The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-19 00:00:00

[Stamped, Id. Additional]

COLLIERY EXPLOSION IN SOUTH WALES.-

LOSS OP THIRTY PIVS LIVES.

TAIBACH, GLAMORGANSIIIELE,
SLTURDAT EVINING.

The whole district of South Wales was this
dap thrown into a state el pest erattemeut coorguent
upon a rumour being current that • serious colliery 'solo.
siou had cortmd at Hupp, =rarely layman scores
of poor fellows into eternity. The rigors is circulation
were of the moat meggessta chancier—one being to the
effect that 150 liven bad bra secrillowl, whilst many other
workman bad been driedfully burnt and braised. Happily,
this provc Ito be ;oeuvres, but it is our painful duty to
resod that about 35 lives bays been last, nosy when and
familiar implored almost peunner, and a yea destruction
al property remiting.
The pit in which this terrific axpirios occurred is one of
the largest in Beath Wales. It is situate In the parish of
lfarpro, Glaniorganabirs, about three miles from the Pori
Talbot station, and about sight from North. It is the pro.
pray of, or situate on the estate of Mr. C. B. H. Talbot,
ILP., and lord lieutenant of the county, bat is lamed to
and worked by the Meru. H. H. Varian art Os., Mr. Pew-
Barre Thies ler( the reddest wham.
The miry, as we hare already elated, is on. of
the barn is Swab Wales- Gerson Own are from
009 is 1.611113 awe eropkiyai in A.< threw& The
underground workings literally extend for miles, and there
are about 000 tow of coal worked per day, Wake are
shipped either at Port nib* Briton Ferry, Beak ce
Swansea The coal is at Muir= gray, bring part of
As% Whim as the swath map a the Fehr of Broth essi
barns lire sorban crop beim Ms well-known and Itiejclr
prised deer coal of Abeam,. Tie pit is between 110
sad 130 fathoms deep arse of the bosh being as mush r
KO yards from the abaft. The °oniony is what is gereany
crown as of a " fiery " nature, sod therefore regular( the
greatest are and ratios in tbe working ; and,
se far es we have boa able to assents, arida(
seems rs can bean left widow which capital could ripply
or migisming skill suggest to provide for the nary of the
Iris number of man daily at wadi ; is fact, the chief aim
a the proprietors and the neat has bees to guard spinet
airideuts of the fearfully terrific nature which we bare new
to receni.

We believe we are easiest le stating that two fatal sent-
dente, thigh of raiser attest, bare occurred is this Fie
edible the pain eight sr tea years—ems some sight yaws
age. when sixties lives were lost, sad the seemed about
three page ago, when four workmen were killed. The..
eocidmile naturally led to the most enrneet desire on the
part of the proprietors to prevent a recurrence ; and Mr.
Vivien has bees bows on more than as. oematoe to dis-
tinctly my to his general manager, .Mr. William Grey
(than whom a as, experienced does net exist is the
kingdom), "Spare so expense anywhere; whatever the
east let as sookisat happen if it can be possibly avoided."
The donkey is ventilated by means of a furnace. There are
two shafts, the up and the down shaft, and, from what
we eta secertela, considering the immense extent of the
workings, is admirably ventilated ; but, io order to a still
greater sesarity, the wilier, was waked entirely with locked
safety humps.
The distressing accident to which we now allude oc-
curred shortly after tea o'cloek this morning, at which
time there were about 400 workmen in the colliery. The
immediate SCOW of the explosion is the west side of the ohs
foot seem, which is about TO y.irds from the bottom at the
shaft. There were 43 men and boys working this beadier '
at the thee of the explosion, 35 or 36 of whom lave is all
human probability perished, either heaths sleeked barns
or the equally fatal fire-down.
It was .sly a few moments before it became known that
eomethiag of an alarming character had happiest is the
pit. triefertnnately the inhabitants of the district ot South
Wales are too accustomed to the peculiar sole or *ore of
explosioas to be easily mistakes. Long before say of the
workmen la the pit were able to seemed a large seed et
eaxiese relatives end Mande had assembled road the
weenie of the pit, end when it became humus that
• serious accident had in reality happened the most painful
moiety was manifested, many women having a hothead and
two or three noes in the pit at the time. Our oorrespeedent
WIN en the spot ie about two hours after the accideet, sad
as the bodice were brought up, at %tends at tee denies or
• quarter of as hoar, beheld scenes suMeleat to annerve the
Mmulemt mid meet stoioal, and to bring teen into the eyes
of almost every bystaader.
It was not long before the pest majority of those in the
pit were able to make their maps, and were brought up in
safety. The other parts of the pit seem to bows been but
slightly, if at all, injured by the explosion, but the ofd aims-
foot vela hoe bean much iejered—deors and air ways being
blown down, whilst there're inch =tsar, Mb alma end
nebbish as to reader it exceedingly &Smelt to meek the
bodies el.tbose immured—la fact, the whole of the timber
in this heading had to be reset and brattice carried before
the bodies could be got at.
The foal gases or choke-damp having partially cleared
off, many noble fellows volunteered to go dove isle the
to render what Assistance they scold to this deed and dying
comrades. A gang of colliers from the Cam Awes colliery
deserve especial mention for their heroic acts—they bravely
faced &seer, and in one or two hansom risked their lives
to remise the mearly-expirieg sufferer, and happily their
exertions were crowned with success.

