The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-12-06 00:00:00

THE LATE COLLIERY ACCIDENT.

A COLLIERY explosion, attended by a great loss of
life, is a catastrophe of such frequent occurrence
that the general ',Olio have almost ceased to
concern themselves much about this class of
disasters. Or if occasionally a somewhat more
than usually appalling event attracts general
attention, the feeling of horror, like a cloud
momentarily obscuring the sun, quickly passes
away, and the cause of the mischief remains
uncorrected, If there is a momentary shudder
at the idea of so many human beings being sud-
denly scorched, suffocated, or buried aline, and
a brief emotion of sympathy for the hundreds of
helpless wipes and children thus deprived of their
husbands, fathers, and brothers and if a benevo-
lent impulse is felt prompting to action against
the causes of those terrible evils, these feelings
are at once checked by the common suggestion
that those ignorant, daring, and feckless colliers
are themselves the incorrigible authors of these
accidents—that all has been done that legislative
enactments and the vinilance of coalnit manapprq
can effect to enlighten these men and arm them,
in spite of themselves, against the destruction
they fearlessly challenge. Every investigation
after the fact seems to repeat the same story—
namely, that of some perverse oilier, regardless
of every warning, having opened his safety lamp
to light his pipe, whereby the fire-damp has
ignited and spread death and ruin all around. If,
then, nothing more can be done by lvay of pre-
vention, is it not useless to harrow our feelings
by dwelling on the miseries these creatures
determinedly bring upon themselves and their
funnies ? Is not sympathy with such distresses,
in the circumstances, idle and unavailing for any
practical good ? A few pounds are subscribed
for the litidows and orphans, and the subject is
allowed to drop with the expression of a vain
hope that the colliers will be wiser for the future.
This process goes on from year to year, without
the slightest improvement; and grim Death, ever
and anoril revels triumphantly in the murky seams
of our great coal-pits.
Now, is it beyond all question that nothing yet
remains for the Legislature to do to render them
impossible ? No doubt some admirable laws have
been enacted to secure the safety of coal-pits, and
we have as little doubt that the managers of
collieries have for the most part done everything
within their power to carry out those salutary
regulations, It is equally certain, however, that
the workers underground are always able, and
too often ready and willing, to set these measures
at defiance. But is it not possible, by proper
ventilation, to render every pit in the kingdom
nearly as safe from fire-damp explosions as if its
workings lay constantly exposed to the sun and
the breeze ? If it is so, why should not Parlia-
ment cause an efficient system of ventilation to be
adopted throughout every pit in operation ?
Were every colliery ventilated by means of a
downcast and an upcast shaft, having the whole
works below regulated so as to maintain a perfect
communication with these shafts, a current of
comparatively pure air might be sent throughout
every part of the most extensive field sufficiently
powerful to blow out every lamp nakedly exposed
to its force, and, of course, to prevent any accu-
mulation of fire-damp. If by such an arrange-
ment danger might not be wholly obviated,
it would, at all events, have the effect of
confining the consequences of an explosion to
a small area, and thus render it comparatively
innocuous. We could name pits now being ,
wrought in some of the most inflammable coal
fields which by such a mode of ventilation are
made proof against explosions,—so much so that
no one connected with them would consider it
at all dangerous to carry a bare light at any time

through every part of the works. Why should
not the adoption of this or some other equally
effective mode of ventilation be made compul-
sory ? Unless stich a proposition is taken up
independently and agitated energetically it will
never be given effect to, because there are in-
fluential agencies at work to thwart it. Society
is not free from the blood of these human
sacrifices, neither can it listen with a clear
tionstietlee tti the piercing cries of their bereaved
and helpless relatives; unless it be true that all
has been done that society can do tO, prevent
j , •
these ravages. e fparlessly assert that the
responsibility rests with the legislature.

