Brunner Mine Disaster

Imagery from before the disaster - Brunnerton was clearly a pretty successful town, one that now entirely does not exist, in no small part because of a local economy backed entirely on it's mine, not unlike most mining towns in NZ and elsewhere in the world

Images of the immediate response to the disaster - It's visible just how many turned up to help within the span of less than a day, as many miners from fellow mines felt a strong obligation to help their colleagues. - That sentiment of mutual respect and protection is what later formed the basis of many labour unions and the strike action they took. - Also shown is the mass grave dug for the victims. Though not afforded individual graves, they were each given distinct coffins, which were assembled very quickly in response to the disaster. Stories allege that, likewise, tailors very rapidly made mourning clothes for the widowed and orphaned.

Newspaper reports immediately responding to the disaster - The wider use of telegram allowed for more rapid communication, allowing for the disaster to be reported on in what was much closer to real time than previously available. - This development allowed for a more immediate sentiment to be developed. People weren't hearing about some miners who died a week or several weeks ago. They were hearing about their fellow man dying within hours of it happening. This might have been why there was a strong emotional response to it at the time.

Further newspaper/documents following the disaster - The same sentiment held as above.