We do not wish to barrow up the feelings of our readers
by iktaßlug die painful acmes which occurred Mete mouth
of the pit, or the still snore palaful realities which oecurred
ludas ground, but there are ow or two autheathated facts
which we cannot help mentioainr. One poor man, we
believe of the name of Stephens, was in an almost frantic
state upon hearing of the explosion; be had a little boy, 12
or 14 yearn of age, in the heeding where the expkrdon
incurred. Three times did the father deemed the pit In
the hope of rendering aid to his ovideatly rwweb•levedehlld—
twMe was be driven beer by the fatal firedamp. He
dereseded the third tiaw, and reached the scene, 6d only
to find his son dead. The body was brought up in a sack,
the father helping to carry it.
Another cue was that of a man named Williams, who
was working is the old eioe•foot se►m in company with
his son at the MINI of the catastrophe. The sou was com-
pletely overpowered and amok, apperiatly to rise se mere
bat the father might op the body in his arms, and although
weak sod mock exhausted himself, carried it some distance.
Re however was soon compelled to drop his boy ie the road-
way and hurry on to the bottom of the abaft to save his own'
life. Happily both ware brought oat alive, but we were
informed the son bad since expired.
Whilst standing at the month of the pit levee nese went
brought oat alive, bat is the most exhausted and Miami
state. Owe died within a few moments of beim leseeit
up, and another subsequently. Twelve bodies bad been
reerweed, sod there were thus tweety.four more bodies is
the pit at the time we left, all of whom there was unfortu-
Dately no hope of recovering for some time, rind cause.
<meetly are dead. The roof has so completely blocked up
the headieg that only ow body out be dragged through the
aperture at a time, and that only with the greatest diffi-
culty, in consequeoce of the 'offend.; state of the steno•
sphere.
The following bodies had been brought up dead, or knows
to have expired, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon
1. Humphrey Jenkins, of Wadi, dreadfully burnt sad
meek disfigured. Brought out alive, but expired shortly
cher.

Z Michael Crawley, et Tail:web, aged about 40, married.
8. Hoary Wilkins. Taibscb.
4. Wm. Enna, Taibacb.
A David Matthew.
8. Thomas Lodvig, married.
7. Newry Griller., married.
8. Rees Williams, day bruises.
9. Thomas Willis., see of Um above.
10. Polar fitephaaa, deer boy.
IL Harbert Drake., married, wilik a kn. family.

11 • eery& so disfigured as to he eareemaired. •
With two exceptions, the above met their destine from
the ohs& dailp sad whim twilight to the mouth of the
pt was stiff sad rigid. Mr. Wm Grey, the menage". was
fa the healing who. the 'aphelia ocearred. Re was to..
and INOS111•111 by the gas, bat is a few 100011POU reoovend
40.03111111111111111, sad risking personal danger, and eves cliaih.
assiemay Moused to brim some of the peer fellows to a
plies d &My, and ewer two were inisaiiheisalily IMVid
them by leetneamtality. It wee cooly by beteg forehly
serried eat el the headlag that dr. Grey Maid be mea•

[TWOPENCE

palled to give tip his work, and when brought out of the pit
was marady able to walk. It is almost needless to say
that the poor fellows received *vary easistaime whOli scald
be rendered them both by Dr. Pritchard, surgeen of tke
works, and Dr. Russell, of Cwm Arai. The dead were
placed in hastily coestrueted biers, and conveyed boats
with all demist speed.
Mr. Thomas Evans, the government inspector of Bon*
Wales, was on the spot within a few hours of the explosion,
and instantly descended the pit and rendered truly valuable
aid by his cool and collected judgment and psuolksi ere- ,
nouns. Of course, in the midst of each exattement ae
that now prevalent, no cause ma be positively assigaed for
the accident, but from the most meld inquiries we ere
sorry to be obliged to as; that the.. is every memos to be-
lieve it arose from the criminal are of one of the workmea
in picking his lamp for the purpose of getting a light.
For miles round there is gloom, despondency, gad weep-
ing and wafting ; and although math* aim memorises for
the sudden bereavement it is somewhat cougolatory to, !hid
that there is a good money club in emanarica with the
works, but the sympathies of the public will doubtless be
appealed to on behalf of so many widows and destitute
children.