The recent explosion of the Black Vein Col-
lieries, near Newport, in Monmouthshire, attended
by an appalling loss of life, we trust will again
arouse public attention to a sense of the necessity
of measures bbitig taken to put the recurrence of
such ati awful event beyotid the pale of proba-
bility. We pronounce no opinion as to the system
of ventilation in these workings. An investiga-
tion is pending, by means of which, we hope, the
facts may be correctly ascertained. But what-
eVer may be state of the case, in this particular
initatiee; it is `Jettaiii 614 the di ventilation
is all but universally the real producing cause of
these great accidents. There is, unfortunately,
considerable difficulty in ascertaining the truth
as to the actual condition of the pit at the moment
of the catastrophe. The influence of thosc
interested in suppressing the truth, it is to be
feared, is too often greater than the vigilance even
of GoVetntiient Inspectors'. Another, and perhaps
Still more remarkable Obstacle to colliery reform,
lies ikrith the workers thenielVes, who imagine
they halre a pecuniary intbreSt iri nia'intaitiing
the dangerous character of their employment.
They believe that, were it rendered perfectly
safe, there would be forthcoming such a plethora
of labourers and competition for work, that wages
would soon fall to a fraction of what they now
earn. Thus both employers and their employes
blindly conceive that their several pecuniary
interests are adverse to reformation in the man-
agement of collieries. Is not this exactly a case
fir legislative interference ? Even Were huma-
nity dead to it sense of the Cruel and criminal
conduct of those who, either to save capital or to
,keep up wages, would constantly imperil the
lives of so many thousands of the lieges—had we
no feelings of sympathy for the innocent who are
subjected to untold sufferings by the recklessness
of the guilty, but looking at the matter merely as
one of policy—is it safe, just, or wise to permit
the continuance of a system which annually costs
the country the lives of so many useful and
industrious men ? In the meantime, let the
public see to it that the investigation of this
latest colliery accident shall be thoroughly search-
ing, impartial, and complete.

THE LIVERPOOL STATIONERS', PRINT-
ERS', AND BOOKSELLERS' PROVIDENT

SOCIETY.

We had much satisfaction retently in bringing this
"good idea" before the public, along with a list of the
sums then subscribed. We have now the pleasure of
stating that the following additional subscriptions have
been received or intimated, viz.:—

Mr. J, Barlow, Lord-street •• • • Donations: Ann. Sub.
..1 1 0
Mr. John Wormdp, 23, Harrington-st.
... 1 1 0
Mr. Newton, la, LOtdxstreet ~ • • / 1 0 ... 1 1 0
Mr, Gilling, 49, Lord-street •• • :, 5 5' 0 .. 2 2 0
Mr. Joshua Walmsley, Lord-street / 1 0 ... ) 1 0
Egerton Smith and Co., Lord-street . ig 0 0 .. , .
~. . .
Mr. A. Newling, Bold-street 2 2 0
George Groom and Son, Lord-street
Mr: D. Marples, Lord-street
Fearnall and Co., Church-lane • - 2 0 0
Mr. John Park 0 10 6
Mr. J. Worrall

We would add a word of exhortation to employers as
to the necessity of sending in at once their donations to
Mr. Benson, the treasurer, so as to set the society firmly
upon its feet, and start it upon a safe basis. We under-
stand that some of the gentlemen, when asked to con-
tribute, have expressed a difficulty in seeing what need
there is for the money now solicited. A few words
ought to satiafy all on this point. Have not rules
and tables to be drawn itp and printed ? Can
this be accomplished without, in the first place
employing an experienced solicitor and engag-
ing the services of a competent actuary ? Are
these, and all the other preliminary arrangements, too
nuMetous to specify, to be carried but without funds ?
Would it be a good coneni or a justifiable step' to com-
omence this great and good work by burdening it with
debt ? A moment's reflection on these points will, we
believe, satisfy every well-wisher of the proposed society
that the present demand is only reasonable and proper.
Any balailte of these subscriptions remaining, after meeting
preliminary expenses titid getting the society into 'fair
working order, will be thrown into the general fund.
The objects of the society are the following :-
1. To afford relief in case of sickness or accident, and a sum
not exceeding f, at death. _ _

2. To provide an annuity fund, to be partaken of by mem-
bers after the ake of
3. To establish an assurance fund, for the purpose of afford-
ing to its members the means of accumulating a sum at death
by weekly payments. The sum assured not to exceed £ .
The rules applicable to this department to be framed with the•
view that this branch of the society shall be under themanage-
ment of an independent assurance company.
4. The tablee for female members of this society to be
arranged under the Sarno heads as above, and an actuary con-
sulted as to the scale applicable to them.

We hope soon to have the privilege of announcing,
that this society has been established upon a sound
and permanent footing. In the meantime funds are
still wanting. Shall they be withheld ?

FEMALE PAUPERISM THE INMATES OF
THE LIVERPOOL WORKHOUSE.

