The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-03-19 00:00:00

DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR
BOLTON.

Bolt.. Tuesday Eyelike.
This afternoon a terrible explosion occurred at the
Unity Brook Colliery, Kenley, belonging to Kamm
James Stott and Co. The colliery was opened about ten
Years ego, and go free was it from gas that OA' met 411"
always worked with naked light& There were two mines
—one the Trencherbone, which was MS yards from the
surface. and the other, the channel, which was situated
about 60 yards lower. In the former mine about 25 men
and boys were employed, and in the latter about 40. The
colliery was Inspected twice a day by the underiooker.
James Holt, namely, before the commencement of work
In the morning, and again at dinner time. Between
twelve and one this afternoon the fireman went through
the workings, all of which be examined with his miety..
lamp and found to be perfectly free from gas. The men
resumed operations at one o'clock, and the cage had only
been wound up a couple of times when a dreadful explo-
sion took place, which was heard for fully half a mile. In
a moment the MO, which bung suspended over the pits
mouth was burled upwards against the head-gearing and
shattered, the wreckage falling down the pit. The Iron
Plates on the pit bank were tamed into the air, and banks-
man Thomas Worrell was thrown violently to the ground.
where he was afterwards found lying in an unconscious con
d Mon. A boy, namsdWiLliain Hasiaw, was also blown off
the pit bank and sustained rather severe injuries. fra
soon as possible Holt the fireman, fixed a tappet to the
rope and descended to the mouthing of the Tratcherbcosi
mine. It was then discovered that the egAteffins had
occurred in the cannel WOO, • descent to wail*. was
Trimpt4;
pre-
vented in name of the cage having become
In the shaft. T men and bon in the to
the number of 21, had heard the report of Ms
and had immediately hastened to the mouthing. .
them were so overcome by the after-damp which roes
from the cannel mine that they fell to the ground nem-
able, and had to he carried to the hoppet Fortunately,
they were all Lot out alive by Ave o'clock, and Honore
W. Y. Hann Yinshaw and Banns having in the mesa-
time been sent for, restoratives wave administered, ohiell• =lily had the effect of revi the ow Some of
however, had to be carted be.e Mete wow
next made to clew the wel to the mead Was. This yes
• work of considerable dioei and was not to be
accomplished until after six C,aloric A number Of
;glom than desponded to ON OWN' mine. fit dm` of which they charovarai.____._the beds el nenee Hilton, the hooksr-on at the ommomormas dm. He bid
svidontkr been blown down the shaft, and was mesh
mutilated. The explorers penetrated alms the tunnel In
the cannel mine for a distant, or 15 Yards. whoa the of foul sir compsUoda retreat. In their minion
presence s no hop• of any of the men is ths mined .161111
balm shoo. Nothlux it known as to the cause of the
explosion. At 2:1 abaft' pessiespla Yr. Diadem
wended the shaft, and reported 1111 had hem in all
the wordidada=exostit two, Mrs were so full of
gas that his it unsafe to sake tham He told Hr.
Stott he felt OtoOsin that no one was Awe in the COMISI
mine. Hs fobbed that he hid Dna sham deed Imam
Tho excitement is intsoso.

limiourion TO Now Ziratano.—The folio vowels. deepached by Sir Julia Vogel, the Asso for New
Zwid, with ltudvanbi for Mat Coloty. am reported .9.
have arrived at their destinations :—Tha "
which galled from Plymouth on Novem hraiberGdnetra=u
and Wellington; lite " Wellington, which willed front tht
Clyde on November Ord for Otago; the " Wiadddi.
whichoillod from Plymouth cm Newomher
uttleMlMl7.