THE ASSAULT°, raz DUIN 01BUCEINGHAM.

At the borough police-000r% Bs* asßeAusdrey,
before the Mayor, Colonel Olivier; Major Baker, Ompeaht
Ford, Dr. Mersa, sad Yuma. T. Fnlier,l3. J. Five, W.
Hunt, and T. Oiil, Owns Norton and Wdiism Norton,
commercial travellers, of Reading, vies simassoned for an.
nuking the Duke of Buckingham sad 06111401, on the hell
Wet. The court was densely croetto% eat Ids pare was.

amenmodated with a sent on the Wit& Mr. Bishertess•
rarin support of the comp/air" sod Mr. Bras isr •
dstdasts. The Messrs. Berra were ales smanisied
byby the Great "esters Railway Company for wilfully, Mgr:
with the comfort ad paasangere. Mr. thanksupplied. i
thin chirp. The charge preferred by the railway compeisp
was first celled on for hearing.
Mr. Eh eit said the present change me mode trader a bye*:
law al the 'Dempsey for the protseties of pemsgsgiv
nadir which the defendant. ware liable 6D a penalty erg
SOL He stated the offence alleged_ solar the Mrs&
North marred on the Bth ot Gerber . whim Ile Dam
of Bueichegbest, the duchies, end "sir .dissar MMrpd it
Bath by the eight o'clock traie in the evemisg. After
they had alighted the duke mentend the stellegp. 1114
the purse et mming Mid. et I The
defendants cams up at this time, asil to Mir
the compartment at the entrance to the dub
stood. They premed forward Is the meet Warr*
manner, and this seemed the emeditet whisk lisitied •
the subject of the prams empire& Sties the 01111141001 POI
bad been Mead his friend, Mr. Byres, es baba elf '
the delsediste had made use of ezpordess of dame '
regret for their conduct on the ores ins, and had sired to
tender la open court • most complete and ample apology.
The railway acme y having only at heart the Merest' el
the mbar weghi they bad aufliciestly perfonsid their
duty. by Ming the reps they bad dons, and be therefore
applied for pa/mission to withdraw the sanimesses. The
defendants, brides • declaration of onstritioa, bad under-
takes to primmer a donation of 61. to the Bath United
Hospital, and to pay all the expenses which bed teen in-
sisted. Ho Mawr that would estidy the megisirstes and
meet the jerk." of the are.
Mr. Roberto:a said that be appeared far the Duke of
Bacinisimen, and bad to say that greet had sot been se.
tared in this natter by key vindictive feeltag. He bed testi-
used tbspressat promediags because be ensalsred that he
owed it as • duty to the public, and particularly to peassagers
by railway. The duke might hare given the defendants is
charge at the moment, for the emelt they ocsuatisisd 'rpm
him •be might have intihted them at the seeress, or be
might have rouglot an action agaiest them for damages.
He had. however. preferred to take the moi • simple some.
The duke was formerly chairman of the greater railway
company I. the kingdom, and was of opinion that it behoved
him not to pass such conduct as that which the defendants •
had exhibited without serious MM. He (Kr. &barterr
ea the part of the duke had to ask that the summonses
takes out might be withdrawn on the defendants apologia.
leg and slain what Mr. Sleek bad intimated their readiness •
to elm
Mr. Byrne for the defendants, observed that he had
sew to express on behalf of the defendants their linden sad
deep regret for having acted in the MT siesibliedtet•-
Slack. The dente arm. from the sagenn" epic
to tmritience, of the defendants to push themselves into
the ciarnage. The tiro was a very far Mr to Lesdoes,
and mils a few minutes were allowed for its May at tic sta-
tion. He thanked the duke for his oondrosesion he accept-
ing the apology of the defendants, and thus tornMaMg •
ore which was to them of • most painful chancier. He
hoped the bench would comply with the request that had
been made to them.

iitiofdaycenriiiticed that the bench were exosed.
that the cases were to mod io the maxim
Vtrea.ytelt enured that the Duke of Buckingham =sly
acted in defence of the public interest. and the defeedeata
ought to be greatly obliged to him for the lesieriey be had
exercised towards them. He hoped the apology which bad
been made was sincere and truthful. The magistrates, under
the euramelesees, would willingly allow the summates to
be withdrawn.

