The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-04-03 00:00:00

SHOCKING COLLIERY FATALITY

AT DDAL HILL.

On Wednesday morning, • shocking occurrence, in.
voicing the death of one tnan and enusing serious in,
jury to a second, took place at the Four Ways. Cradle).
Two men, named Henry Careless (id), (irilliu Street,
Nethei ton, and John W diets k 27), Halesoweu Road, both
of whom were "doggies." employed under ?dream N.
Hingley and Co., at their new pits at Cradley, were en.
gaged upon come repairs in the shaft at the time men-
tioned. Being trusty responsible men, they were placed
: in the shaft in order that its condition might be well
and speedily remedied. Towards the concludon of their
work, at about eight o'clock, the men desired to retarn
to the anew, and accordingly signaled to the engineer
to be drawn up. The cage I..gau to wend, and upper•
ently all was well, but Careless noticed an they neared
the top that the engine was going faster than usual when
at that height, lie accordingly made a movement in
order to get out the moment the skip was near the
mouth of the pit. All was of no avail, however, for the
cage left the top of the shaft, and was being rapidly
drawn towards the great wheel, over which the chain
runs. Careless, seeing the state of things, made a bold
attempt to save his life and sprang out, but only to meet
with aluore frightful death, for he fell headlong into the
yawning shaft, one hundred yards deep, below. Wil•
letts was drawn up to the wheel, and then fell out onto
the bank. He was at once picked up and attended to
until the field surgeon (Dr. Matins) arrived. The dead
body of Careless was at once recovered. It was fright.
tally bruised and mangled. Upon the arrived of the our,
goon it was discovered that Willetts had several of his
ribs broken and his chances of recovery are very sdiall
indeed, the shock and the injuries being ahnoslt to much
for even the strongest system. The corpse ,)1 Careless
was at once taken home, and Willetta was removed as
soon its practicable.
Later in the day, Benjamin Hanka, the engineer, was
brought:up in custody at the Old Hill Police Court, and
, charged with having caused the death of Henry Care-
less. The matter was purely formal. The prisoner wan
remanded foes week, the Bench intimating that they
, were willing to admit the prisoner being bailed.
, The inquest is fixed for Monday next.

CORRESPONDENCE.
- -
Ire wish it to be .1 idinetly underetood that by inserting
letters in tlilB col wan, n.e do not thereby idnotJg oureeleei
with the opinions of our C'orrespoidents.

To the Mitur of the" Observer."

SLE.—Amidst the many heroic deeds by " Flood and
richt," which are engraver, in history for posterity to re•
core tijil muulate. I think there are some names, though
humble, whose deeds ought to be at once acknowledged
and recorded upou the page of history. I allade to the
late deplorable :accident in the Earl of Dudley's pit in
Staffordshire, where we find men volunteering in herbe
coolness, and waitiug quietly for bourn at the pit's mouth
perhaps to embrace certain death, with • magnanimity
seldom if ever heard of. Imagine these men quietly.
and almost unobserved, descend amidst the breathless
silence of anxious thin:lands who scarcely dare anticipate
seeing even them again; bat what must be, I ask, the
nob:e feelings of these heron! sesrehers as they in U.*
bowels of the earth, in inky darkness, sometimes swim-
ming, sometimes up to their chins in water, battle for
their fellow-men—meeting death itself almost, as it
were, with a smile, rather than relinquish the noble pur•
pose for which they have voluateered ? I admit lam at
a loss to find words sufficiently emphatic to record my
opinion of such valour. The •• Victoria Cross" was, I
believe, instituted for sets of bravery. Can any one, or
will any one doubt for a moment its applicability to these
noble searchers ? Let their deeds be at once recognised
and rewarded by an order they have nobly woo, which
will be hailed with gratification by every person in Her
Mcjesty's dominbins.
I am, yours very respectfully%
JOHN 13-tITERSLEY.
3, Bridge-street. Birkenbeads
March 24, ISM

MINING ACCIDENTS.
To the hlitor qf (he " Oboover."

