A COLLIERY DISASTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2525, 6 August 1902, Page 29

A COLLIERY DISASTER.

EXPLOSION AT MOUNT KEMBIA. 150 MINERS ENTOMBED. RESCUE PARTIES AT WORK. TOTAL DEATH ROLL EIGHTYSEVEN. HEARTRENDING SCENES. NUMEROUS VOLUNTEERS TO FACE DEATH. TWO OF THE RELIEF PARTY SUCCUMB. THE STORIES OF THE SURVIVORS. >,ORST FEARS REALISED. NO MORE LIVING RECOVERED. TH& BRAVE RESCUE PARTIES. RELIEF FUNDS STARTED.

SYDNEY, July 31. A disastrous explosion has occurred at Mount Kembla Colliery. A loud report was heard at Wollongong, seven miles away. All^he district doctors have gone to the mine. No details are to hand. 7 p.m. No details are yet to hand. It is unknown whether the mouth of the pit collapsed or whether there was an explosion. A telephone message from the pit indicates the latter, as great volumes of smoke are issuing from the mine. It is believed about 200 men are entombed. One surface uand was killed and several injured. The State Parliament adjourned out oi sympathy with the sufferers. The force of the explosion destroyed the telephonic communication between Woollongong and the mine ; hence the difficulty in getting information. The explosion occurred in No. 1 Flat. The report was terrific, and was distinctly heard at Woollongong and in the surrounding country for some 10 miles distant. Thousands of tons of debris lie about the pit mouth. A lad named Nelson was killed, and West on, a fireman .it the engine, was pinned to the earth by the wreckage. Gemmel, a wheeler, «t niggled from the mine. He declares that he passed four dead men inside the mine. Relief parties have been formed. Ninety have been rescued, most of them suffering from the effects of afterdamp. The scene along the road to and at the mine is heartrending, women fainting, and many rushing about distractedly calling the "names of their husbands and sous. Immediately after the explosion the men began to come out of the tunnel in batches of half a dozen, but 150 still remain entombed. The greater portion of the buildings at the entrance to the mine came tumbling down through the force of the explosion. A leg separated from the body was found in the debris. Two bodies were discovered on the surface. As each coal-begrimed man issued from the tunnel women with babies in their arms scrutinised them in the hope of finding their own. Rescue parties were quickly organised, but their efforts are hampered by their inability to locate *he scene of the disaster. Amongst those entombed are six members of one family. The cause of the disaster is believed to be due to an accumulation of gas in the old workings. The mine is a wellventilated one. > Five bodies have been recovered. There were close on 250 men in the mine at the time of the disaster. Mr Bates, the Government inspector for the district, was making bis periodical inspection in company with the underground manager when the explosion occurred. Mr Bates was gof. out ln^enbible and knocked about, but Nelson was killed. One hundred and twenty men have effected their escape. The rest are still in the mine. A relief party cleared the tunnel of debris. The ramifications of the mine extend .some five miles into the hill. The explosion evidently occurred in the first section, and it is possible the men in the back workings are s~afe. The after-damp at the entrance to the mine is impeding the rescue work. The following are the names of those whose bodies have been recovered : — Nelson (manager), Skilliou, Hartley,

There is no necessity to suffer from coughs and colds whtfe TUSSICUBA is available.

Blackett, Piennan, Gallagher, Egan (2), and a boy named Nelson. August 1. The general impression is that the explosion was due to gas. A remarkable thing is that gas was never tnown to exist in the mine before. During the day Mr Ross (the manager) was heard to express the opinion that there was not a whiff of gas in the whole works. The fireman and tester, whose duty it is to inspect all tunnels and search for gas, went all over the works ill the morning and failed to find any trace of gas. Their signatures that everything was all right are now in the office. The manager of the mine had never deemed it necessary to use safety lamps, hence "the men always used naked lights.

As the work of clearing away the debris at the entrance of the tunnel proceeded, the rescue parties arranged by Mr Rogers to go into the mine were taken by the travelling road to the south of the main exit. Fortunately this travelling road was not damaged by the explosion, which seems to have expended its force along the line of least resistance— .viz., the main tunnel and out into the open air.

