The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-12-18 00:00:00

GALES 2,500 MILES WALK.

Throughout the whole of last week Gale continued
to make most satisfactory progress with his remark-
able pedestrian task at Lille Bridge. On the early
morning of Thursday and Friday last, it is true, he
had a recurrence of the light-headed feeling which at
times disturbs him in the (lark hours, but with careful
attention, however, on the part of his attendants this
passed off. Mr. dant, F.R.C.S., visited him twice,
and on each occasion reported his general condi-
tion most reassuring. So stupendous is Gale's
task that good odds are stilklaid against its accom-
plishment, and on Wednesday in last week .a well-
known bookmaker laid CllO to £BO against the
walker.

On Saturday Gale was going better than ever, appa-
rently taking great interest in some pedestrian handi-
caps which were taking place on the other track, when
there was a capital attendance present. At eight
o'clock p.m. on Saturday he completed exactly one-
half of his arduous attempt, having then covered
1,250 miles in 1,000 consecutive half hours. He con-
tinued to travel in excellent form throughout the
night and early morning of Sunday, when bright
sprieglike weather prevailed. In the forenoon he
chaWe. -d on to the other track, there being then some
2,000 spectators present, and later on more than
10,000 passed the turnstiles. At eight o'clock the
record stood at 1,310 miles, Gale having then been
walking for 1,058 half hours.

Throughout Monday Gale kept at work in a very
good manner, his mile and a quarter journeys, occupy-
ing on an average between 21 and 22 minutes. At
ten o'clock on Monday night he had completed 1,375
miles in 1,100 half-hours that had elapsed since the
start.

In most disagreeable weather Gale continued his
walk at Lillie Bridge on Tuesday. Rain set in soon
after midnight, and continued very nearly throughout
the whole of Tuesday with but little variation. Not-
withstanding this disadvantage, Gale plodded along
at a generally much faster rate than usual during the
dark hours. His average was throughout the night
about 21 minutes only each turn. At a few minutes
to ten he concluded the half-past nine turn. 1,435
miles were registered in his favour, he having then
been walking 1,148 half-hours.

THE POPULATION OF MUNICH. —The Allgenwine
Zeitung gives the results of the census for Munich.
It has now a population of no fewer than 228,000 in-
habitants. In 1875 the number was 193,000. In
1801, it amounted to 40,000 souls. In 1830 the num-
ber was 77,000; in 1840, 95,000 • in 1852, 106,000; in
1861, 148,000; and in 1871, 169,1500.

The TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION
at PEN- Y- GRAIG.

