MINING DISASTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 27, 15 January 1912, Page 5

MINING DISASTER.

FOUR MEN KILLED BY FOUL AIR. TWO NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. Sydney, January 14. A disaster occurred at the Barrier Mine, West Wyalong. A party of seven working below failed to knock. The manager descended and found live overcome with foul air. Three—Frank Maguire, Rube Nicholson, and John Mulhall—were dead and two prostrated and in a serious condition. Two brothers, John and Berlin Navin, could not be found, and it is improbable they are alive. A relief party is searching. All the dead men were married. The scene at the top of the shaft was heartrending. Later reports state that four are dead and six affected. THE DEATH-ROLL INCREASED TO SIX. A LARGE FUNERAL. (Received 15, 9.20 a.m.) Sydney, January 15. Six have died at West Wyalong. Their names aro Godfrey Maguire, Robert Navin, John Navin, Rupert ■ Nicholson, John Mulhall, William Cunningham. The disaster was quite unexpected. The mine was not suspected of containing foul air. It is supposed that an explosion of Rackarock released a pocket of foul gases. The inrush must have been sudden. Most of the bodies wore found a few foet from where they were working. Cunningham, with Abe Wellington, managed to crawl out of the foul zone and wero rescued with difficulty. Cunningham afterwards succumbed. Wellington is in hospital in a serious condition. The funeral of the victims was the largest in the district. All except Cunningham left wives and young families dependent on them.