Late last night the discovery was made that seven men had been suffocated in the Stockburn mine. Intense excitement pre vailed, and crowds wended their way to the pit's mouth. When the return of the exploring party was not signalled the mine officials apprehended that something was wrong and called for a rescue party, who succeeded in rescuing seven men, who were brought up in an insensible con dition, Those engaged in the rescue work had a hard battle with foul air. The following were brought up dead : Cockburn (surveyor), Bailey, M'Alpine (2), Sweeney, Gasgoigne, Charlesworth, Fitzpatrick. A ninth man named Sneddon was brought up insensible, and his recovery is re garded as hopeless. As the bodies were brought to the surface there were heart rending scenes. Mr M'Auliffe, the mine manager of the pit, says that when he saw four men lying down helpless he picked one up, who clutched him round the waist and cried : " For God's sake help me to save my life, M'Auliffe!" He was then overcome by foul air and had to drop the unfortunate fellow. M'Aulift'e's lamp then went out, and ho had to crawl to the bottom of the shaft. Poor Sweeney had been one of the rescue party, and had saved two lives when he, too, was over come and met his death. Fitzpatrick was one of the rescue party. Only two of the victims were married, and one was a widower with a number of children.
SYDNEY, December 5.