Here the rescue party were faced with a volume of smoke coming out from the travelling road tunnel that no human being could face, it was such a hot, dense blast. Some of them tried, but only got in a few yards when they staggered back into the open air dazed and blinded.

The rescue parties stood by waiting impatiently for the smoke to clear away. At last the foremost party rushed in. By stooping low down they got along fairly well. Safety lamps were carried. Ten minutes after the party had entered the travelling road two men emerged into daylight supporting a blackened, begrimed miner, who wulked with difficulty. The grief of one woman and three children was at once turned into joy. In that tattered, woebegone, and blackened figure they recognised the husband and father. It was painful and almost heartbreaking to hear the joyful exclamations of the wife and her children, while those around her were overwhelmed with grief.

" They come ! they come ! " shouted someone who had been peering in at the mouth of the tunnel, and in a moment several more men were helped out in a staggering and dazed condition.

The work of the rescue party is being carried on with the greatest vigour. Altogether the dead bodies of 23 persons were carried out. As each one was recognised by his relatives pafnful scenes were constantly recurring. Those who had been only injured were speedily taken to their homes by relatives.

The front shift were just coming out at the time of the explosion. In fact, the men did not know anything out of the common had occurred until they emerged from the travelling road and saw a great crowd of men, women, and children, gathered there.

A singular circumstance is that . the explosion, though heard nine miles away, was not even heard or felt by the miners who were leaving off work.

In conversation with some of the rescued it was learned that their first sensation was a sense of deafness and a feeling of suffocation. Some state that they were knocked down as if by a blow. The lights were blown out by a fierce rush of wind. In one case a miner stated that he felt almost choked to death with smoke, and the only way he escaped suffocation was by lying flat on the ground. .Some men crawled along on their hands and knees towards the place called the air reserve, and waited there until the smoke had cleared away.

One of the great dangers which confronted the men was the manner in which the skips were hurled about in the workings by the mighty rush of air caused by the explosion. In some cases the skips were smashed (o pieces, and the horses which drew them killed instantly.

Some 30 bodies wore recovered by midnight. The additional dead identified are Allen, Blackett, J. Dunning, T. Dunning, Dickson, Filly, Gallagher, Hitehen, Healey, Jeffries, Muir, Morri«, H. Muirant, Peace, Ryan, Stewart, "\V. Muirant, T. Purcell, and J. Purcell.

The explosion is supposed to have occurred about a mile and a-half from the entrance of the pit. It is feared that the bulk of the men working there have perished. Those who got out alive were working in places situated away from No. 1, which was a distinct force.

The explosion was terrific. The main road is ab-olutely wrecked for more than a mile from the entrance to the engine room. Above the entrance the building was reduced to matchwood. The huge cogwheel was lifted 300 yards into the valley beneath. The people made their way to the pit's month (which is- situated in a mountainous country) from all places for miles around. One unfortunate woman was met with on her sorrowful journey home, having 10--t in the accident a husband and a son.

As the dead were brought from tho mine thoy were placed in the enginehouse. The appearance of the majority showed how suddenly had been their end. There is not a mark of disfigurement, and as the pallor of death is hidden by grime «ud dudt it would be difficult to tell

that they were not asleep. Othei- art considerably disfigured by burns Vmd bruises. The men are laid Bide by fcide on the floor of the building.

Tfie panic which prevailed among the; unfortunate miners w~ho found them-< selves entombed prevented more being saved than actually were. It is said that had batches of men retained their pre< sence of mind and followed the instruc* tions of those who were more experii enced in the ways of deadly gase3 the miners would not have been suffcn cated by the fumes into which they rushed in their bewilderment.

Exactly how many escaped will not be known till the morning, when a roll call takes place. The country is- very rough, and there are several escape outlets that leafl into inaccessible places. The men who are still entombed were engaged in No. 1 district. It is feared that this section is on fire, and the chance of these men being rescued alive is therefore very remote.