SIR,—A perusal of the reports of the government in.
•peetors of mines, and the evidence given by them be.
fore the ruinel committre apprreted by the House it
Commons and on the I ari..us inquests whieli hove been
held since that committee oat having led persona in this
mining district to the conclusion that a more extended
supervision of the underground uninagemeut of collieries
by goveriumsnt agent, would be followed by • diminution
in the number of riecidenits that happen. and a reduction
in the totality which attends such aocident4 when they
In orleur, I beg to state that they have been drawn to
this conclusion from having ascertained the great saving
which has arisen tram the very limited government io-
spection of collieries which lies taken piece since 1031.
That PRA beneficial results have so arisen i provost by
the following data, taken from the mining reports plc
limbed by order of Yellen Cit.
With respect to the district Inspr-cted by Mr. Bolter,
which comprises those parts of Statfcriishire and Worces-
tershire known as " the Black Country." ills stated that
for some years up to 1830 the loss of life in coal monies
averaged kOO per annum, From the year 18:10 to the
year 1860 the annual average wile reduced to 163. and
1860 to 1864 (both incli.ive) it was further reduce,' to
113, and in the last year of that five onl, 91 persons brit
their lives by colliery accidents. In 18-66 the deaths in.
creased to 109, but of these 109 deaths 45 might. in the
opinion of Mr. Baker, have been prevented. During the
years that these reductions were taking Osiris the num-
ber of collieries in Mr. Baker's district was rapidly in.
creasing.
Mr. Baker. in his examination before the mines corn'
mittee, in 106t1, admitted that from his numerous en.
elopements he had, although then sir years inottlee, been
able to inspect the underground workings of not more
than one•half of the coal mines in his district, which he
stated contained 550 collieries. 111 fact, very little no.
derground inspection tykes place until after an accident
has occurred.
Government agents now inspect minutely almost every
factory in the kingdom. although the accidents in them
err but few and far between; yet collieries, in which the
deaths from accidents amounted in the tea years ending
with 1866 to 10.378, or more than 1000 a year, undergo,
except on the surface, little or so government inspec-
tion.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
HOWLAND PRICE.
Stourbridge, Much, 23.

SCIENCE AND ART.—A striking instance of the im•
manse value a piece of steel may acquire by the great
power of skilled mechanical labour is the balance-spriug
of a watch. From its extreme finesses and delirium
4.000 weigh not more than one ounce, and cursed in
value .£l.OOO. A most interesting little work, descrito
ing the rise and progress of watchmaking, has been pub•
limbed by J.W. Benson, 25, Old Bond Street, and the
' City Steam Factory, 58 and 60, Ludgate Hill. The
look, which in profusely illustrated, giros • full descrip-
tion of the various kinds of watches and clocks, with
their pri:eg. Mr. Benson (who holds the appointment
to the Prince of Wales', has also puplished a phamplet
on Artistic Gold Jewellery„ Illustrated with the most
beautiful designs of Bracelets, Brooches, Purring.,
Lockets, drc, Ac., suitable for Wedding, Birthday, and
other presents. These pamphlets are sent post free for
two Mem?. each to those contemplating a purchase. en.
?easily to residentu in the country or abroad, whn are
thus enabled to select any article they may require, and
have it forwarded with perfect safety.
HoLLoWAY'II OINTMENT AND Pmts.—With natures
come many decesses of the skin. which demand instant
attention if the patient wishes to he spared much sio
noyance throuch the winter. Them remedies will he
found most effectual in repressing erysipelas and infl.ni•
tuitions generally, and in healiud op sere legs, wean
and ulcerations in the kindset manner, without exciting
pain, or tending to weaken the patient, which would in•
fallibly increase his sufferings and retard his sore
Holloway's Pills should he taken during this Aeon.° of
treatment, which they will make easier and more sue
-
emeriti ; at the same time they will improve the sppetite
and materially aid digestimu—a matter of the most
material importance when lowering infirmities alliet the
week. delicate, or aged.
Livid g TO MoTHESIL—kr• you brakes of veer rest
by a sick child, suffering with th. pain of matting Meth?
Go at once to a chemist, and get a bottle of Mrs. Wins'
low's Soothing Syrup. It will relic's the poor sufferer
immediately ; it is perfectly harmless; it produces man.
ral quiet sleep, by rclieviag th• child from pain, and the
little eliernb awakes "as bright as • batten '' It ha.
' I been long in use in America. and is highly recommended
, by medical men ; it is very pleasant to take; it soethes
the child ; it softens the gum*, allays all pain, relieflod
wind, regulates the bowels, and is the beet known remedy
for dysentery and diarrhma, whether arising from teetk.
ing or other cannel. Be sure and ask for Mrs. Wins.
low's Soothing 6 vrati. and i.en that " Curtis and Perkins,
' New York and "is on the outside wrapper. No
mother should be without it.— ill by all me.d,cole
dealers at Is lid per BLAU:), LaUllll.l Depot, 20, High
= Holborn.

_—
Printe4 and Prhli..hed by the salo Proprietor. SIIIEOP
PIELI/. at lair Where. el. Ellibutraot, Stourbridee, l•
the to vat. of Wereettar: to erhieh {awn ail lettere eie
rnmunteatioUll mast be erlereeellei.
Saterday, April S. lege.