it;I;;Pon expressed bin opinion that the inhabitants
of Bath and the travelling public were deeply indebted to
the Greet Writers Railway Company foe the mazy they
had displayed in protecting their ymeregers kora Lean ea

The annual dinner of the Hinehford Conservative
sad Agricultural Club was celebrated as Friday evening at
Guile Hediegbam, but with scarcely the sense Eder as in
firmer days. Thus Mr. C. Du Cann M.P., meanest in
oansequeoce of the death of hie father.in•law, Lord Lynd-
hurst, and Mr. J. W. Perry Watlingtoa, M.P., for Beath
Essex, wee also unable to attend, in sousequenee of the ill-
nees of Mrs. Watfington. Major Bereeford, M.P., and
Captain Jarvis, M.P. (who occupied the chair), had cease-
qtasatly to sustain the bract of the erasing. The hoe. sad
(sliest chairman was supported by Sir B. P. Heim ikier, Bart.,

Mr. Lewis Majondie, Lieutecant.Colonel S. B. Ruggles-
Briae, and other local patterns') bolding cosasrvative
epinioes. Mr. P. O. Pepillon. M.P. for Culoheater, bad also
been invited, but was unable to attend in coosequenceof the
death of a relative.

THE QII/LIN AND HER TRADESPEOPLL—I have
frequetly heard it said, is a tone of censure, that our coed
is a very parsimonious see—too ecoeccuical a great dealt
but if it be *roomiest, it is just and punctual in the ax.
treed. It le certainly a fact that, eo far as her minimum and
driesmakers are onseersed, her Majesty likes to know the
price of articles before commanding them—a practice whisk
subjects would do well to follow ; aad all bar trade,.
people know full well that their account. mod he pad.
tually rendered gam' three months, when they mac
punctually discharged—another example well worthy of
imitation, and one which, if the ladies of our aristomsey
would bet follow, they would Sad themselves eavigb.a;
least fifty per cent. on their former millions' bill&
would, too, at once rob the employers of one great and
geeenl excuse for overworking their assistants, an mend
which they comelier all-powerful. ms., that their capital is
so locked up by the long credit they are obliged to eve then
customers, that they have to do with as few paid assistants
as possible. Of comes we all knew that reenricersers
*mild set be United with the more delicate pada, ia either
Wench of the business.—The Eegludiroataa's Jamie.
Soma Scram! ASSOCIATION Excritatows.—Oa
Pride, morning, an excerdies is 001111110610 with the
do ant Science Association took* place to Melrose. The
! ausionista left the Waved., 'midge station be veinal
train at nine o'clock. and reached Matrons about heilf•past
ten. The company, after spendinga Mod time ben, drove
in ointment. Abbotsford end Drybunth Abbey,
us in-
spected the vario objects of interest at these Mr.
R. W. Billings, author of "The Baronial and 'Medical
Aatiquities of Scotland." accompanied the excursion. and
siphoned the arthemingical sad architectural features of
the district visited by the party. A number of the ewer.
, Mooted stopped at Galas deb, and were show, through
some of the principal masufadories. The company re.
tensed to Edinburgh by special train at air o'clock in the
enseing.—A large excursion party left the Oddment Rail-
way statics on Friday messing at tea o'clock for the Palls
of the Clyde, where they spout a very plummet day.
MONTHLY NUEUSS.—At the Shoreditch County
Court, as Saturday, a cos—Smith o, Blan•—came before
the jedgs, bele' as maim by a iseethly norm to recover It
damson, in sesemadoe of the decadent not employing
the plaintiff se agreed. The plaintiff deposed that she had
bees engaged to attend Mrs. Blase daring the third week
in May. film was sot wanted thee. sad Mrs. Bide got
moms one else in June. lire. Blame stated that she had
offered plaintiff employment to nurse her while she was ill
with the rheumatic fever. bet the plaintiff refused nu the
I ground that she was only spewed for the particular omit.
noes. The plaintiff said, in answer to his honour, that she
ecceeionally went ant washing and charing, and that she
was a num. Hie Honour—Would inn nurse me, for in.
stews, if I were ill? Plaintiff—With the greate.t plea.
inn, sir. His Honour felt that, upon the plaintiff's own
dewing: she Ina a general as well as a monthly nurse, and
therdece she should have ammuted Mrs. Illaide offer, sad
sot ban stood upon the supposed etiquette of be, rallies.
=rnset bad bees offered and refused, therefore de.
weeld hem • drdlct.

- - -
CURIAL Paircs.--Elau-A-C9ows DAY.
SATURDAY, OCT. 17.—Admialmons pikyonat, 935 ; ditto
by &twos tickets, 1,527 ; total, 3,462.