FLOODED MINE.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16153, 1 December 1924, Page 5

FLOODED MINE.

MEN STILL ENTOMBED. MANY SURVIVORS NEARLY DROWN (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) LONDON, November 28. The miners trapped by the flooding of the Dunvant Colliery, near Swansea, Wales, were still entombed at a late hour to-night. It is now stated that they number 11. Rescue parties have been working for 24 hours, and have displayed magnificent courage. They are continuing throughout a second night. The entombed men are divided into two groups, of five and six respectively. Hopes are most favourable for reaching the latter, but it is feared they may have already perished from black damp. Normally 15 pumps pump out between 12,000 and 105,000 gal of water, but only 1000 gallons of water an hour were pumped out Only two pumps are working, others have been swept away by the torrent, which is believed to have been due to the bursting of a barrier, owing to the pressure of water in another pit long abandoned. The workings are nearly a mile in length, and are on a steep slant, water poured down to the lower levels with tremendous force, carrying away the timbering. The debris overtook a line of trolleys whereon a youth, named William Goulding, was journeying, lie was swept along and eventually pinned under the timbering. He was found unconscious and died. The rushing water and debris tore the clothes from many of the survivors who reached the surface almost naked, with hands cut and bleeding. They told thrilling stories of desperate struggles to surmount fallen coal, from sect-iotas of the roof. Many were obliged to wade waist deep and crawl on their stomachs long distances through slime. A number of the survivors were brought out unconscious by comrades' who, ignoring their own danger, stayed to succour those pinned down and half drowned. Officials had difficulty in keeping back crowds of miners who were wilting to risk their lives to rescue their comrades. Tired and anxious women were still waiting and watching at the pithead in drenching rain last night. FIVE MEN RESCUED.

rAustralian »nd N.Z. Cabte Assn.) LONDON, November 30.

The five of the 11 entombed .miners in the Dunvant Colliery were rescued last night after hope had been abandoned. A sixth man was found dead. • .

Feverish efforts aro being made to save the others.

ANOTHER mSNSNQ MISHAP.

THREE FATALITIES CAUSED

(Australian and N Z. Cable Assn.) ' LONDON, November 28. A fall of the roof in the Dutfryn Rhondda colliery at Port Abbot lulled three firemen. All were married men with large families. Three others were a.j.'iuus-./ injured, two of whom are In a precarious condition.