SELF-IMPRISONED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21874, 9 August 1934, Page 11

SELF-IMPRISONED

POIISH MINERS' ACT LARGE PARTY UNDERGROUND FRENCH COLLIERY SENSATION TROUBLE FINALLY SETTLED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received August 8, 9.5 p.m.) PARIS, August 8 Resenting the dismissal of two of tlieir compatriots for participation in a Communist demonstration, nearly 200 Polish miners in a colliery at Esearpello broke the ventilation and lighting systems and disconnected the cages. By the latter act they -imprisoned themselves at the 900 ft. level. They held a number of French miners as hostages. The strike ended this evening after having been in progress a day and alialf. Twenty of the French miners escaped t-o the pithead by means of the precarious emergency ladders, but the Poles said they were prepared to starve themselves and the other French hostages and to paralyse the mine until the dismissed Communists were reinstated. Later the colliery managers sent the foreman and four assistants to parley with the Poles, but a note was sent up to the surface saying that the envoys also were held as hostages. A strong force of police u-as called up, and finally the management settled the dispute and the whole of the men below came to the surface.