MINING DISASTER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 1, 3 September 1923, Page 5

MINING DISASTER

The Worst in Australia EXPLOSION AND FIRE, MANY MINERS GUT OFF. Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, September 2. Ono of the worst mine disasters in the history of Australia and th» most* disastrous which has occurred in the South Maitland field, happened at the Bell Bird colliery, Oessnook, on Saturday afternoon. A fire broke out and cut off thirty-one men from the surface. The only explanation of the disaster is that gas may have penetrated bricks sealing off the old workings. and come into contact with a nakwl light. These old workings have long Been sealed off, but the bricks may have {.-jiven way. The mine was never regarded as gassy or dangerous*.

Fifty miners in the tunnel had a narrow escape, only a timely warning giving an alarm. Tho men were Just pitting out as the bad air flamed in. The sealing down will not immediately subdue the fire, which -'is expected to burn for sis. months.

The names of the men whose bodies have been recovered are:—W. Griffen, Harold Richards, Phil Roberts, John Morgan, George Sneddon, John. Graber, A. Hines, M. Hyams, J. M. McLaehlan, G. Chapman, Fred Lambert, Charles Mills, Jack Stewart. The names of the missing are : John Brown (a rescuer), A. Corus, F. Moody, M. Bailey, W. Hartley. The three men who were brought up alive, and who are suffering severely from poison gas, are:—-P. Wilson, J. Sneddon, George Noble, (the under-ma nager).

THE WORK OF RESCUE.

HEROIC DARING FAILS, RECOVERING THE BODIES. Press Association—Copyright. (Received 8.5 a.m.) Sydney, September 2. One of tho rescuers,, Wjilliam Hurfies Bellbird, stated that he first noticed smoke issuing from the mine, and went down the travelling tunnel, where with the nfd of ofters "bodies were [brought to the surface. He turned again to the pit, and the party found nine men and three horses, all dead. The circumstances under which they were found indicated that the whole of the men had news of their danger, and ivere trying to roach safety by hanging on to the harness of the horses. Eight of the dead men found had their faee s on the ground in an effort to save themselves*. The ninth was sitting with his arms folded and hi s bead hanging down.

Another rescuer stated that ho wa s at a hotel when the news of the disaster reached him. He immediately went to the mine, and went down the travelling tunnel, whero he met Tennaht, Eake, and Wiilson, all being deputies. j The last-named, who wa s suffering from fumes, had to he helped to the surface. Noble was suffering from fumes., but with another ho pressed on. Later his com-

panion had to return. Noble continued on his way. Afterwards, search was made for him, but no trace could be found, tho fumes being very bad. Another party found four more bodies, which later were carried out. Brown, the manager of the Abedare Ctolliory, who was also searching for bodies, found two, and said to his companion: "Do nofj go any further. One live man is better than ten dead men." But he went on and found six miners and three wheelers and three horses, all being dead. Brown then 'ordered his companion back to tho office to tell them not to allow any more men down the mine, but to send stretchers.

Jeffries, the manager of the Abermain collieries, who organised the rescue operations until the arrival of the manager, said he met Brown going down the travelling tunnel whore he found nine dead men. Then, ho suggested that all hands should be taken back to the surface and the rescue work systematise*!. This, was agreed to, and at ix o'clock In the evening volunteers were called for, and two parties were formed to carry out the bodies. Shortly after his party went into the mine again,, two distant explosions? occurred between them and the surface, and their retreat was cut off by poison gas. The party therefore divided into two, one party going through the old workings' to reach the surface. They came to a brick stopping-place, and with pocket knives scraped away the plaster and used an old sleeper as a battering ram. By this time all were feeling the effects of the fumes and their strngth was failing, but by working in shifts they managed to break through. Brown became exhausted and had to bo dragged along by a | man. named Marshall, who was also 'jrery sss&L. (Brow© gtanaged *o g& s P

to do the best he could for himself and leave him. Marshall groped his way, but became lost, and shortly afterwards lost control of bis actions. The next thing he knew was he heard the shouts of the party, and they rescued him. During the night a number of explosions occurred in the mine, one of which damaged the fan-drift build-* ingg. The; number Wiled is twenty-one. The revised list of the names of the bodies recovered is as follows: William Griffin, Charles Mills, Gordon Locking, Alfred Hynes, John Stewart, Jack Graham, George Robertson Kelly. The bodies of six sealed in the mine' include JVolkie, Hartley, Frederic, Foue. Six hundred miners are rendered idle by the -sealing of the mine. KEW DANGER TO RESCUERS, FURTHER GAS EXPLOSIONS, Press Association—Cbpyright, (Received 11.20 a.m,) Sydney, September 3. Australia was painfully shocked at the news of the colliery disaster, though relief is felt that the morning shift escaped. The chief papers despatched reporting staffs to the scene by motor and graphic accounts of the harrowing spectacles were published, and the valiant efforts of the rescuing parties, particularly Brown, manager of the Aberdare mine, were, recorded. A new danger was encountered by the men sealing the mine, for as fast as the men filled in the cavities to seal the outlets, the gas inside caused rumbling in Its efforts to escape, followed by a loud explosion. Notwithstanding a number of such explosions, the rescuing parties stuck grimly to their task. A number of thrilling episodes were Vitnesed.

HEROES OF THE MISE* l'^\ WORK OF THE RESCUERS. ] CAUSE OF DISASTER UNEX- \ PLAINED. J Prgss Association—Copyright (Received 12.15 p.m.) ■&? Sydney, September 3. * As soon as 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 men that a strong body of police was compelled to keep back the crowd until some system of the rescuing parties had been arranged. Brown and Ave other mine managers were amfrng the first to enter at great risk. They made the best possible examination of the damaged work, and were thus enabled &Ms£os& JfiiJeue werferand thereby prevented many running unnecessary danger. After three Journeys into the pit Brown, in company with Marshall, manager of the Abermain pit, went to the very heart of the mine to an attempt to move a man whose position was kno\ni. It was on this mission that he so heroically sacrificed his life. Brown was a heavy man and Marshall dragged him until he himself was almost overcome, but he managed to crawl to a tunnel, where he was picked ap and, sent to hospital in a serious condition. • .

The actual cause of the explosion has not been ascertained, but the blackened faces of the victims indicated that they were suffocated by fumes. Until the actual sources of tfie disaster have been explored, experts decline to express a definite opinion. Bellbird eoa! supposedly does not ignite spontaneously; at least, that is the experience of those working in tbe mine, but the coal itself Is of a highly inflammable nature. Aligns, manager of the colliery, expresses the opinion that one at the most probable explanations lies in the possible lighting of fire, accidentally perhaps, through a m&tc% being thrown down. The rescue work was rendered exceptionally difficult owing to the recent explosions and badly damaged workings. I u spite of this, unlimited numbers of men were anxious tat push forward to.face death, and had to be restrained. Managers and men alike from all parts of the district eagerly and unreservedly offered themselves. One miner, Mcdusky, is specially mentioned. He entered again and again. He penetrated aa far as was humanly possible and brought out nine men. Pitiable scenes were wfctuesseSl around the pit. There were crowds, including many women and children, a s most of the victims were married.