An explosion of gas, attended with disastrous and fatal
consequences, took place on Friday morning in last week at
one of the new coal pits at Pen-y-Graig, in the Rhondda
Valley, and a short distance from the Dines Colliery, where
a similar calamity occurred in January, 1879. The follow-
ing particulars respecting the accident are given :
Pen-y-Graig is a kind of overgrown village situate
between Dinas and Ton-y-Pandy railway stations on
the Taff Vale Line. Within easy walk of the village
is the Dinas Colliery, the scene of an explosion in
1879 ; Tynewydd, famous for the brave deeds of the
entombed colliers and their rescuers, is but a short
distance further on towards Pontypridd; Cymmer
Colliery, where hundreds of men were killed by a
catastrophe similar to that which has just happened,
is close by; while three miles to the westward is Fern-
dale, the scene of two great colliery explosions.
The principal industries at Pen-y-Graig are two
coalpits belonging to Messrs. Rowlands, who also
trade under the name of the Naval Coal Company.
One may be.distinguished as the upper pit, and the
other as the lower pit. The latter is at the foot o; a
hill slope, and the Taff Vale Railway runs nearly
alongside. The upper pit is on the hill summit, and
the coal is conveyed from there to the Great Wes tern
main line rid Ely Valley Railway. The lower pit is
downcast, and the upper pit is the upcast. A hundred
andnine men descended the doovncast pit on Thursday
night. Two of these came out shortly after going
down, as they intended to work next day. Matters
proceeded all right until about half-past one o'clock
on Friday morning. From the position in which the
colliers were afterwards found (close together) it is
conjectured that at the hour indicated the men
stopped work to partake of food. Suddenly there was
a dull, heavy report, and those at the top of the two
pits at once knew that the gas below had ignited and
that there had been an explosion. Officials hurried to
the pit-top, and the sad tidings quickly spreading
brought persons whose relatives were below in anxious
haste to the spot. Many went to the upper pit, but
the majority assembled at the lower oue. Observa-
tion seemed to show that the catastrophe had
occurred near the upper pit. Rescuing parties were
at once formed, consisting of Mr. Richards, Blaen-
clydach ; Mr. David Davies, Ruthin, and others;
but, owing to the accumulation of gas, the tremen-
dous falls of rubbish, &c„ the work of investigation
proved for awhile exceedingly difficult and well-nigh
hopeless. The brattice, too, at the bottom pit had been
shaken down, and entry and exit from this direction
were partly stopped. But the voices of men calling
out urged on the rescuers. By means of a large bucket
a descent was presently effected into the lower pit.
Four men climbed up to where they heard the rescuer's
voices, and these, the first and the last fruits of
courageous and intrepid effort to save life, were
forthwith saved from death. The four men brought to
the surface were Thomas Morris, who lives on the hill-
side at Pen-y-Craig, and is married; David Jenkins,
Dinas single; John H. Evans, Llwynpia, single ; and
David Maroney, Dinas, single„ All are colliers, and
had been working just at the bottom of the lower pit
when the explosion happened. They said that they
heard the ominous report and saw the brattic3 fall.
The guessed at once what had happened, but did
not run away. They perceived that they were
favourably situated for rescue, and remained where
they were. Of course they were greatly alarmed,
and had waited anxiously for tidings and a helping
hand from the surface. Morris thought that there
were others alive. Mr. Edmund Thomas, Lawyncelin ;
Mr. Edmund Davis, Coedcoe ; Mr. Galloway, deputy
inspector of mines, and a number of other colliery
managers, went through the workings, in which, by
rmon, ventilation had been restored. One of the party
stated that he had seen 34 dead bodies, and had, in
fact, penetrated through the entire length of both pits.
Numbers of the bodies were unrecognizable. The ex-
plorers had to scramble over great falls, which it is
anticipated will take a long time to clear.
The proprietors Messrs. Rowlands and Mr.
Morgans, Pontypridd, as also Mr. Moses Rowlands,
nephew to the proprietor of that name, were promptly
acquainted with the melancholy news and they at
once went to the pit and organized exploring parties.
There were hundreds of volunteers and a descent was
made as soon as practicable. This was about eight
o'clock, when the manager and others were lowered
into the workings. The force of the explosion
had been very great and, owing to the damage
which had been occasioned in the shafts, the
descent was not made so soon as otherwise
might have been the case. The ventilators had
been broken and the framework generally de-
stroyed; the cage had to be detached and a bucket
substituted. A bank-sman named William Morgan,
who was sitting down at the top of the downcast
shaft, was wounded by the force of the explosion.
He had a severe wound on his nose and a contused
wound on his forehead. He was rendered insensible,
and when he recovered he found a tram was partly on
him. He suffered no serious injury and was so on
able to be about again.
The exploring parties continued to descend and
found no serious obstacle in their way. Meanwhile
immense crowd had gathered, and when it became
known that none of the dead were to be brought up at
the downcast pit there was a general rush to the upcast
pit. In a very short time there was an assemblage of
about 15,000 persons, all very orderly. The news of
the occurrence had been circulated throughout the
whole of the Rhondda Valley, and hundreds of persons
flocked up from all the mining villages. Relatives
from the more immediate vicinity also attended and
manifested the greatest anxiety as to the possibility of
any of the bread-winners coming up alive. They
were not long left in doubt, as it was soon stated that
all those who had survived had been brought up.
The scenes witnessed at the pit's mouth were of a
very sad description; mingling with the immense
crowd were a large number of workmen, whose grief
was only too palpable. The managers of the local pits
visited the scene of the disaster at an early hour and
rendered every assistance in their poiver. Among
these was Mr. Galloway, late Deputy-Government-
Inspector of Mines and now manager at the Dinas
Colliery, where some little time back a fearful ex-
plosion occurred, and where the bulk of the men
killed still remain underground, the explosion in that
case having occasioned large falls arid such general de-
struction that the work of exploration was rendered
impossible.

