 1 the news of the explosion spread hundreds of miners who had just come off shift volunteered for rescue work. So eager were they to assist the entombed 1- men that a strong body of police was compelled to keep back the crowd until a system of rescuing parties had been arranged. Mr. John Brown, manager of the Aberdaro Colliery, and five other mine managers were among the first to enter the mine, and they did so at great risk. They made the best pos- j sible examination of the damaged works and were thus enabled to prevent tho helpers from running unnecessary risks. One of the rescuers, William Hughes, cf Bellbird, stated that he first noticed smoke issuing from the mine and went down a travelling tunnel, where ho found four dead men, arid with the aid. of others the bodies were brought to the . surface. He returned again to the pit, and the party found nine men and three horses all dead. ■ '■_..',' ' Tho circumstances under which they were found indicated that the whole of the men had news of their danger and were trying to reach safety by hanging on to the harness of the horses. Eight of the dead men found' had their faces on the ground in an effort to save themselves. A ninth was sitting with his arms folded and his head hanging down. Another rescuer stated that he was at an hotel when the news of the disaster reached him. Ho immediately went to the mine, and went down the travelling j • tunnel, where he met Tennant, Bake, and I Wilson; all deputies, the last-named suffering from fumes. Ho had to be helped to tho surface. Noble was suffer- j ing from fumes, but with another pressed | on. Later, his companion had to return. Noble continued on his way. Another party found four more bodies, which they later carried out. .''"''•' Rescuer Loses Life. - After three journeys into the pit,. Mr. Brown, in company with Mr. Marshall (manager of the Abermain Pit, went to the .very heaTt. of. the mine in an attempt -to save a man whose:position was, [ Inown. . It was on this mission that Mr. Brown so heroically sacrificed'his life.* Mr. Jeffries, manager of lae Abermain . oolleries, .who organised the rescue operations until the arrival of the manager, ; : mud he met Mr.; Brown going down the travelling tunnel, where :he tfound "bine' dead men. Then ho suggested that all hands be taken back to - the surface and the rescue ; work systematised. This was 'agreed to, and at six in the evening ! volunteers were -called' for and i two par'ties were formed to : carry '■ out the bodies. Shortly after his party went u into the W,miner again two distinct explosions occurred between them and the surface, and their retreat was cut off by poison gas. The party therefore divided into two; , one party went through the old workings 2 to reach the surface and came to a brick • stopping.: place, and with pocket knives scraped away the plaster, and used an old sleeper -is a battering ram. By this time all were feeling the effects of the fumes, and \ their strength was failing, but by Working in shifts they managed to break through. , ' r " * •■• ' ; Mr., Brown ' became exhausted, and had to be dragged along % by & man named "Marshall, who also was very weak. '-Mr. ' Brown managed to gasp that ho: would do the best he could 'for himself and

• asked to be left. He was a heavy man, . and Mr. .; Marshall dragged him until he himself was almost overcome. Mr. Marshall somehow managed to crawl to the; tunnel, where he was picked up and sent to the hospital in a serious condition. •Cause of the Explosion. The actual cause of the explosion has not been > ascertained, but the blackened faces -of * €he victims indicate that they were Buffocated by fumes. - Until ' the actual sources of the disaster have been 4 explored experts decline to express a definite opinion. • Bellbird coal supposedly does not ignite spontaneously; ,aC lease that is the experience of those working in the mine, but the coal itself is of a highly inflammable nature. . . Mr. Angus, manager of the colliery, expresses the opinion that one of the most, probable explanations lies in the possible lighting of a fire accidentally,.; perhaps through ; a match being thrown down. \ Beacue work was rendered exceptionally , difficult owing to ..recurrent explosions and badly damaged .workings.- In spite of this, unlimited numbers of men wera anxious to push forward to face death, and had to be restrained. Managers and men alike from all parts ot Che district eagerly and unreservedly offered themselves. One miner named McCluskye is specially men-1 tioned. : He entered the mine again and again and penetrated as far as was humanly possible. He brought out' nine men. '■■... .- ... A how danger was encountered by the men sealing the mine, for as fast as they filled the outlets, the gas inside caused loud explosions. Notwithstanding the number of such explosions, the rescuing parties stuck grimly to their task, and a number of thrilling episodes were witnessed. Six hundred men are rendered idle as a result of the coaling of the mine. A mass meeting of miners adopfed a resolution stating that they viewed with horror the appalling disaster, and expended their heartfelt sympathy to the dependents of their late comrades. "' They jilso carried a resolution expressing appreciation of the noble manner in which the rescuing parties performed their " duties. • The meeting also recommended fo lodges that the miners of the district give their first day's wages and mine owners, give the first day's . profits Co assist tho dependents of the victims.