There are many thrilling, exciting, and extraordinary stories of escape. The following is one :— A miner was working with a comrade, when he was suddenly affe'ete"d "with dizziness and' deafness. He heard no explosion, but, realising that something had happened, he spoke to his mate. He was unable to hear the sound of his own voice or to make his comrade, who was similarly affected, hear. A few moments later the sense, of hearing returned, and he discovered the air shaft to be slightly clouded. Then, noticing that his lamp wa6 flickering, the full horror of the situation burst upon him. He said: to his mate : " Don't talk ; keep your breath, you will want it, and run your hardest and follow, me." On they, ran, through the thickening smoke, the roof being burnt threa feefc above them. Presently they wera overtaken by several other men, who passed them. Shortly after they reached the crosscut. Three boys turned out o{ this, and ran on ahead of them. Almost immediately one of the lads was overt taken by the merciless black damp and fell dead. The pair came up with the men who had previously overtaken them, and passed them. They were lying dead. Two horses then galloped past and they were struck down by the gae. Then, to increase the awfulness of the situation, their lamp went out, and they had to stumble on through the darkness. One of the men, affected by the fumes, fell. His mate would, not Jeave him, but, lifting him up, staggered along with him many yards until he recovered sufficiently to get along by himself. Then the othetf became faint and fell, partially exhausted, calling out, "You go on; I'm done. Save yourself !*' The other, however, would not leave his mate. Struggling on, they eventually were saved by, the rescuing party. It is remarkabla that two men should have escaped whila others, working alongside them, were killed instantaneously.

Major M'Cabe, in command of tho local artillery, and Mr William. Murray, two members of the, rescuing party, losti their lives in their efforts to rescue the entombed miners.

It is feared that the worst anticipations will be realised. The latest report; is that 60 bodies have been taken from the mine.

The rescue work is pushing forward with great difficulty, owing to the disruption of the workings and the foul air.

Crowds, of relatives were round the pit all night, and there were many heartrending scenes.

The news is filtering through veiy slowly.

The reported recovery of GO bodies requires official confirmation.

Twenty-eight bodies have been recovered and 40 additional were seen in the workings. The hope of any of tho&a entombed being rescued alive is considered very faiut.

Up to 2 o'clock 38 bodies had been brought out, and the list is hourly increasing. This leaves from oO to 60 unaccounted for.

The following additional bodies have, been identified: — Thomas Aitken, Fred Smith (boy), Ned Egan, Walter Morris, James Purcell, John Purcell, Harry Morrison, "Willie Nixon, William Torst.

Those last recovered were terribly disfigured, showing that they must have been near the site of the explosion and hre.

The hope ot rescuing any alive lias been practically abandoned.

The Government has sent £500 to relievo the immediate wants of relatives. Further aid will be given as required.

Latest reports from Mount Kembla are of a gloomy character, and there are grave fear-- for believing that a majority, if not the whole, oi the entombed meit will have to be added to the hSt of victim"-. Many miners .still cling to the hope that those in the higher and morn distant workings may still be alive, but ihe more scientific authorities, judging irorn the tremendous force of the explosion as displayed at the month of the mine and the workings so far as ex-

The approach ing Coronation Holds firdt place in conversation, The world will btop till Edward crowned, Then recommetico ltb daily round ; While those who ga\e a loyal cheer May be dead within the year, Unless for colds they do procure AY. E. WooDb' Gbeat PErrfiuuixT CjJU&

fclored, and tbe large quantities of foul Jir. met , with in the rescue operations, Consider this view untenable.

Work jn all the district mines and business ,in many of the townships are suspended. Miners have been flocking in, since the first news of the disaster, offering their services at rescue work. Even for the most dangerous undertakings there is a superabundance of volunteers. A tpirit of self-sacrifice is markedly prevalent, hundreds not only being willing but anxious to face death in the hope of succouring their fellow workers, faint as the chance now seems to be.

Rescue operations were continued for the greater part of the night, and resumed early in the morniug. As one relay of searchers came out of the mine, exhausted and not teldom numbers overcome by the poisonous gases, another immediately started in.

