Disaster In A Mine

A lamentable affair occurred yesterday morning at the Snaefell mines, Laxey, Isle of Man, the result of which, it is feared, will be the loss of several lives. The mine was not worked on Sunday, and the last shot fired was half-past 1 on Saturday. From that time till 6 o'clock yesterday morning no one had any occasion to enter the mine, but when the men went down the shaft at 6 o'clock it was found to be filled with poisonous fumes, and the air was intensely hot. There were no flames, and it was impossible to see what was the cause of the fumes which filled the place. The result, however, was that as each man descended he was overpowered, and no fewer than 19 went down the ladders before it was found that anything was wrong. Three men came up the shaft nearly fainting and said there was something wrong with the air. No answer could be got from those who had gone down. Rescuers at once set to work, but owing to the deadly fumes they could get no further than the 50-fathom level. At 11 o'clock one of the explorers was brought up in an unconscious state, and it was feared he would not live, but he regained consciousness at 2 o'clock. A large gang of men arrived to help in the rescue. Five men proceeded down the shaft at 2 o'clock, and reached a man named Corkhill at the 60-fathom level. He was alive, but unconscious. All the other men were deeper down the shaft, and it is feared they are dead. Captain Kewley, of the mines, acted with conspicuous bravery. In the face of the doctor's orders, he continued to descend the mine time after time with exploring parties, and went down ten times in all at the risk of his life. At 8 o'clock last night Thomas Hinds, a Douglas diver, and Bernard Rogers, his assistant, arrived at the scene of the disaster with diving apparatus, and prepared to descend. Captain Kewley stated that he was afraid that the case was hopeless. He feared that all the men had perished. He had seen eight men lying apparently dead. One of the miners said that several of the men might have been saved if they had had presence of mind. The men who were able to render service only did so by putting their heads into the ventilation shaft at intervals, and thus obtaining fresh air. Had the others done this they might have been saved. The rescue operations were being continued last night with the utmost vigour. Most of the men in the mine were married, and leave wives and large families. At a meeting of the Spencer Walpole Lodge of Freemasons, at which the Provincial Grand Master of the Isle of Man, Sir John Goldie-Taubman, was present, a fund in aid of the sufferers was opened.