The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-12-27 00:00:00

FEARFUL COLLiERY-EXPLOBION.

Mr. Barker, deputy. tier for the district, on
Thursday formally .ipene I the inquiry at Abram jot,
the deaths of the thirty•five persons lying within his
jori.diction who had been killed by the exploco,:, ..n
Monday at the Arley Colliery. The boil., of the
killed were then Identified, and the inquiry adjourned
till next Wednesday. To complete this portion of the
inqoiry, should any hely be found in the meaiti.ne
and identified, it will be viewed by the jury ao.I a
buried cartifi-ate given. The Wigan boroush c .rifler
also opened hi. inqued on the two men wit I died in
the Wig 111 lifirm.ri, one of whom has not yet been
identified fie adjourned the inquiry for a month.
Mr. Hail, Government inspector ef mine., att opted
the opening of the county Inquiry, and afterwards
descended the pit fur the purpose of making an insp.e-
am of the workings. He was accompaoied by Mr.
W. Johneoo, general undergrouni manaser, and
Mr. Taylor, certificate I manaor, and als by Mr.
J. ()moat and Mr. T. Oekes, miners' agent, who
requested permission to go with them The party
examined the eoutti- Rest portion of the mine, or about
half the extent of the working., The f .Ils were
extraordinarily large, the roof havins given way
In some places to the height of (tom 15
feet to 18 feet. Some idea in %yr therefore be
formed of the difficulties experienced by the explorer,
after the accident. The clearing away of the dirt in
the levels has been vine on regolarly. and it is hope
that before long some more of the bodies may be c,ons
across The names of th me missing being now known,
special attention will be directed to the places where
they would probs'ily be working, in order that their
bodies may be recovered as soon as possible. The
greatest damage appears to have been done in the
south-west district, but it may be stated that the roof
I In newly the whole of the in take roads has fallen, and
the evidences of the fire were seen at the top of the
jig-brows. The bodies of those rec:.vered were to-day
removed from the waggon ghee as soon as the c ironer',
order was received. The proprietors provided hearses
for this purpose, and in three the coffins were taken
to the horses of the relatives. Two of those still
lyiog in the waggon ells! have not been identifie I, and
as tk-y must soon be interne lit hi., been decided to
take photographs of the deceased, and with these and
the clothing found recognition may hereafter be estab-
lished should any enquiries be made. Another de s%
has taken place. Edward Potts, one of the iojeee
who was removed to his lodgieg iii Weetleigh, dieei
there about midnight on Wednesdee. One of the
persons not identified is believed to be William
Lee who came into the district a short time ago from
fitoOk port.
JAMS'S Bent, one of the injured men brought out
alive from the Arley pit, died on Monday, making the
number of death, 48, which may probably be increased
The explorers suoceeded on Saturday and Sunday
in reoovering nine more of the unfortunate men buried
by the sad explosion at the Arley Pit of the Abram
Coal Company. Eight bodies were brought to the
surface and taken to the waggon shei, where they
were placed in coffins. All have been identified.
The bodies of a man ant his two eons wore found
dote together, about 200 yards from their working
place., and the three persons ha! evidently been
attempting to make their way through the flames to
the pit mouth. They were shockingly burned and
mutilated.
The total loss of life is bow reckoned at forty eeeee
and of them six 'nen were brought out alive, but
afterwards died. Two or three 04th. injured lie in •
Precarious 000ditipn.