AH night long big fires were kept burning round the pit, where groups of (vailing women and children and a great crowd of miners and townspeople gathered. Work has been continued throughout the day. During the night two bodies (one identified as a miner named Morris) Jkvere recovered. Hopes were raised when a horse and pony were discovered and .brought out alive, but were soon dashed again. Reserve partiee, pushing on •operations along the main road, came tacross 4U dead bodies scattered at internals on the road. They had apparently (been overtaken by poisonous fumes While fleeing to the mouth of the pit, and fcank down on the spot. These bodies for the time being were not removed, -eearch for the possible living beiug pushed on. j ■ Major M'Cabe was one of the first to enter the mine. He was twice driven iaftk by foul air, but he heroically persisted ou entering again, only to die. jHe was instrumental in saving several lives. Among the victims are a number ot boys who only recently left school. Active measures to relieve the widows nud children are being taken. The Daily Telegraph has opened a fund, heading it .with £600. Under the Mining Relief !Act there is at once available £43,000. In addition there is a credit of £15,000, *he bulk of the accident fuud, the beneficiaries of which are now very few. The Premier pointed out to tlie Mayor •the existence of these amounts, and, while he did not discountenance the desire of anyone to render financial aid, there was no present need of a special fund.

There i-s little fresh news from the tcene of the disaster. The organisation for coping with the condition of affairs is, generally speaking, somewhat quate. It is a matter of difficulty to secure precise information of what is being done. Many willing volunteers were literally worked to a standstill, when a little forethought would have made their lot easier. The men worked for hours on a stretch without any effort to provide toe necessary sustenance. August 2.

The worst fears of the people of Mount Kembla and Woollongong and of i tie hundreds who are gathered around the ruined machinery and debris strewn at the entrance to the Mount Kembla tunnel are fully realised.

Every man who remained in the mine after the search parties ceased their operations at 4 o'clock yesterday morning, owing to the bad condition of the ventilation, is dead.

To overcome the foul air it was nece<nary to force a current of good air into the further limits of the mine.

The searchers found the barriers at every stopping or crosscut from the main tunnel were broken down by the explosion, and that the brattices, by which good ventilation was secured, were therefore destroyed.

i\o greater instance of bravery was ever <=howu than that di~.pla\ ed by Major M'Cabe and William M'Murr.iy, deputy oi the mine.

The manner of their death was mn=t tragic. M'Cabe led the H'arch p«rty. Both he and iiL' Murray were overcome by gas. They were helped by two brave miners named C'asiley and Crawford They in turn also became affected by

them to let him lie down and to save themselves. Casiley and Crawford would not do so, but struggled on with M'Cabe and M'Murray until they, too, almost collapsed.

" Go for your lives and leave me," said "M'Cabe. Too weak to assist them any more, and scarcely able to crawl, Casiley and Crawford reluctantly left M'Cabe and APMur y , and managed by a superhuman effort to reach the open air.

When the body of Major M'Cabe was subsequently found by the search party he was clasping in his arms the body of poor M'Murray. tt looked as if the latter had stooped down to assist when he cellapsed. Thus died these two brave men.

When the air of the mine had been purified there came the melancholy task of getting out the dead. Then, amidst some of the finest mountain scenery in New South Wale?, were witnessed sights of human, sorrow in the most touching form. Women worn out with grief lined the mountain track by which the searchers from the dark alley of the mine came bearing their burdens. Pathetic inquiries as to the name of the man or lad borne by the bearers were broken by a shriek or sob as some poor woman identified her own.

That was the sort of thing that went on all through the slowly drizzling day. The bodies were rapidly coffined in the engine shed, and the friend's of the dead miners bore the remains away to their homes. From a coign of vantage could be seen these strange little funerals winding out over hill into valley beyond, where the miners' humble cottages lay.

Eveu yet it is impossible to tell exactly how many perished. The papers which would help to solve the problem were destroyed in the mine buildings by the explosion.

