The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-04-05 00:00:00

Dorsttsbire.

IV CV 1101: TH 1116.—Tuesday.--- Present : Tho
Mayor (P. Dodson, Esq..) It. Griffin, E. Bayly, J.
Ayling. and It. Cotterell, &gra. —Catherine O'Culli-
ran, a forlorn hooking Irishwoman, WWI charged with
an assault on Jane Edmonds. It appviireol by the
evidence that the kornioner and her husband hail gone
to a tramp lodging-house kept by complainant'a
mother (Mrs. Talbot), and a row arose between
Talbot and the Irishman. Complaircuit interfered
in the shindy, ar.d the prisoner starting up with a
knife and fork in her hand, wounded complainant
under the eye, and in the arm, besides striking her
in the mouth. Prisoner's version of the matter wag
that the complainant's family were the &armors,
and had scalded her husband with some broth, and
on her taking his part, complainant fell against the
fork she held. lalbot, the party who gave the pri-
soner in custody, not appearing to substantiate the
charge, the case was dismissed.

Thoe. Porer, Chas Stickland, and Albert rulenian,
were summoned by Mr. Frank Upjohn, charged with
using threatening and obscene language, tending to
incite him to a breach of the peace. Mr. R. N.
Howanl, who appeared for the complainant, stated
that his client had brought forth this case not so
much fo.ln private motives, as public grounds, the
Esplanade being continually infested by mob of buys
who were in the habit of using most offensive lan-
page to the great annoyance of the public, and
especially ladies. As many as twenty boys had con-
gregated in front of Mr. Upjohn's residence, where
there were several ladies at the drawing-room win-
dow; these boys employed the most disgraceful con-
versation, especially the prisoners, who were identi-
fied by another son of Mr. Upjohn, who was unknown
to the boys, and who, going round by the backdoor,
ascertained that the defendants were among the
worst. —Complainant stated that on the 23rd instant
he was at his drawing-room window shortly before
9. There WA a lad with him. A troop of at least
,20 boys came up amongst them the defendant&
They brought up in front of the window, and used
most disgusting language, as well as very offensive
personal observations towards himself. They shouted
sufficiently loud to be heard by other parties in the
room. Superintendent Lidbury said the conduct of
the boys in the streets during the evenings was most
intolerable, but their parents were most to be
blamed, for allowing them to be out so late.
The Mayor inquired what induced the prisoners to
annoy Mr. Upjohn in such a manner. They replied
that whilst at play on the sands, two young women
came and asked them to go and call at the window.
They denied having used offensive language.
The Mayor: Who were at the window-,
Prisoners : Young Mr. Upjohn and a lady.
The Mayor: What were they doing
One of the lads answered, "They were kissing,
"sir." (Laughter.)
Mr. Howard said that Mr. Upjohn, stn., was in
the drawing-room at the time, and being theu in
court, was prepared to prove that nothing of the
kind took place. Mr. Upjohn did not wiah the pri•
Boners to be punished for their behaviour, he was
only desirous to prevent • recurrence of the annoy-
MOO.

The Mayor told the defendants it was fortunate for
them that Mr. Upjohn was unwilling to press the
case, otherwise they would stand a chance of being
sent to prison. If they were brought before him
again for obstructing or annoying anyone, he should
feel it his duty to commit them to gaol. In the pre-
sent instance, through Mr. Upjohn's lenity, they
would be released on paying the cost of the sum-
mons.

