13 Members of Inspection Party Killed by Explosions Lo London, Feb. 12.
A terrible pit disaster occurred to-day in Cumberland.
Tt is feared that at least 19 persons have been killed in an explosion at the Haig Pit, Whitehaven. he victims were all' members of an inspection party, which included two Government inspectors, The mine officials were inspecting the pit, which had been closed since four men were killed there two months ago, with a view to reopen-Jing it, 'A sealed working was opened and 4 is believed that gas rushed out and caused the explosion, Later.
It is confirmed that 13 persons fare missing as the result of the disaster at the Haig Pit, All hope thas been abandoned, A rescue proved impossible owing 40 a heavy fall of the roof of the working and the foul atmosphere, 1d it has been found necessary to seal up the aren in the neighbour~ hood of the explosion, A party of 21 mine officials and gnincrs had been endeavouring to Yocate the body of one of the men Killed in the explosion last December, the removal of which was prevented at the time by a fire in the working.
Shortly after midnight some members of the party were taking refreshments and re-charging the oxygen apparatus when four plosions occurred, The fourth was the most violent one. It hurled the men off their fect and filled the mine with foul air, Eight of the survivors, blinded, dazed and partially died and crawled,.
Tight of only one lamp, for two miles to the bases of the where they arrived in a very hausted condition—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.