The mine deputy near the spot where it is presumed the explosion occurred states that suddenly something went wrong. "It was strange,"' he says, " but I could not understand it. I heard nothing and saw nothing unusual. On© of the miners, however, said to me : ' There is a blow-up or something,' and as there seemed to me to be something wrong behind the furnace I ran towards the danger. There is a double passage from one of the intakes. Now I was quite sure that something was wrong, because 1 could feel fumes coming about me, and the men were running about all over the place wild with excitement. I pushed along, and at last got to a door near the furnace and flung it back. By doing that I let the air ru.sh in in a great current smd tear up the stack. ft carried with it a great deal of after damp. When I got back the men were aimlessly tearing about. I ordered them to stand their ground and then to follow me. They, however, got excited. I steadied them a bit, but they soon got out of hand again. Some were quite furious, and were like madmen. They felt the effect •» of the fumes badly. I managed to gather round me about 70 men. I could have got the whole lot out safely, but about 20 decided to go their own way. They fell. Then my band of 70 men had an awful time, such as you could not imagine. I took them by a cross road that was only used for air to clear the old workings. Often we had to go down prostrate and wriggle through overhand. Wo went on for so long that it seemed weeks-. Some of the big strong men cried like chiiuren, and we had to cheer them ou or they would have lain down and died. For three soi»^i hours we worked along, then ! Well, here I am. I got nearly 70 good men out with me." Seventy-nine bodies hare been already got out of the mine.

Messages of sympathy are pouring in from all quarters^, and include one from Sir J. v. Ward.

While the Arbitration Court wa^ ting at Woollongoug the manager of the Mount Kembla mine was in the act of stating to the court tuat Kembla w,i=, in lm opinion, the safest mine in the work! when news of the explosion came.

Exploring the working wa^ steadily continued to-day. The woik i^ attended by great difficulty and danger. The bulk of the bcdie> ha\ c been brought out. A number of the remainder are buried umlui tky dttbiis. uud tiieifi is much diffi-

August 3.

L culty in extricating these. A few more hav-e been recovered, but the exact number is not stated. Estimates of the total number- of victims range as high as 120. This is probably considerably too high. Several bodies were buried to-day, a great concourse attending the funerals. The Governor received a cable of sympathy from Mr Chamberlain, who asks that particulars of the disaster be sent for the King's information. August 3. Inspector Bales, though he has recovered consciousness, is unaware of the calamity. He believes he met with an accident through a stone falling on him. Michael Gallagher, one of the rescued men, died yesterday from the effects of the accident. It is doubtful if tbe exact number of victims will ever be known. No official record was kept of men entering the mine, and it cannot be said for a certainty how many were in it at the time of the explosion. The mine authorities' estimate placed the limit of the victims at 86, but up to 11 o'clock this morning 92 bodies had been brought out, and it is known there are three others — two wheelers named Brennan and Price and a boy named Walker— still entombed. The ventilation has been restored, and the workings have been practically searched from end to end, but for long distances heavy falls have 'taken place and at similar places where there was no overhead collapse several bodies were ■ found. The additional bodies recovered are those of Wm. Stafford, John Nees, Thos. j Hughes, R. Bellis. John Murphy, Thos. Kendrick, James M'Dill, Percy Hunt, Wm. Braisher, E. Robertson, Jas. Rich, : sen., P. M'Canii, Charles Church, John ! Bryson, Thomas and Walter Morris (father and son). Another of the rescued (Walker) succumbed to his injuries. 'I lie manager, in an interview, stated that he could give no explanation of , the cause of the explosion. He con- j sidered the mine one of the safest and j least gassy collieries in the world prior j to this. A couple of mouths ago two students asked to be allowed to obtain samples of gas from the mine for experimental purpose*. They went from end to end and failed to obtain even a trace. Reports are very conflicting. The latest official report .states that 81 bodies have been recovered and five other.s found. The south coast colliery districts, the garden of Australia, glorious in all the brightness of the glory of early spring, is to-day a veritable laud of mourning. The bodies of fne majority of the victims were committed to their last resting places. Along every road for miles round the scene of the disaster and down every mountain track wended the mournful processions, and around the graves in the cemeteries of scattered townships and hamlet* gathered the whole milling population, and many visitor:., who <ume to pay the last tribute to the dead.