Many of the bodies were dreadfully disfigured and
burnt. David Lloyd, lamp-locker, an old man of 70,
was found on his knees in the lamp station, with his
arms entwined around the body of Samuel, the door
boy.

It was only a few days ago that a meeting of the
men's representatives were held at Cardiff to hear an
explanation from a Rhymney Baptist minister of a
process which had been discovered of rendering the
use of naked candles innocuous. The particulars of
the discovery were not communicated, but it was
decided that its merits should be gone into by a party
of practical men in one of the.most firey mines in the
locality, and a full meeting of sliding-scale miners
is to be held to consider the subject.

A REMARKABLE ESCAPE.

A strange incident in the history of colliery explo-
sions occurred here at a quarter past three o'clock on
Saturday afternoon, when a collier, 51 years of age,
named John Morgan, who lives close by with his wife
and family of eight children (most of whom are at
home), was found buried alive. Mr. David Evans.,
colliery manager, Bodringalt, Mr. Wales, Govern-
ment inspector, and others, were at that time in the
downcast shaft with relays of men pursuing the work
of exploration ; and when near the right-hand head-
ing of the north side of the workings they heard a
voice coming from below. The sound became more
and more distinct, and the party heard someone call
out "Bring a light here !" It was with bated
breath that the explorers watched one of their
!lumber go on to the rubbish heap and peer down
into what appeared to be a black abyss. "Take
out this lamp ! " urged the voice which had
already spoken. The explorers perceived at once
that there was a life to be saved, and in less time
than could be conceived possible the lamp had
been caught and its owner's form" grasped. The man
was John Morgan, feeble and famished and yearning
for light. ale had been underground for nearly 40
hours. Duriag the greater part of this time he had
been wedged in a crevice with the body of a dead
comrade by his side. The intelligence spread above
ground with lightning-like rapidity; it passed from
mouth to mouth, and in ten minutes there was a sea
of eager human faces at the mouth of the pit. The
scene was strange and striking. Presently the pit
carriage came up with Morgan in it, Mr. Thomas,
junior, Brynhamel, and other gentlemen by • his side
supporting him. A thrill passed through the crowd
as the rescued man tried to walk towards the lamp-
room. This was all he could do. Policemen guarded
the door and kept everybody out except officials.
Medical men were sent for, who were quickly on the
spot, and. administered restoratives to the exhausted
man. Morgan's son-in-law, who was at the pit-edge
when he was brought up, ran home at cnce to tell his
mother-in-law and the family the good tidings. The
window blinds were down at the house owing to the
father's supposed death; nobody had had any hopes
of Morgan's survival In the workings. So much was
this considered to be beyond the range of possibility
that the Prudential Insurance Company, which had
insured Morgan's life for .£3O 10s. on three policies,
had directed theii local agent to pay off one policy to
the family. What then was the happy revulsion of
feeling when mother and children were told of his
rescue may better imagined than described! Morgan's
son, a young man of about 'twenty, had come from
Bristol to console his mother, and was returning
from the local post-office, when he met two men, who
informed him of his father's rescue. Morgan was
afterwards conveyed home in a chair, followed by
sympathising crowd. His daughter, a young
woman in service in Bristol, was telegraphed to after
the explosion, and asked to come home. She did not
know the reason, but with forebodings of evil started
by train, and on Saturday morning, between Cardiff
.and Pontypridd (Rhondda) Junction railway stations
she heard of the fatality. Her fears were confirmed
at the junction by acquaintances, who told her that
her father was among the dead. A gentleman, how-
ever, who was in the crowd, told her that he had just
heard that her father was alive. The girl was at last
convinced, and with her eyes full of tears poured forth
- in broken words her gratitude for the welcome infor-
illation. The circumataece intensely affected those
who stood by on the platform.

