THE WYALONG DISASTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3424, 16 January 1912, Page 5

THE WYALONG DISASTER.

DUE TO EXPLOSION OF RACKAROCK. SIX MINERS DEAD. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT] SYDNEY, Jan. 15. Six men are dead at West Wyalong. Their names are: Godfrey Maguire, Robert Navin, John Navin, Rupert Nicholson, John Mulhall, and William Cunningham. The disaster was quite unexpected. The mine was not suspected of containing foul air. It is supposed that an explosion of rackarock released a pocket of foul gases. The inrush must have been sudden. Most of the bodies were found a few feet from where the men had been working. Cunningham, with Abe Wellington, managed to crawl out of the foul zone. They were rescued with difficulty, but Cunningham afterwards succumbed. Wellington is in. the hospital, his condition being serious. The funeral of the victims was the largest seen .in the district. All except Cunningham left wives and young families, who had been dependent on them. HOW THE DISASTER WAS CAUSED SORROWFUL SCENE AT MINEMOUTH. (Received January 15. 9.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 15. Wellington is recovering. The inquest lias been opened. It was stated the men were leaving work. Tlie usual shot was put in and the men withdrew. Apparently old workings were broken into by the explosion, causing a rush of gas. Wellington escaped the full force through being in a cross cut. The alarm was given by a brother of one of the deceased, who was working in a different part of the mine. The manager, with a relief party, went down and found the bodies. Although suffering considerably from the effects of the air the rescuers removed the bodies to the surface. There was a sorrowful scene at the mouth of the mine, and the wives of the deceased had to be forcibly removed to their homes.