THE MINING CALAMITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 493, 4 August 1902, Page 2

THE MINING CALAMITY.

THE SORROWFUL SCENES. DEEDS OF HEROISM. Sydney, Aug. 2. The worst fears of the people of Mount Kembla and Woollongong, and of hundreds gathered around the ruined machinery and debris-strewn entrance to the Mount Kembla tunnel have been fully realised.

Every man who remained in the mine after the search parties ceased operations at 4 o’clock yesterday morning, owing to the bad condition of the ventilation, is dead.

To overcome the foul air, it was necessary to force a current of good air into the further limits of the mine. The searchers found the barriers at every stopping or cross-cut from the maiu tunnel broken down by the explosion, and the brattices by which good ventilation was secured were therefore destroyed. No greater instance of bravery was ever shown than that displayed by Major McCabe and William McMurray, deputy of the mine. The manner of their deaths was most tragic.

McCabe led the search party. Both he and McMurray were overcome by gas, and were helped by two brave miners, named Casiley and Crawford. They, in turn, also became affected by the deadly gas. McCabe first begged them to let him lie down and save themselves, Casiley and Crawford would not do so, but struggled on with McCabe and McMurray until they too almost collapsed. “ Go for your lives and leave me,” said McCabe. Too weak to assist them- any more, and scarcely able to crawl, Casiley and Crawford reluctantly left McCabe and McMurray, and managed by a superhuman effort to reach the open air. When the body of Major McCabe was subsequently found by the search party, he was clasping in his arms the body of poor McMurray. It looked as if the latter stooped down to assist him when he collapsed. Thus died two brave men.

When tho air in tho mine was purifiod catno tho melancholy task of getting out the dead. Thou, amidst somo of tho finest mountain scenery in New South Wales, was witnessed a sight of human sorrow in its most touching form. Women, worn out with grief, lined tho mountain track by which tho soarchers from the dark alloy of tho mine camo, bearing their burdens. Pathetic enquiries as to the namo of tho man or lad borne by tho bearers were broken by shrieks or sobs as somo poor woman identified her own.

That was tho sort of thing that wont on all through tho slowly-dragging day. Tho bodies wero rapidly coffined in tho ongino shed, and friends of tho dead miners boro the remains away to their

homes. From a coign of vantago could bo scon these strango little funerals winding out ovor the hills into the valleys beyond, where the miners' humble cottages lay. Even yet it is impossible to toll exactly how many have porished, Papors which would help to solve tho problem wore destroyed in tho mino building by tho explosion. Nunes, tho deputy-manager, was near tho spot where it is presumed the explosion occurred. He states : 11 Suddenly something went

wrong. It was strange. I could not understand it. I hoard nothing and saw nothing unusual, but ouo of the minors

said to mo: 1 There is a blow-up or something.’ It seemed to mo something was wrong behind the furnace. “ I ran towards tho dangor. Tlioro is a double passago from one of tho intakes. Now I was quito sure something was wrong, because I could fool tho fumes

coming about mo. Men wero running about all over tho plaeo, wild with oxcifcoment.

“ I pushod along, and at last got to the door near tho furnace and flung it back. By doing that I let tho air rush in in a great current and tear up tho stack. It carried with it a great deal of aftor-damp. “ Then I got back. Men wero aimlessly

tearing about. I ordored them to stand their ground and then follow me. They, howevor, got excited. I steadied them, but they soon got out of hand again. Sorno got quite furious, and wero liko madmen.

11 Wo felt the effects of the fumes badly. I managed to gather round mo about 70 mon. I could havo got tho whole lot out safely, but about 20 docidod to go their own way. They fell as they wont. Then my band of 70 mon had an awful timo. You could not imagino it. I took them by a cross-road that was only used for air to clear the old workings. Often we had to go down prostrato and wrigglo through tho overhang. “ Wo wont on so long that it seemed weeks. Somo of the big, strong men cried. We had to cheer them on or thoy would havo laid down, tried out. “ For three solid hours we worked along, and then —woll hero 1 am, and I got nearly 70 good men out with me.” Messages of sympathy are pouring in from all quarters, including one from Sir J. G. Ward. Whilo tho Arbitration Court was sitting at Wollongong, tho manager of tho Kembla mine was in tho act of stating to tho Court that Kembla was in his opinion tho safest mine in tho world, and then the news of tho explosion came. Seventy-nine bodies have already been got out of tho mine.

DIFFICULT WORK. ESTIMATE OF LOSS OF LIFE. KING DESIRES INFORMATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Aug. 2. The exploring of tho workings was steadily continued to day. Tho work is attended with great difficulty and danger. Tho bulk of the bodies have been brought out. A number of tho remainder have been buried under debris, and there is much difficulty in extricating them. A few more deaths are recorded. The exact number is not stated.

Estimates of the total victims range as high as 120. This probably is considerably too high. Several bodies wero buried to-day, a great concourse attending the funerals. The Governor received a cable of sympathy from Mr Chamberlain, who asks that particulars of tho disaster be sent for the King’s information. INSPECTOR BATES. DEATH OF A RESCUED MAN. Sydney, Aug 3. The inspector, Mr Bates, though he has recovered consciousness, is unaware of the calamity. He believes that he met with an accident through a stODe falling on him. Michael Gallagher, one of the rescued men, died from the effects yesterday.

The bodies of tho heroes McCabe and McMurray were accorded a special tribute.

Major McCabe's body was given an imposing military funeral at Wollongong, tho Commandant, a number of loading officers, and five hundred troops of all branches of the service participating.

Tho remains of nine other victims arrived at tho burial ground at various points simultaneously. Thousands of mouruors were presont.