WARM/OlL—The Accident at the Antherley Clay
Pits.—A Max and Bug Darin! for 90 Hours.—We
never recollect • more anxiously exciting event, occupy-
ing the minds of thousands in this neighbourhood, than
that of the living interment, as it were, of a man and
boy in the above ~its. The shaft at which the acci-
dent occurred has been in work about a year and a
quarter, and the soil for the greater part is a loose run-
ning sand. The clays below have been worked in what
the miners term "lanes," branching from the shaft as a
centre ; and the natural inference is, that the ground
around the bottom of the shaft has sunk, in • trifling
degree, and thus loosened the already porous soil above
sufiiciently to cause a pressure on the props, stays, and
supports of the shaft.
The man. Charles Woolfries, went down about nine
o'clock on Monday morning; when about forty feet of
the shaft was reached be called to those above to stop.
fancying that one of the timbers (which were dovetailed
into one another at the corners, at about 3 feet apart)
appeared strained, but upon feeling it firm, sang out to
lacer. The boy, George Bartlett, immediately fol-
lowed, reached the bottom, and entered the lane. Their
object in the pit was to lower the water that was mete
mutating in the mine, and it was feared would affect the
new shaft that was being sunk at 60 feet distance,
slightly to the R. E. of the old one. The water, it ap-
pears from WooUries' statement, accumulated at the
rate of from Bto 10 hogsheads in • day and night. The
bottom of the shaft was 72 feet from the surface, and the
clay bed they had worked dipped rapidly to the south
—it was et the lower part of this lane that the waters
were gaining on them.
The first intimation of danger was seen by the boy,
who, after entering the lane, saw some bits of rubble
add sand fall to the bottom of the shaft, and was in the
act of returning to look up in order to see the cause;
just as be did so, the light was suddenly intercepted,
and, with a crash, hundreds of tons of sand, timbers,
and rubble came bounding down the shaft. Woolf ries
spoke to the buy, who said" the shaft has fell in !" The
man &sorties the shock as if he was stunned by a
heavy blow, any felt as if the blow was "all over me,"
evidently produced by the sudden condensation of air,
shut down by the mass that tilled the shaft.
The boy's father and another man were at the wind-
lass at the mouth of the shaft, and had hardy time to
save tbenuelves—the windlass and frame-work, with the
on which they stood, 'inking beneath themto in
t I:puttee.
In a few moments scores of hands were at the spot,
all anxious to begin their endeavours to dig out their
unfortunate companions' and at find a great confusion
of opinions as to the best means were propounded. Mr.
Hatherly, the resident proprietor, was sent for, and
hastened to the scene of action, and a plan WM soon de.
tried upon. This gentleman scarcely left the ground
again till the end.
It has been already noticed that a new shaft was
being sunk, 60 feet distant, and that the old one had not,
since that was being formed, been worked, indeed was
now entered only to reduce the quantity of water that
had accumulated. They had reached in the new work a
depth of fei feet • this they determined to sink to •
certain depth, and then tunnel in the direction of the
old workings, for the purpose of reaching and thus
liberating their friends. As many hands as could work
in the shaft were immediately laid on, and the work
rapidly progreued. The material for many feet was
large-grained sand, some of the grains being as huge as
peas; alter 'inking 25 feet, milting the depth 78 feet
from the surface, they began to tunnel, first nearly due
north and slightly to the north-west. These operations
occupied the time, night and day, till Tuesday afternoon.
'The foremen of Mr. Hatberley• pits (Mr. George Roe)
had remained till this time at the workings. but
had gone home for rest. The men below bad heard
their companions in the mine knocking, and being
misled by the sound, unfortunately changed the direc-
tion almost due west, and thus lost several hours of
precious time.
On the foremen returning, they were again brought
to the spot they had deviated from, and the work
was carried on with astonishing seal and labour by all
engaged
tednesday morning ,the men found the air in
the tunnel very foul, and froth their constarely breath-
ing it over and over again, they were obliged to.be
relieved every 40 minutes, and fresh hands sent down
—on each party reaching the surface, they were wrapped
in rugs or bed thick over-costa to put on, being always
in a profuse perspiration. At this time, Mr. W. Pike
came to the rescue, and, descending to the tiorkiiip
found that the candles could scarcely be kept a-light.
Ile immediately sent for IlleChlUlll2l from his own works,
—(many of his men had been with the working party
from the first)—and brought a large forge bellows with
gutta perch& and iron tubing sufficient to reach to the
end of the mine, continually adding to the length as
the distance from the abaft increas. ; two men were
immediately placed to work the bellows, and were
relieved at intervals night and day; by this means
the men were enabled to work longer without losing
strength, and thus new life and spirit were given to their
labour.

