The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-12-22
EXPLOSION KILLS
800 BRITISH
GOLFERS
Shocking Disaster in Mine Near
Bolton, Eng,
HEROIC EFFORTS AT RESCUE
Second Disaster OF the Kind in Eng
land During the Present
Year

Bolton, Eng, Dec. 22.--More than
800 golfers lost their lives Yesterday
in an explosion in the little Hutton
colliery of the Hutton colliery COM
pany, of this city, which is located a
short distance outside. The explos-
ion occurred early in the morning,
soon after the miners had entered the
pit to begin work. Its force was ter
rife. Later investigation showed
that the lower passages had been
blocked. Heroic efforts were made
by rescue parties all day long, but
fierce fire which followed the explos.
ion prevented the rescuers from pen
etrating beyond 400 yards in the work
ings.
At $50 o'clock last night all the res.
cuers We're called out OF the mine and
a conference was held, at which Gov
eminent Inspector Gerard, the en-
gineers and the mine manager we're
present Inspector Gerard issued a
report, after making a 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 two
bodies found lying near the shaft.
This report was communicated to the
anxious crowds around the pit mouth,
after which the bishop of Manches-
ter conducted a touching service in
the open air and the people slowly
dispersed.
No explanation is given as TO the
cause OF the explosion, which com
pletely wrecked the mine. This is
the second great mine disaster in
England this year. an explosion hav-
ing occurred in the Wellington col
liery at White Haven, Cumberland
on May r. in which 1876 miners were
/ killed. The explosion yesterday re-
suited in the temporary disablement
OF the machinery whereby the cages
were lowered and drawn to the sur.
face, and IL was a considerable time
/ before the first rescue party reached
the bottom OF the pit In all they
brought out eight men still living, but
the majority OF these were in a seri-
GUS condition from the noxious gases.
Ten bodies also were removed and
20 additional bodies were found part
ly covered by heavy falls OF coal
The work of rescue was continued
/ bravely amid dlscouraging conditions.
The rescuers wearing helmets for
their own protection. went boldly into
the pit and succeeding in extinguish-
ing the flames in an area 160 feet in
length, but encountered heavy falls
of coal and slack that had been loos-
ened from the roof Of the mine by
the explosion.
A member OF the resculng party
who came up from the pit after twi-
light. expressed the opinion that there
was practically no hope FOR the i'm
[ prisoned ones. The rescuers sue
ceeded in penetrating only 200 yards
because OF the debris which so COM
: pletoly choked the passageway. They
uncovered q number OF bodies.
For time the lives Of 200 men
We're IN jeopardy as a mine communi.
eating with the one in which the ex.
4 plOslon occurred was also damaged
/ by The shock aud il was some time be.
fore its 400 occupants could be reach.
cd and brought to the surface.
One of the eight miners who cscap-
ed said that the force OF the explos.
ion was such that the limbs of many
were blown on The report was
heard miles away Last night thous-
ands Of persons from the surrounding
( country were sdll gathered az the pit
head The holiday garb of the city
Is already being replaced with EN-.
/ hlems of mourning.