§ MR. BROADHURSTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he can give the House any further information with regard to the colliery explosion in Durham than that which appears in the evening papers?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, I have received a telegram from Mr. Bell, the Government Inspector of Mines, and he says—
I regret to inform you of an explosion of a colliery belonging to the Weardale Coal and Coke Company, which occurred at 1.30 this morning. Only the night shift, consisting of 40 men, was in the pit at the time. Twenty have been rescued alive. Six bodies have been recovered; hope to reach the remainder during the evening. The work of exploration is going on satisfactorily, there being plenty of engineer- 887 ing assistance at hand, and willing workmen. My colleague, Mr. Thomas, is with me. If necessary I will report further.