The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-22
GUT OFF,,
800 MEET DEATH
Miners Entombed and
Killed by Terrific
Explosion.
FAILING WALLS
STOP RESCUERS
Disaster Occurs Soon After Men
Enter Pit on Way to Work.
Crazed Wives and Children
Crowd Entrance, and City
Puts on Mourning
Garb.

Bolton, England, December 2I.-More
than three hundred miners lost their
lives to-day In an explosion In the Lit
tie Hutton Colliery of the Hutton COL
Iiery Company. which Is located II short
distance outside this city.
The explosion occurred early in the
morning. soon after the miners had
entered the pit to begin work Its
force was terrific, and later investiga-
ton showed that the lower passages
had been blocked. Heroic efforts were
made by rescue parties all day long.
but a fierce fire which followed the ex-
plosion prevented the rescuers from
penetrating beyond 400 yards into the
workings.
flames spread through the affected pas
sage and smoke and poisonous gas
fumes filled the shaft
Escape by Shaft Cut or.
The plight of the miners was rend
cred more desperate by,a rnishap to the
machinery of the shafts, where the
cages refused to move for time, pre-
venting quick escape and interfering
with the ventilation. The rising gases
We're checked by distractions and
driven back upon the entombed men.
Meantime the fire ragged fiercely, and
it is supposed that many who were not
Killed by noNious fumes were burned
to death.
The rescuers were unable to go d.
rect to the spot where the miners were
entombed, and there was some delay
while they sought access to the place
through adjoining leads.
Word of the accident was carried
quickly to the homes of the miners,
and presently thousands of persons
surrounded the mouth of the colliery.
AS always on the occasion of such dis
asters. the anxious throng included
hundreds of half-crazed wives and
children and the pitiable scenes
familiar to coal mining districts were
enacted.
The work of resuce continued brave
ly amid discouraging conditions The
rescuers. wearing helmets for their
own protection. went boldly into the
pit and succeeded in extinguishing the
flames in an area of $50 feet in length.
but encountered heavy falls Of coal and
slack that had been loosened from the
roof of the mine by the explosion.
Seven Hundred In Jeopardy.
For time the lives of 700 men We're
in jeopardy. as mine communicating
with the one in which the explosion
shock. and 1t was some time before its
400 occupants could be reached and
brought to the surface.
One of the eight miners who escaped
said that the force of the explosion was
such that the limbs of many We're
blown off.
The report was heard at points sew
eral miles distant. To-day thousands
of persons from the surrounding coun-
try We're still gathered at the pit head
The holiday garb of the city has been
replaced with emblems of mourning
At $50 o'clock tonight all the res
cuers were called out Of the mine and
a conference was held, at which Gov
ernment Inspector Gerard the engi-
neers and the mine manager were pres
ent. Inspector Gerard issued a report
after making descent into the pit,
in which he stated that it was impossible
that any of the miners are still alive.
He added that nothing could be done
except to bring UP twenty bodies found
lying near the shaft. This report was
communicated to the anxious crowds
around the pit mouth. after which the
Bishop of Manchester conducted
touching service in the open air, and
the people slowly dispersed. No ex-
planation is given as the cause OF the
explosion. which completely wrecked
the mine
Second Disaster.
This is the second great mine disas-
ter in England this year an exnlo-
sion having occurred in the yelling
ton Colliery at White Haven, Cumber-
land. on May 12 in which 1876 miners
We're killed.
In all. the rescuers brought out eight
men, still living but the majority OF
these were in serious condition from
the noxious gases. Ten bodies also
were removed, and twenty additional
bodies We're found partly covered by
heavy falls OF coal
Late tonight the colliery fans were
started again and the air was found
to be fairly good ARRANGEMENTS were
then made for relays of rescuers 70
go into the mine every three hours
night two more miners were found
alive. They were terribly burned, and
are In critical condition, 1t was an
nounced that forty bodies had been
collected at the bottom of the shaft, |
and they will be brought up as soon
as possible,
A flicker of hope still animates tlC
rsscuers that more men may be found |
alive. Doctors. nurses and ambulances
are still on the sccnn, and relatives
mostly women, are lingering in the
vicinity.
Among the incidents was the death
of a rescuer who anxious TO reach
his two sons who We're entombed, got
in advance of his comrades and for
feited his life from afterdamp,
The King has sent a touching mes,
sage OF sympathy.
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