The Express.
London, England, 1852-02-25 00:00:00

INUNDATION OF A COAL-PIT.-SEVEN
LIVES LOST.

The melancholy catalogue of disasters resulting
from the late heavy rains in the northern comities fru been
augmented by the occurrence of a good in a coal-pit, near
Rochdale, by which seven persons are supposed to have
perished. The scene of this calamity is the Chadwick Hall
Colliery, at liirtle•tum-Bamford, between Rochdale nod
Bury, and about a mile distant from the former. The col-
liery belongs to Masers. Roscoe and Lord, sad the pit in
which the fatality took place has been worked about four
year.. The mine is situated in a very hilly district; and
the workings in the upper part of the slope from
which the coal was got by other pardee, have been
for some time abandoned, owing principally, it is
said, to the difficulty of getting rid of the water.
During the recent wet weather the water in these old
mines has accumulated to such an extent that on Wednes-
day evening last, between tire and six O'CLOCK, it sudeleuly
burst through into the main drift of Mawr.. Roscoe and
Lord'. mine, whilst the colliers were at work. The wi.ter
rushed in with great force, carrying pieces of coal aid other
substances along with it, so that the drain' Iron the pit
bottom soon became obstructed, and the flood reached a
height of several yards in a very shoat time. Two of the
colliers being near the shaft, and heurinu the no:so of the
rushing water, with great difficulty MSC( card in reaching
the cage, and were wound up iu safety. Two other men
and two boys, who were in the upper part of the
mine, retreated along the driftway, front which
they were unable to escape in time; arid were rapidly per-
rued by the rising water. On reaching the top oldie drift-
way their further progress was prevented, cud they were
compelled to watch its agonising suspense the gradual ap-
proach of the water to within a pew ruches art the placo
where they stood, awaiting the doom which appeared in-
evitable. After remaining iu this perilous situation up-
wards °lei' hours they were enabled to escape through the
subsiding of the water. There were still bee boys and
three men In the mine, tar whose fat., the most fearful ap-
prehensions were excited. The lifeless bodies of Hobert
Shepherd and Samuel Wolstenholuie were recovered on
the following day. The former was thirty years of
age, and has left a widow and four children. His
bed/ wet' much cut and bruised. Wolstenholmo
wasa boy, sixteen years of ego. The names of the others
arc Ilematniu Shepherd, seed 12 (son of Robert Shep-
herd); W. Oak*, 30 ; T. Lees, 30 (both married men
with families); and three brothers, Ninny Howarth, IS;
Robert, 14; sod Noah, 16; sons of a farmer in the neigh-
, hourhood. Another man, whose name we do not know,
was taken out alive on Thursday, but live of the above per-
sons have yet to be accounted tor. 'the lift is tffty-four
yards deep, and the length of the main drift is 260 yards.
the water is vaned off from the pit bottom througa a
tunnel drain underneath. to, a considerable distance, so as
to empty itself in a purr of the country much betow the
level of the lowest part of the mine. it is owing to this
circumstance that one of the colliers were saved ; for if the
drainage had had to be effected by pumping, as is the ease
in many cord lithe 8, it would have haat iuspossilLe to
rescue them. It i- implored that the won kings in Wore.
Roscoe and Co.'s mine were carried trio near the old once,
leaving a very ilia:efficient harrier between them, which
gave way before the pressure of the acenuaula:A water on
the other aide.

SOUTII turrott Dom. A linliyearly general
meetin; of the propiietors of this company was held yes.
win u a dividend of .ss. per share tar the halC.yenr,
clear of ineolue LI; was dt eland out of iitt profits, tutor
payuuvt el Vie iuterest ou debenture debt, preference stock,
' and all woritiol espenses, repair., die.. of 2,401 f., It Lich
will hue a suiu of 4W. to be carried to the credit of tho
neat dividend account. The MY/. r.icvlpts f,ir Vie half-year
31st e. ISil, are 14,...,661. Ids. 31. 't he ain.,unt
.if tonnage which entered the docks (runt the lit of January
to the 31st of December, 11 il, wu 3..9,912 tons against
2:11,217 in Mill, being uu ii,ereose in Om last year of
i 5,66,1 tens. The directors .tats in their relwrt that they
huvu received it sll.lllJeell Iron the two glt at steam compa-
nies, that a v. ry comidelahle extension of dude bu.ineu
limy be expected. A en.l%-auy oho is in course of formation
to establiiat a am commune:44in treat Panama to Au,ti
lis, in connection atilt the Royal Moil Conipsny's si.ips
front Southampton to Chittree. From these and other lin-
artied Knit..., dir,t tors Lave ruilMl to civet a hire
usertasu of trait: through the dockl.