't mould be mentioned on the drst day an attempt
im made to render the old shaft available al. a
moons of reaching the wine, without interfering with
the new, at which not • moment was lost from the
fart, but the ground was so broken that it was found
highly dangerous to the men, and consequently given
over.

- Wednesday night was reached, and dill no relief to
the wretched sufferers, who were heard Iron, time to
tune answering to the signals that were wade by the
workers.

Anxious parties from every part of the neighbourhood
were daily visiting the scene, many of them willing to
aid by every means the good work. Mr. J. Pike, and
Mr. Willis, the agent at the Norden Works, were early
at the spot, and Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Williams, from
the Kimmeridge. Coal Hines, came and gave valuable
advice from their practical knowledge. To ',how how
much all the propnetors of the mines felt for those who
were suffering below, the number of hands employed,
including the three gangs or divisions who took turns
below, with those at the bellows, carpenters, black•
smiths, and others exceeded tild in number. Mr. H.
Garbuid took upon himself the ordering of different
parties and remained constantly on the slot. The Rev,
0. Ilansel, J. Hansel, Esq., 0. W. Ferrer, Foq., and •
hod of the resident gentry and others from all parts,
were anxious in their inquiries, and from two to three
hundred were constantly on the spot, some remaining
with the labouring parties the whole night. Messrs.
Wilcox and Illeroer, medical gentlemen from Wareham,
were often present to aid should the sufferers be
reached. _

Ati.eilier anxious night was passed, and still Thursday
morning the same unhappy " not yet out" was the re.
spouse. Upon visiting the spot on Thursday afternoon,
we were just in time to see Mr. W. Pike emerge from
the opening of the mine, and, upon questioning, heard
the most cheering intelligence that had yet greeted us—
that upon his knocking, he not only clearly heard a
load reply—but that there wu a sensible vibration,
which led him to believe that another hour or two's
Idiom would be crowned with success. Still hour after
hoer pawed. The hope of seeing their happy release
kept nearly two hundred individuals on the spot till
near one o'closk Friday morning, when the hands at the
wheel beard an sufaniation from below. that the men
had entered into the mine, and suet as their lives were
mourned, both am wad boy were isle!
Tbe most anxious swam was aseadesded by those
above, while below Use poor mama were gradually
draws to the pit's eye, or beakless of the shdt, where
they were kipt tar a coaddereble than. aoase week
wine end water was gives theme by Mr. Pike, and after
eine Ilse mu was bravest to Use maths% whirs he
milimpled to walk, but weld net, awl was wrapped up