Morgan has given the following interesting narra-
tive of his imprisonment
"I had on the morning of the explosion gone to a fresh
working place in the pit. I had never been there before. I
was there to unload, but accidentally I got into a hole, and
then I missed my way. I found it difficult to emerge from
there. I tried all I could to find the heading, and walked
backwards and forwards and ,to and fro for a considerable
time, but to tin purpose. I had my lamp in my hand.
Accidentally I came across the body of a dead Inan—a
lusty, strong fellow, lying at full lentth on a kind of coal
ride. He ad neither food box nor shovel, and he had
evidently not been working there, but had also got there
from somewhere else. This was two hours or so before the
explosion. Then in a while I heard a report, which struck
my lamp clean out of my hands and extinguished it. It
also stupefied me, and the dust quite blinded me, I collected
myself and again groped for an outlet through the dense
darkness, but to no purpose. I kicked against my lamp on
the floor, and picked it up. At length I got wedged in a
cavity, from which tiailed to extricate myself. I delved
downwards, thinking I might get out of my prison, but it
was no good. I find now that I was aelving the wrong way
that in order to get an outlet I ought to have pushed

through the hole which was just above me, and through
which the sound of my voice ultimately penetrated to the
ears of the explorers. By my side here again was the dead
body of a lad of 18 or 19, whose face I should like to see
again. There we were both together, hour after hour. I
shouted scores of times, but no one heard me. I could hear
remote echoes in a heading some distance off, where Et
haulier would, I take it, usually be, but owing to my posi-
tion my voice failed to reach there. I heard no other voice
near me, nor did I hear knocking. I kept my senses pretty
well, but I had lost my can containing my victuals, and I
got hungry and very thirsty, and eventually I must have
become unconscioui. I revived, but gave up all hopes of
life, and offered up prayers to my Maker. Then I heard
the rescuers approaching me, and then you know what hap-
pened. How the explosion took place Ido not know."

Morgan was singed by the explosion, and received
a wound on his forehead. He is happily recovering,
and in a few days will be all right.

As is usual in the case of colliery explosions more
than one act of splendid heroism and self-sacrifice on
the part of the miners is recorded. John Evans,
with three others, viz., Thomas Morris, David
Marony, and David Jenkins, was working in a hard
heading near the down-cast shaft. On hearing the
noise of the explosion, Evanseimmediately called his
friends out of the heading, where certain death would
have overtaken them, and with considerable presence
of mind recommended them to lay themselves flat on
their faces, which timely warning probably saved
their lives, for the force of the explosion seemed to
pass completely over them. The little party had still
to contend with the deadly fire-damp. Shortly after
regaining their feet they all became unoonscious with
the exception of Evans, who, however, succeeded in
dragging the three men into a place of comparative
safety, where the cool air began to revive them, and
eventually they were all rescued by the courageous
volunteers, who, at considerable personal risk,
succeeded by chopping and sawing in making a.hole
through the bratticing which had been torn from the
shaft, and passed loosely to the bottom of the pit.
This daris, which had to be got through, was between
thirty and forty yards deep. When eventually
reached, some of the party seemed to have very
little recollection of what took place after the
explosion, Morris stating that he did not even know
that an explosion had taken place until he was told.
All of them, with the exception of John Evans, had
to be assisted in getting through the hole made by the
rescuers. Many other stories of a similar character
are told, and in one case it is stated that a man whose
name has not as yet transpired might have been one
of the saved with the party of four who were brought
up, but he preferred to go further in the pit in the
vain hope of finding his son, who was working in the
seam.