There were many distressful scenes of sorrow. The officiating ministers delivered hnpre.ssive addresses. Eighteen bodies were buried in die cemetery under Mount Kembla, clo«e to the scene of their death.

The heroes, Major M'Cabe and Mr M'Murray, were accorded a .special tribute. Major M'C'abe had an imposing military fuueral at Wollongong, the commandant, a number of leading offier-rs, and 500 troops of all branches oi the service participating.

The remains of vine other victims arrived at the burial ground from various points simultaneously. Thousands of mourners were present.

August 4

The latest official report is that &4 bodies have been recovered, and that two are still believed to be in the miue.

It will take a long time to clear up the blocked workings, and until this Is completed the actual number will remain in doubt.

Various public movements have been ■-taited to r^isp relief here and in the other States. It is proposed to bet a&ide one Saturday in New South Wales and to make a public collection similar to that oi HuMiitul Siiturd,a£*

perished

I Mi»s Amy Castles's managers have j proffered a concert for the benefit of | the Mount Kemblu sufferers. The Adelaide Register has started a relief fund. Sensational stories are being told of some of the miners' narrow escapes and their awful wanderings in the darkness after the explosion before they reached daylight. Three mpn, trusting to the intelligence of the pit horses us-ed in the darkness, clung to the animal's harness and were carried out pafely. j I The worst feature of the death li«t is ! the number of ca>es in which two or , more members of the same family were [ killed. Out of seven brothers named [ Egan four were victims, while three brothers named Parcel! and their uncle perished. | j There is no definite theory yet as- to ■' ) the cause of the accident. The cou- { seusus of opinion among mining experts and the working miners is that the J colliery was exceptionally free from gas. The Government inspector and the mine officials have begun an inspection of the Monnt Kembla mine with a view to locating the .seat of llie explosion. Eighty-seven victims are actually accounted for at Mount Kembla. A large number of miners are engaged I clearing up the working?. The comj pany intends re-starting as soon a& possible. There is no fresh news to-day beyond the discovery of the remains of the boy Walker, scattered amongst the debris at the mouth of the tunnel. He was literally blown to pieces. j Relief is being distributed among the I families and relatives of the deceased. I MELBOURNE, August 1.

The members of the Federal Parliament have sent a message of sympathy with the colliery sufferers to Sir J. See. The Acting Governor-general and the State Governor wired their condolences. The Federal and State House-i pa^^d resolutions of sympathy. AUCKLAND, August 2. Mr Wright, vow manager of the Taupin coal mines at Huntly, was formerly manager at Mount Kembla. Ha says that the .Mount Kembla was a well- voiitiJ sited mine, and fhe only reason he c^n a-^ign for the disaster is a possibility (.hat the roof caved la where the coal had been exiraeted, lea\ing cavi'•ties which it was impossible to ventilate or examine. Such a cave-in would drive out the accumulated gas, which, coming into contact with a naked light, wuu.u cause au accident. A LOCAL RELIEF FUND OPENED SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVED. With tl»e \ iew of affording to those of our readers who, touched by the painful record that has reached us of the appalling disaster which has overtaken the Mount Kembla district, are desirous of showing their prac-ti<-al bympathy with Hie afflicted, a*i opportunity of contributing towards (li<» alleviation of the distress .of the widows and orphans, we have opened a relief fund r subscriptions towards which will be gladly acknowledged by n=. We have received the following Bubpcnptions : — Otago Daily Times Company ... ..£lO 0 0 N.S.W. . 10 0 William Couaton '2 2 0 Dr Gordon Macdonald 110 As some doubts have been expressed as Lo whether contributions to the Mount Kembla Fund from New Zealand are required, we have cabled to Sir John See, State Premier of New South Wales, asking him if contributions from sources outbidc of New Bouth Wales are necessary. We bhall publish his reply as suou as it comes to hand. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — As an old rediden* of New South Wale--, and being well acquainted with the Mount Kembla district, I have rKen with aching hcait and moistened eyes from a perusal of the detail* of the awful colliery dihas'oor at Mount Kembla, and of the pitiful Bufferings of the lelatives of the unfortunate men uho hav-e been killed. If you intend to open a nibtcription list in aid of the widows and orphans you can add the enclosed subscription to it.— l am, etc., j N S W.

