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Details of Event: The fire took place on the main haulage road at a part where there was an electric switch room, a telephone space and a cabin. The smell of fire was first discovered underground about 6 o'clock, and the men on the shift were warned by the deceased Fireman, Charles Reilly. Three of the workmen in No.1 Machine Section escaped by travelling the airway and reaching No.17 shaft, which was the outlet, but the others, except one man (M. McDonald), who was found on a roadway in No.2 Machine Section alive, perished on their way to the second shaft by the smoke and foul gases. The fire was discovered by the night Fireman, who descended No.15 Pit about 8 o'clock, and be with some others endeavoured to put it out, and being unsuccessful he raised the alarm. The Managers of both Collieries decided at once to reverse the air current, and this was done by turning on a steam jet at No.15 Pit and stopping the fan at No. 17 Pit. Rescue parties were at once formed and preceded towards the workings of No.15 Pit, and the work of reaching the bodies was prosecuted with alacrity and care, and the pit was cleared by mid-day on the 4th. The actual cause of the fire will never be known as all the evidence was totally destroyed by the fire, and the roof at the seat was so badly fallen that it was impossible to penetrate through the fallen material without great risk of accident. 22 killed.