The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-11-15 00:00:00

TELIIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

FIFTEEN LIVES LOST.

A fatal explosion, involving the loss of fifteen lives
took place at ten minutes psBt nine o'clock on Satnr-
day evening, at Hochin Colliery, in the Sirhowy
Valley, about three miles from Tredegar, and which
belongs to the Tredegar Coal and Iron Company. The
shock was felt at a signal box at Bedwellty pits, about
a mile away, and as soon as the situation was realised
the officials of the London and North Western Rail-
way placed an engine and van at the disposal of the
colliery officials,, in which Mr. Colquhoun (general
manager), Mr. Stratton (mineral agent), Mr. W.
Hamilton (engineer), and others proceeded to
the pit's mouth, hundreds of persons at the
same time hurrying from the neighbouring
cottages. It was known at the time that
there were fifteen men in the pit engaged
in repairing the pit roads, in addition to an engine-
man half-way down the pit. The cries of the
latter were heard, and he was after some time rescned
by an exploring party which was organised under the
direction of Messrs. Stratton and Reynolds. The force
of the explosion had blown the engine house and
ventilating fan at the pit's mouth to atoms, some
heavy pieces of timber being found a hundred yards
away. The cage was closely jammed against the top,
and the zinc roofing was scattered in every direction.
The exploring party were only able to penetrate a
little way into the workings, owing to the absence of
ventilation by the destruction of the fan, and they
found only four bodies on the occasion of their first
descent. Three of these were identified as Gwyllm
Owen, Evan Griffiths, and John Davies, but the fourth
body was mutilated beyond recognition. The names
of the other eleven men found dead in the pit are
John Morris, Thomas Morgan, John Williams, Wm.
Evans, John Hamer, Thomas Lewis, John Bruce,
William Scott, John Bevan, William Havard, and
John Jones. A painful fatality occurred about
two hours after the explosion. Ropes had been placed
round the pit's mouth to keep back the crowds of
friends and relatives of the unfortunate miners, but
one of these, a man named Push, stated to have been
under the influence of drink, proffered assistance, but
was prevented from approaching the pit's mouth by
the officials. He, however, rushed forward again,
evading them, and, approaching too close, fell down
the pit. Ile was subsequently found at the bottom,
a mangled corpse. The result of the sad catastrophe
has spread entire gloom over the neighbourhood.
Great confidence was placed in the safety of the
colliery, as being one of the best-ventilated pits in
Soath Wales. Had the explosion occurred in the
daytime or on any other night except Saturday night
the consequences must have been much more dis-
astrous, as between 300 and 400 men are employed.
The N entilating fan was restored at midday on
Sunday, and the exploring party again descended.
Tly, workings are not very much damaged, and it is
expected work will be resumed early next week.
Forty-three horses which were in the pit at the time
of the explosion were killed, and a large body of men
were on Sunday employed in digging a hole near the
pit in which to bury them.