WELSH COLLIERY DISASTER

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 27

WELSH COLLIERY DISASTER

SUBDUING THE FIRES

EXPLORERS OVERCOME BY FUMES

LONDON, October 21, The most arduous and perilous part of the exploration of the Senghenyyd mine has now been completed. One fire has been extinguished, and another has been screened off by barriers and sand bags. The heat renders the work difficult, but the three main arteries to the distant workings are open. The rescuers are only stopped by an impenetrable canopy of gas, but they are withdrawing the gas at the rate of several yards per hour - . They are two-thirds of a mile from the spot -where it is expected that the missing men will be found. It has been learned that when the first rescuers were about to descend the colliery a conference of experts was held to decide on the procedure, as it was recognised that those descending w T ere risking their lives. The seven men who were chosen at once rose from the table, went to different parts of the room, and wrote farewell messages to their nearest and dearest, ■ while three of them made their wills, _ knowing that they were engaged in a gamble with death. October 22. During the exploration in the Senghenydd mine by 20 leading mining officials, the rearmost man was suddenly overcome by the fumes. Three messengers were successively sent to warn those m front, but none of them returned. Some were intoxicated by the gas,- and finally all were prostrated. The rescue brigade was summoned and exhausted its supply of oxygen in resuscitating them, but all were eventually brought to * the surface, though several were in a critical state. Others of the rescuers, after getting within 30 yards of the face, were driven back by the gas, but they had time to catch sight of many bodies in a terribly shattered condition. Some of them were decapitated and dismembered. Advance in another portion of the mine was impeded by heavy falls from the roof. Operations have been postponed till Friday owing to the danger. October 23. Alarmed at the Senghenydd disaster the miners in the Dannileth colliery appointed a committee to investigate the mine. As a result, the town crier was despatched to warn the men not to go to work. The men did not go to work, and as a result 1500 are idle. October 25. The relief fund amounts to £50,000. It includes £IOOO received from the charge for viewing Prince Arthur of Connaught's wedding presents.