The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-27 00:00:00

ANOTHER FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT.

Another fatal accident has to be added to the
already black arid terrible list which has occurred during
the present year—an accident which has come nearer home
than any of those which we have been called upon to record
within the last couple of months—and whilst there may
not be so many sufferers, either directly or indirectly, as
in the other oases, yet life has been lost, and one family
at least has been thrown into • state of gloom by the lose
of • son who was rapidly approaching manhood, sad who
was looked upon as an example to those in a similar position
to himself. At first rumour peat exaggerated the extent
of the atnident, and it was stated in this city that • greet
long of life had been occasioned at Easton Pit by an explo-
sion of gee. Of oourse considerable excitement was mani-
fested among thecitizena, and many wended their way to
the spot, anxious to ascertain the truth of the statements
which were being freely circulated. Upon visiting the
colliery, however, those fears were greatly allayed by the
knowledge that only one life had been lost, although that
loss was one life too many. An immense concourse
of people was gathered about the place, the Dews
of the accident having spread with great rapidity
through the neighbourhood, and most of those living
in the district having relatives at work in the mine.
It was at first stated that en explosion of fire -damp hail °c-
onned, but this was not credited by those at all acquainted
with the pit, for it is one of the best ventilated—if not
the very best—in the entire kingdom, and the utmost pre-
cautions are taken by the proprietors and meager, in
order that no such accident may occur. Upon the crowd
learning the face of the case they gradually dispersed, but
it was not till some hours after the accident that the last
group left the neighbourhood of the pit. The cause
of the accident is shrouded in mystery, and, as is too
often the case, the only person who might naturally
be supposed to be able to state exactly how it occurred
has been off by the fell destroyer. From facts which
have come to light since the melancholy occurrence
we have been able to gather the following details.
The pit, which is situated at Easton, and in close contiguity
to this city, belongs to Messrs. Leonard, Boon, and Co.
It has two seams—one bring 180 fathoms sleep, and the
other 150 fathoms. Altogether there are nearly 400 venom
employed upon it—a great number of them being boys. On
Monday morning, about 8 o'clock, whilst the men in the
150 fathom level were at work, a youth named Imes
Howard, of Gothic Cottages, and aged about 17 yeas., was
sent by one of the men to a box for the purpose of gettiag
some nails. In the sans box where the nails are kept the
gunpowder is also kept, but it is put up in tin tanking, sad
the boys have no right to touch it. Shortly after the led Lit
the person be was working with heard • tangle uplinks,
and, as might be expected, the greatest excitement was
created in the pit. The men at once suspected that it wee
gunpowder which had exploded, sod they came from all
parts of the seam to render assistance if it ahonhl be re-
quired. It was then perceived that the surmises of the
men were correct, and it was nearly. impossible to romans
in that part of the workings, so impregnated had the air
become with the fumes of the powder. The men, how-
ever, were not to be driven away by the stench, but at
mica commenced to examine the spot. They had sot
to search before they came upon the shockingly
body of the boy Howard, and • few yards off
young man, named William Brittany eras discovered lying
in an infeasible state. Life was foaled to be quite
extinct in the former; but the other being alive, a
dossed by his greening, he was carefully carried through

the workings to the shaft--a distance of nearly 500 yards- -
and upon being hoisted up in the cage he was at once coo.
veyed home, where he was attended by Mr. Mayor, and
there is now every hope of his recovery. lie is suffering
from severe burns about the face and hods, and he bus not
been able to give any account of the accident to himself and
the other poor fellow. The body of Howard was after.
wards brought up in the cage and conveyed at once to his
: tie:ce, which is situated clue to the oulliery. It pre-
& most frightful aspect, the head being litemily
smashed in, and the other parts Wag very much chaned
by the action of the fire. The poor fellow's
father is deputyoverman at the colliery, and he has
been in a distracted state since the accident. The
deceased, it in supposed, must have had an order
from one of the men to bring him sonic powder in addition
to the nails be was going for, and whilst in the act of get-
ting the different things out a spark from his candle
bad fallen amongst the gunpowder, and the explosion
would necessarily ensue. His body must then have been
immediately over the box, and the force of the explosion
would lift it against the roof of the pit, thus inflicting
the injuries to the skull. How the other was injured
will, no doubt, be fully explained by him upon his
reeovery. The deceased had been about eight years in the
pft, sad is described by Mr. Leonard, one of the owners,
as a very pious, trustworthy boy. He possessed the entire
confidence of his employers, and, notwithstanding that it
is against the rules of the colliery to send a lad for powder,
yet so much did they think of his natural carefulness that
they would not have had the slightest fear of sending him
upon such an errand. There would be about two pounds of
(gunpowder in the canister, but how it became ignited will,
it is feared, ever remain a mystery. An inquest will be
held upon the body.—Western Daily Prem.