[Our corre'rpondent encloses 20s, and his Mib'-cnption is acknowledged in the list we ha\e opened. -Ed. O.D.T.]

There is at present in D lined in a gentleman who has an intimate acquaintance with the Mount Kembla Colliery. Tiiia is Lieutenant D. J. Stewart (formerly of the Mount Ida Chronicle), who, after B&rvmg for two and a-half years with the New South Wales Mounted Rifles at the front, has been paying his friends at Naseby a. visit, and is now on his way bade to Australia, where, for six years prior to the yutbieak^J jibe wvu he filled tlie jjobitiou

of editor of the Illawarra Mercury at Woollougong, seven miles from the scene of th» disaster. Mount Ketnble, says Mr Stewart, is situated about 55 miles south of Sydney, and is one of the mc&t commanding peaks of the picturesque lUawarra Range, which runs parallel with the coast line, from which it is separated only a few miles. Kitber Mount Keinbla or the almost equally striking peak. Mount Keira, was the " Hat Hill " referred to iv Captain Cook's journal, but the honour is generally credited to Kembla, which overlooks the historic Tom Thumb Lagoon, rendered famous by the exploits of the celebrated navigators Bass and Flinders. The view of ocean, lake, i mountain, and plain, of exquisite foliage ' and smiliug homestead, of quiet village and busy town unfolded to the eye of the visi- | tor to the summit of Mount Kembla is • coi±sidered equal in every respect to the enchanting panorama which reveals itself to the fortuuate individual who makes th« a.-cent of th» neighbouring Bulli Past — a. . scene whioh David Christie Murray has de- | bcribod as 'being unsurpassed for beauty in the wide world. The locality is in the heart of the lovely Illawarra district, which has long boon kuovrn as the " Irarden of New South Wales." Mount Kembla Colliery is situated a littleto the north of the peak from which it takes i it« name, and the niiners^Jive in comfortable ! humes about halfway up the mountain. It j is the southernmost of a group of eight, or ten mines that have for many yeara been worked along that portion of the range between Mount Kembla and Helenaburgh, t>nd i« perhaps the seeontl most important of them all, the largest producer Tieing the Metropolitan at Helensburgh. Ordinarily Mount Kembla gives employment to about 300 men. It has always be^n regarded as a dean, excellently ventilated, and perfectly safe mine, and has T»eu singularly free from accidents of any kind. The coal, like that produoed by all the Illawarra collieries, is famous for it 3 steaming qualities, in which, it U superior to the Newcastle product, the latter being: noted chiefly for its gaseous character. The mine has been constantly worked for a great number of years, and the workings extend for several miles into the heart of the mountain, the coal beings ! brought down a steep incline in trucks to i the foot of the hill, aud thence along a, ' lailway line to Port Kciubla. where extensive harbour works are now in progress and: where the largest oeean-goiug vessels are able to load without diiaculty. Everything that science could suggest or money accomplieh has been done to ensure the safety of the employees, amongst whom, there is a very strong Scottish element. The managing director of thp Mount KVmbla. Coal and Oil Company is Dr Robertson, oneof the most eminent authorities in the matter of colliery management in Australia;' and the manager is Mr "W. Rogers, who prior to liL> promotion to that position; borved for many years as underground! manager of the mine The awful ocot'rrpnc* briugs lividly to memory the terrible Bulli catastrophe, which occurred 15 yeara or more ago, about eight miles from the seen* of the present disaster. In that case a great maur live 3 were lost, and a relief fund of over £100.000 was raieecE ju aid of the widows and orphan* and th» injured, New Zealand contributing very handsomely.