On Saturday night sixteen bodies were brought up
which were found in one working. Evan Lewis, who
came up shortly before the explosion, states that he
passed by the place where these men were about one
o'clock, and saw them all sitting down having
what they call a one o'clock dinner. When brought to
the surface it was noticed as an extraordinary fact
that these men nearly all had their jaws broken. Mr.
Wood, manager of a neighbouring colliery, who was
exploring, came across the bodies of three men, all
of whom seemed to have been attempting to avoid the
suffocating sulphur and gas which were in the pit after
the explosion. One man had his face literally buried
in the dust, another had both hands over his mouth,
and-a third had endeavoured to cover his mouth with
his coat collar.

Up to noon on Sunday sixty-four bodies had been
recoverel The work of exploration ha a been very
difficult, and has required the exercise of the greatest
caution. The deceased are described as having been
the most sober and induitrious of their class. Their
relations with the Messrs. Rowlands were of the most
amicable character. Their intercourse was not con-
fined to mere business transactions, but included, on
the part of the employers, advice on social conduct
and domestic duty enforced by their own example.
Everywhere these gentlemen are spoken of in terms
not only of esteem, but of affection.

The little town of Pen-y-Graig was filled with visitors
on Sunday. Many were present in the expectation
that the burials would take place. It was a mournful
sight at midnight in the thick and murky weather to
come upon group after group of men bearing coffins,
containing the disfigured remains of some friends or
relatives. A number of coffins unused from the Dinas
explosion have been utilised, and others have been
made at Cardiff and in the neighbourhood.

All Saturday a little boy haunted the dead-house
in search of his father, but could not recognise him
among the dead. The policemen were very kind to
him, and allowed him to wander in and out of the
buildiag, examining and re-examining the out-
stretched forms. Suddenly, the little fellow remem-
bered that his father had some new articles of leather
about his person when he went down the pit. One
of the bodies was again closely Fcrutinised, and the
piece of apparel on being rubbed was found to be
made of new leather. This constituted indubitable
evidence of identity. On being told the body was that
of his father the little fellow cried piteously, and. was
taken home disconsolate. In another case the mother
of Evan Reece on discovering him could only be
restrained from embracing the remains in a paroxysm
of grief by the exercise of kindly force.

The face of one of the dead bodies recovered on Sun-
day was found immersed in the water. The skull was
burnt. The man had run tn the stream when he heard
the report of the explosion, and thus tried to protect
himself from danger.

One of the rescued men, Rees, has given the follow
ing intelligent statement. He says :

"Thomas Morris, David Jenkiets, and myself were work
ing together. David Maroney had just hitched the tram
at our stall, and gone to the horse's head, when all at once
we heard a loud report. We lost our lights, and felt
something like little pins going through us. I thought of
running away, and I called upin the others to come to the
parting, because if we could get to the water we should be
better off. When we got out to thb airway we felt a
choking sensation, and I ripped off a piece of my shirt-
sleeve and held it to my mouth. When we reached the
sump-pit, a little pit about five yards deep, we recovered
a little from the shock, and as there was a cold
air we began to get cold. I told Maroney to stop there,
and said I would go back to look for our clothes. Where
we left the clothes there was also a box of tools, but when
I got back the box was gone to pieces. However, I found
the clothes and our water-can. These I took with me, as we
felt thirsty, and we all had a drop. At the spot I named,
near the water, we remained, huddled together, as it was so
cold, when we heard men on the fall, and Evan Jenkins
and Thomas and another man came down to us. They
placed a plank across the water and we got over and climbed
the brattice with them for 15 or 20 yards. When we got to
the top they wanted me to go to the office, but I would not,
for I wanted to see my little children. The explosion was
very powerful."