in blankets. The boy we% soon also brought up. It was
a pleasing trait that did honour t. the stalwart group of
workmen around the sli .ft, to observe that, though
every man W.,s rejoicing at their recovery, yet there
was not one present but felt at the NalllC time, so deeply
as to shed tears while those two helpeless beings were
laid mein temporary stretcher.., and wrapped up it. the
best way that could je desired for their comfort.
The Bev, O. L. Mansell, Messrs. Pike. “arland, and
many others were present, and the rev. gentleman called
upon every one to join with bin, in giving thanks to the
Sept...one Being for the happy recovery .4 the sufferers.
lie then read the 40th Naha, " I waited patiently for
the Lord : and he inclined unto me and heard my cry.
He brought inc up also out of an horrible pit, out of
the miry clay, and set lily feet mein • ruck, and esta-
blished iny goings. And he has put a new song in my
mouth, even praise unto our 1:od : many shall see it,
cud fear, and trust in the Lord," /cc. He then offered
up a short but most appropriate prayer. The suf-
ferers were then carried on litters by their companions
to the house of Messrs. Milledge, at Creech, where
every kindness and attention were shown them and
nourishment sparingly and judiciously administered
under the direction of Mr. Wilcox, who had remained
at the pits the whole of the night, and here we must
for the present leave them, and have only in justice to
add that every praise is due to Messrs. Milledge for the
way in which, at the last moment, when it was found
necessary to alter the plan of taking them to Furze
-
brook, where beds had been provided for the event,
but for some reason dispensed with suddenly, their
house was thrown open, and a large fire got ready at •
almost a moment's notice, and blankets, hot water, and
every other appliance that could be got to make them
comfortable under such melancholy circumstances.
As • conclusion to these details, we will add a few
remarks which we have gathered from the man and boy,
whom we visited on Saturday afternoon—they having
been on the previous day removed from Creech to their
own residences, the one near Brune, the other at SW-
borough.
Upon asking Woolfries what were his first impres-
sions when lie found himself thus suddenly shut up, he
said "1 thought I should die. I had met with many
' accidents before, but this appeared the heaviest—and I
know'd the men would work too, and try—but! know'd
'twould be a terrible time for 'eta to move so much
muck. We had nothing to eat, and only two bits of
ends o'candle. The lane we were in reached about
thirty feet, and I think • little south east; it did dip
down south, and there the water ran. Then there was
another lane that wenefrow the other end, round near
the shaft, and so west, and about the 3611110 length
p'raps. We took to walking as well as we could ip
these two lanes, the west one being the driest. Some-
times we did lie down • bit, but were so cold when we
fell asleep, that we stood so long as we could. I could
not drink the water, but the boy went down twice to it
and drank—'twas so bad tasted he did not drink after-
wards. Then we did sing and pray—sing hymns—the
boy did often. When we heard them making the lane
we were in hopes, and we began to knock to tell 'em
the direction. We know'd when they made the wrong
turn and were going away from us, and were ter'bk
vest, and knocked as much as we could. Afterwards
when we heard them wine back to the old way, I said
to the boy, 'There, now they be right again.' We
slept a good deal, but somehow, I dun' think 'twits so
long—l thought 'twer Wenaday. When I was asleep
once, I dreamed I was at whome, and my little child
was a feeden me. The boy would sleep and I could
hardly wake en up, and I seemed a wore out myself. I
believe I gut light, for I could seem to see great atones
as plain as possible, and I stooped down to catch 'em,
and 'twer nwothen. When they came to the stone, I
said I know'd we should be out. (A cist of iron sand-
stone is invariably met with immediately over the bed
of clay, whatever the depth may be, caused by the per-
colation of water impregnated with oxide of iron till
stopped by the clay, when the loose sand becomes con-
solidated. and is found in stains varying from an inch to
two or three.) We began at last to think we should
die for want of breath ; we could not breathe, and I
was obliged to gape and try to find it better by going
about the lane—but 'twer no use, and if they hadn' a
come when they did, I should a ben dead. I didn'
seeiii to kllOl/ illy way at all, and afore I could tell by
the props what part I was in."
The boy Bartlett, corroborated all that Woolfries had
said, and as far as their difference in age would admit,
seemed to have felt as much like the man as possible.
The boy was the first to speak when they broke into
I the lane, and said—" Is that you father?'
It may be mentioned as somewhat remarkable that
for the last two or three hours, the knocking was
almost wholly suspended, and still more reuiarkable
that the bellows, which for two days had dune
such good service, broke down at the last moment.
As thin has been an accident that rarely occurs,
though the work is attended with much danger, we
have been thus particular, believing that there cannot
be an individual but must feel gratified that two fellow-
creatures who had been thus shut out from the light of
heaven for four days and four nights, should thus, by
the exertions of their fellow-workmen and the sympathy
of all other claws, be restored to their friends.
We are pleased to find that subscriptions are being
made to reward those who have thus suffered, as well
as those who have laboured to effect their release.
Sas tan 11€ Journal.