Cumberland, British Columbia, Saturday, February 10, 1923

Explosion At No. 4 Mine Causes Great Alarm To Residents

Fourteen White and Nineteen Oriental Miners Meet Death in Disaster at No. 4 Mine
Eight Injured Are in the Hospital and it is Expected a Majority of Them Will Recover. - Heroic Work of Rescue Parties Who Despite Terrible Conditions Labored All Night Extricating Dead and Living.

On Thursday evening No. 4 Comox Mine of the Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir) Limited, was the scene of a serious and fatal explosion of gas. Two hundred and forty-four employees entered the mine and went on shift at 3 o'clock in the afternoon as usual. Between 7:30 and 8 o'clock in the evening a hurried call was sent out from the mine that an explosion had taken place in the Number Two East Level, Number One Slope and a distance underground of about two miles from the surface.
A long distance message was sent to Mr. Thomas Graham, General Superintendent of the Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir) Limited, who happened to be visiting the Extension Mine, notifying him of the condition of No. 4 Mine. Mr. Graham arrived in short time and proceeded down the mine.
Mr. Charles Graham, District Superintendent, and other officials of the Company were at No. 4. Immediately doctors, nurses and rescue parties were formed and left for the scene of the disaster, taking with them such supplies as it were thought necessary.
Small groups of men and women were gathered on the main street of Cumberland discussing the situation and anxious to know the extent of the disaster, in a possible attempt of finding out the names of those who were working in that particular section of the mine.
By the time the officials and rescue parties had arrived at the bottom of No. 1 Slope it was found that the explosion had spent itself and went out, doing considerable damage in that particular level.
Rescue parties then commenced to extricate the injured and dead from the ruins though frequently having to battle with gas, and many heroic acts occurred in the stress of the moment.
Every modern invention for the safety of the employees have been installed by the present management who always took a keen interest in mine rescue and first aid work, as well as extra safety precautions while the men were at work, and the cause of this unfortunate disaster is unknown at the present time.
T.R. Jackson, Inspector of Mines for this portion of the province arrived at midnight on Thursday.
James Dixon, Acting Chief Inspector of Mines, and George Wilkinson, Special Inspector, left Victoria at midnight on Thursday and arrived here at 8 o'clock on Friday morning. They will immediately commence an investigation to determine the cause of the disaster.

The Injured

The injured, who are resting as well as may be expected at the Cumberland General Hospital are all expected to recover. The injured are: John Webber, J. R. Gibbs, Robert Walker, Robert Brown, Jung Leun, Jung Kuck Chow, Wong Foon Chew, Jung Lan Sing and Lai Kow.

The Dead

John Freloni, age 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Freloni, was an active member of the Junior football team.
Alex. Robertson, age 39, a resident of Bevan and leaves a wife and two children.
David Somerville, age 27, single, and leaves four brothers and two sisters.
William Mitchell, age 16, son of Mrs. Margaret Mitchell. Was a prominent member of the Cumberland Athletic football team.
Adam Charleston, single, age not known. Native of Scotland.
Peter Manicora, age 42. Leaves a wife and three children.
Vincent Cavallero, age 43.