Terrible Colliery Explosion.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9024, 23 March 1898, Page 2

Terrible Colliery Explosion.

Press Association—Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

Sydney, March 22

Skin, and in some places flesh, were torn off the bodies of the two men recovered from the Dudley mine.

The water is now becoming a serious obstacle to the relief party, as it is gathering in the pit to a considerable extent.

It is expected that the other bodies will be reached to-night.

The body of Humphries was recovered from the Dudley mine this evening.

March 23,

Ihe after-damp in the Dudley mine is proving troublesome, and the greatest care has to be exercised to prevent another explosion, The medical examination of the two bodies recovered proves that death was not instantaneous, the men having inhaled poisonous gas. A pathetic incident occurred as the relief party were about to descend to-day to work. A worn, aged, and wrinkled man unostentatiously pushed his way to the front, " You can't #o down," said Jones, the leader of the party, in a kindly voice, as he recogi the old man as one whose son was j missing ; " You had better not go down. We will do all mortal men can do ; rest assured of that." Then the grief-stricken father reluctantly sat down on the ground close by and wept siientlv.

The" mine is so damaged as to take months to put it right. The exploring party encountered smoke, showing that the mine is on fire.

One fire has been located, but whether any extended conflagration exists is not yet known.