The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-07-05 00:00:00

TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

LOSS OF TWESTY-SEVEN LIVES.

GLASGOW, T;iursday.
Another disastrous colliery explosion has occurred
at the High Blantyre Pit, near Hamilton, which was
the scene of a fearful disaster in October, 18;1, when
110 men lost their hues. The pit belongs to Messrs.
is illiam Dixon and Company (Limit, d), and has very
exteLsi% e workings. The explosion of two years ago
occurred in No. 2, pit, and affected No. 3, 7 hereas
tie explosion last night was confined to No. 1 pit.
Last evening there were altogether 140 meu in th-
Blantyr pit, but ot these only 31 were in the No, i
pit. These men were mostly brushers or workmen
whose duty it is to clear the roads and prepare the
mine tor the re,umption of work by the collier-i. It
is reported that these men w: re blasting sonie stone-
work w:th gunpowder, when the gas was tired and a
terrific explosion °cell( red at about nine &el: ck.
those 0.11 the surf :cc it appeared as though a chirq,e
had been fired with dynamite. Efforts were at onto
made to withdriiw the m n. working in other seams—
v z.. Nos. 2 and 3. Fortunately this was effected
without utisly:p, At the same tine information was
sat to Sheriff B, mi., Mr. Dykes, Prt.cusator-Fis,•al,
3.. me coiliely manage's, and official authorities, and
these were speedily in atien:lance. Mr. Ralph
Moore. the inspector of mines for the district, and Mr.
t:obson, his assistant, were also at the pit's mouth
very soon aft r the expl sion occurred, and their
expericnee was of considerable %aim., to he
officiahs in ft e work of exploring tfie mine and retiover-
ing the boii s. Mr. James Watson, in.:nage.' of th.•
o iliery, took colon:land f th exploring pan', and
t'sy were were joined subsequently by Mr. '1 homes,
•he head is anager, and many otner willing hands.
"'ley desc: id d the pit by way of No. 3 shat, whie
was quite clear. and then gradually worked way
to the scene ofthe exp:osion in No, 1 pit. This was
task of great difficulty, as the ventilation v. as
• ntirely devroynd by the atter-damp. They had to
take the ait with them by means of brattiling-cloths.
A 1 rge fall of root' also
.greatly reta ded their pro-
gress, 1 sit the explorers continued to is ork un-
tec.singly, and to make the most gallant efforts to
:e Leh those in the pit. Four of the men here wer.
br,t4ht out alive, but terribly injured. 14 to this
morning 21 more of the victims had been recovered
but all dead. There still remn;r. 6 unaccounted for,
but only the faintest hopes are entertaiecti that an
of t'iese can be alive. The work of exploration is
carried on without cessation. This tremendous
exertion I ad a very ill effect on some of theexploreis,
Mr. Watson, the manag-r, and one of the overmen
rei..oved in the i:Ler-dainp. A area crowi
a a riled :it I pit's taiit.th, and the most distressing
see: es were wine :as (1 as :he sad tidings Fweatne
generally known arnon;st the relit' ions of t-hos:
killed. All the bedie- re..,yered were r,,ineved to tht
surface. One pool man, ns ned Irvine was still alive
wirtn found by the exporing party, but he died be-
(rs he could i:e brought up. The damage to the pit
i.nut so great but that, in a few da)s it will be i.
-corking order again. Since the expiosion of 187-i ,
est car • ha been erer ised in regard to th:
e i).,iy rta,
ue,„g pr,,,idvd. with the, eXCepaol:l VI 0119 day-.