Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-22
Inspector Says None Can Be Left
Alive at Present.
TWENTY BODIES DISCOVERED
Bishop Conducts Service and People
Disperse Reluctantly.
CAUSE ENTIRELY UNEXPLAINED
ExpIosion Occurs Early in Morning.
soon After Miners Entered Pit
60 Begin Work-Foree
f. Terrific.

BOLTON. England. Dec I.-More than
305 colliers lost their lives todav In an
explosion IN the Little Hutton coIIiery Of
the Hutton CoHiery company. located a
short distance from this city. The expIo-
sion occurred early in the morning. soon
after the miners had entered the pit to
begin work It's force was terrific and
later Investigation showed that the lower
passages had been blocked.
Heroic efforts were made by rescue
parties all day. but a fire which followed
the explosion prevented the rsscuers from
penetrating beyond 400 yards into the work
inps
At 9.3o tonight the rescuers were called
out Of the mine and a conferences was held
az which Government Inspector Gerard
the engineers and the mine manager were
present Inspector Gerard issued a re-
port after making a descent into the pit
in which he said il was impossible that
any OF the miners are still alive
He added that nothing could be done ex-
cept to bring up twenty bodies found lying
near the shaft This report was com
municated 20 the anxious crowds around
the pit mouth. after which the bishop Of
Manchester conducted a touching service
in the open air and the people slowly dis
persed
No explanation is gwen as to the cause OF
the explosion. which completely wrecked
the mine.
Details Of Explosion.
The first rescuing party to reach the
scene succeeded in bringing seven men and
a boy to safety and later recovered the
bodies OF i've victims who had. no chance
OF escape
At the moment Of the explosion flames
spread through the affected passage and
smoke and poisonous gas filled the mine
The plight Of the miners was rendered
more dangerous BY a mishap to the ma
chinery OF the shafts. where the cages re-
fused TO move for a time. preventing
quick escape and interfering with the
vsnrilatiou The rising gases were checked
BY distractions and driven back upon the
enfombed men Meantime. the fire ragged
fiercely and IL is supposed that many who
were not killed by noxious fumes were
burned to death.
The rescuers were unable to 90 direct 70
the spot where the miners were entombei
and there was some delay while they
sought access TO the place through adjofn-
ing leads.
Word OF the accident was carried quickly
thousands Of persons surrounded the mouth
OF the coIliery. As always on the occasion
OF such disasters, the anxious thrunz. in
cluding half crazed wives and children and
the pitiabIe scenes familiar to coal mining
districts we're enacted.
The work OF rescue continued amid dis
couraging conditions. The rescuers. wear
ing helmets, went into the pit and sue
ceeded in extinguishing the flames in an
area 80 feet in length, but encountered
heavy falls OF coal and slack.
second Disaster tn Year.
This is the second great mine disaster
in England this year. an explosion having
occurred in the Wellington collieFy In Cum
beriand on May Z. IN which I36 miners
were killed The explosion today resulted
IN the temporary disablement OF the ma
chinery whereby the cages were lowered
and drawn TO the surface and il was some
time before the first rescue party reached
the bottom OF the pit In ALL they brought
out eight men, still living, but the ma
iority OF these we're in a serious condition
q ON the n"xicus gases. Ten bodies were
1sso removed. and twenty additional bodies
ere lound partly covered by heavy falls
Of coal