CONTINVATION OF THE INSPECTION.

The inspection of the "able-bodied" inmates of the
Workhouse was continued yesterday, in the officers'
room of the house. The commencement and object of
the inspection were fully detailed in the Daily Times of
Thursday last; in which we also noticed, as far as space
would permit, the result of the examination of the
TsOferyTrithilletitesrlgtatttraMlin given io
each was necessarily limited, it was found impossible to
dispose of the whole in one day. The total number of
women brought into the house was 110 ; of these 18 are
unmarried and pregnant, 7 married and pregnant, making
a total of 25 pregnant women now in the Workhouse.
The majority of these are Irish and Welsh, the former,
of eourse, predominating. Each of these poor creatures
had her own story to tell—the same old story of not
being able to get work. This, as might' have been
mooted, was the excuse offered by almost all; but a
slight knowledge of the previous history of some was
sufficient to show that indolence, more than a want of
work, was the cause of their position. Some of the
female paupers had been in the house the greater
portion of their lives, and appeared to entertain
sanguine hopes of never changing their residence. One
girl said she had been in the house for ten years, and
would go to service if she could get work.—The governor
stated that this young woman had been out of the house
for a short time once or twice, and that on one of the
occasions she had cut off her hair, and sold it to get
drink. She was a very intelligent woman, and could
read and write and sew well.—Here is another specimen
, of the same lamentably large class : Ann E—, a
widow, aged 69, had been in the workhouse altogether
for six years. She was formerly employed as a nurse,
but in consequence of her own misconduct was removed
from the position..--Helen —, was the name of
one of the women, who bore so exact a similarity to a
Christmas pig, that one could easily imagine her having
been at some time or another mistaken for that
quadruped. The fact of her possessing any optical
organs was extremely problematical, and they were so
completely hidden and enveloped in fat, that they must
be next to' useless. We did not hear what was sup-
posed to be the diet upon which this animated lump of
flesh had flourished to such an extraordinary extent, but
we did hear several gentlemen inquire why she was not
put to sonic work. The governor said she would do
nothing; and if asked to do anything, would sit down
by her work and sulk for two or three days. Sometimes
she was not known to open her mouth for a whole week
except to put food in it.—Another woman, named Ann
S— , was formerly in the workhouse, and appearing
to be a woman of some promise, was sent to a factory
where she earned 9s. per week. She was found in
the vagrant sheds, however, a short time after leaving
the house, and declared that she was not going
to work for 9s. a week when she could get more than
that by leading a life of pleasure.—Mary C—, a
young widow with one child, had a very good character
from the governor, and expressed her wish to go to
service, but had nowhere to put her child. She had no
clothes, and would not obtain sufficient salary to support
her child at first ; if the child could only stop in the
house for a few weeks, she would then be able to take it
out and support it herself. Such was her piteous tale.
The Poor-law makes no provision for cases of this sort,
and the hands of the Workhouse Committee are at
present powerless. This was not the only case of the
sort, but it will serve as a type of the others.—Another
girl said she belonged to Warrington; she bad travelled
to Manchester, and thence to Liverpool, in search of
work, but not being able to get any, she was driven to
the stage, and thence to the streets. Nearly all the
above girls had been servants, and had been seduced, and
having no friends, had gone to the workhouse. Other cases
of a similar nature were brought before the gentlemen
conducting the inspection, but they are too numerous,
and some too horrible, to be related here. We pass on
to the nursery department. Here there are no less than
55 paupers with children in arms ; 25 of the mothers
are single women, and 30 married. And here again are
met the same stories of misery and broken-heartedness.
Some, and we must say the majority, of the women
appear sorry for their situation, and hope soon to be out
getting their own living—they probably would be now
but for their children; °tilers are infirm in one way or
another ; and others do not seem to care how long their
stay in the poorhouse be. Mr. Nagger, the clerk, took
notes of the majority of the cases, with a view, if neces-
sary, of taking further steps. There were 10 widows and
10 single women, making a total of 110 female paupers.
The inspection proceeded until about five o'clock, when
it was adjourned.

LATEST NEWS.

(BY BRITISH AND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)

FRANCE.

PARIS, Dec. 6.
The Moniteur publishes a decree conferring
upon Marshal Vaillant the title of Minister of the
Emperor's Household.
The Count de Persigny arrived yesterday at
Paris, and immediately took up his residence at
the hotel of the Ministry of the Interior.