THE CWM DISASTER

Wairarapa Age, 4 March 1927, Page 5

THE CWM DISASTER

CAUSE NOT YET DISCLOSED.

PIT DEVASTATED. OUTBURST OF “BLACK DAMP.” LONDON. March 2. Hope was definitely abandoned at 9 o’clock this morning that any of the 45 miners entombed in the Cwm colliery were alive. It*is now officially stated that the death roll in the two disasters is 71. So far 21 bodies have been recovered in the Cwm pit. Although many theories arc rife, the cause of the explosion is still unknown, acd is unlikely to be solved until K thousands of tons of debris covering the seat of the explosion are cleared. It is probable that this will be a long time, because the place is seething with a mass of the deadliest gases. The majority of the deaths were due to the fearful * 1 black damp,” which is worse than any gas produced in wartime, as it overcomes a strong man in less than three minutes.—(A. and N.Z.).

|A PAINFUL SCENE

BRITISH PREMIER MOBBED.

ACtION OF IRRESPONSIBLES.

LONDON, March 2. was an unfortunate demonstratioji when the Prime Minister and xMrs. Baldwin visited the Cwm pithead •at midday. They had just left the mine offices where they had inquired as to the progress of the rescue operations, When they met a crowd which shouted unintelligible exclamation in Welsh. 1 One voice cried excitedly: *‘Whal about the men lying in the 'Blacky Vein’!” For a minute or two Mr. Baldwin stood Hone in the face of the demonstration awaiting his ear. Mrs. Baldwin, considerably agitated and on the terge pf tears, clutched at Mr. Baldwin’s arm. When they entered the car she sank back with an expression of pained; amazement. Mr. Baldwin, though’pale and agitated, continued smoking his pipe amid renewed exclamation! such as: ‘Traitor, get back to lyour jiigs. ’ ’ A half-hearted attempt to rusty the car was frustrated. Only| a section of the Cwm miners were involved in the demonstration Hith which the majority, including the leaders, entirely dissociate themselves. Beplying to sympathetic messages from colliery officials and Labourj lr -P.’s for the district, Mr. Baldwin said with a shrug of his shoulders: i'lt is only a few irresponsible young men. One must expect rubs of this kind.”— (A. and N.Z.). PIECE OF EFFRONTERY. LABOUR MEMBER’S STATEMENT. Mr. Jack Jones, M.P., was cheered when he said at a London trade union meeting that Cwm had received Mr. Baldwin in the proper spirit. It was a piece of effrontery when the Premier who engineered the miners’ eight-hour day and a reduction of wages visited the district in its hour of travail. The House of Commons was shedding crocodile tears.—(A. and N.Z.).

“DAILY HERALD” COtIMENT.

(Received Thursday, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, March 3. The “Daily Herald” editorially describes the demonstration against Mr. Baldwin as a painful incident. The motives of Mr. Baldwin and his wife in visiting the scene of grief were kindly and humane. Their personal sorrow was manifest and evident, but to the people of Cwm the present was linked with the past. The Premier’s part in the lockout was remembered. ■Hence the outburst of feeling—(A and N.Z.). WORK OF THE RESCUERS. (Received Thursday, 5.5 p.m.). LONDON, March 3. As a result of yesterday’s work at Cwm, the rescuers broke through the Black Vein fall and recovered nineteen bodies. The opening released pcFonous gases, threatening the whole pit, but the rescuers, in gas masks, crawled on their hands and knees and reached the huddled heaps of bodies, which it is hoped to bring to the surface early this morning. Ten remain tr be accounted for.—(A. and N.Z.).