The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-06 00:00:00

COLLIERY ACCIDENT NEAR MANCHESTER.

10-88---011 SEVIN LIM.

A shocking accident, by which three men, named
Benj. Thompson, James Green, and William Latham, and
four boys, Thomas Lankuter, Thomas Bdge, Luke Lomas,
and John Foster, loot their lives, occurred yesterday, at the
Agecroft Colliery. Pendlebury, in the occupation of
Users. Andrew Knowles and Sons. It appears that a
considerable number of the miners employed in the colliery
have been taking the present week as a holiday, and that,
consequently, but few went to their work yesterday morn-
ing. It was therefaro determined that either no coal, or
bet a very email quantity, should be drawn from the
pit that day, and about nine o'clock the foreman gave
orders. that those who had descended, among whom were the
deceased, should leave off their work and emend. The
cage is raised with great velocity try means of a high pres-
sure steam engine. A etring attached to the axle of the wheel
communicates with the engine-house, and rings an alarm
bell when the cage is within about al yards from the mouth
of the pit as a signal to the engineer to slacken speed and
use caution. By some means this contrivance appears to
have got oat of order, and on the present occasion the
alarm tell did not sound. The engineer consequently did
not check the speed of the engine until the cep was very
nearly at the top of the shaft ,• he then became aware that
something was wrong, and looking into the pit sew that
the cage had arrived clan to the to He made • desperate
effort to apply the break and stop the engine, but it was too
late. The cage struck the beam with great violence, instantly
snapping the wire rope, and the unfortunate men were pre-
cipitated to the bottom of the pit, a depth of between two
and three hundred yards. They were, of eaves, ell killed
on the spot. Thompson's head was completely severed
from his body by the edge of the scaffold against
which he fell, and many of the others were shockingly
mutilated. A "patent gaiety catch" was is use at the
shaft, which it was expected would render such an
occurrence as the present next to impossible; but stator-
tunetely, like most other contrivances of a similar character,
it failed at the utmost need. The bodies were removed
In the evening to the Peck Horse public-hotue, Fondle-
bury, where they are now awaiting the coroner's inquest,
and the engineer, a man named Elias Booth, alias Turner,
la in the custody of the police. It is reported that the string
communicating with the alarm hell has been broken for
several days, so that for that time the engine has been work-
ing without a signal. Another account represents that he
was drunk, and other rumours ere afloat to his disadvantage,
which will be investigated at the coroner's itiqueeL It le
simewhat remarkable that one of the underlookers of another
of Messrs. Knowlee's collieries was prosecuted yesterday
morning, upon the information of the inspector of mines for
the district, for culpable negligence in the performanoe of
his ditty, when many severe remarks wen made upon the
extraordinary number of so:Meats which have occurred at
theme collieries, and the Mentable earekerama of the men.

A DEAD BODE FOOSID IN A 13An inquest
wee held at Skull, • few d•ye ago, upon the tody of • man,
name unknown, which was found Booting encloeed In • box in
Long Island Channel, on bat Thtustley. The body was moat
securely made up, all the external forms of sepulture bawinu
been carefully attended to, proving It to have been a parson
of some position, probably the captain of a vessel, from his
having an anchor tatoot4 on one of his hands. It had awl-
dandy been Booting some monthe, as deposed to by Dr. Bm:st-
olen, who made a post mate= examination (It being in an
advanced Ant* of decomposition), but not the slightest marks
of violence were visible, the men, in Dr. Sweeiman's opinion,
having died a nattual death. He yes about 00 or 70 years
of age, but no name or document that could load to identity
was found with him. After the inquest the body was re-
moved In a coffin. sad Interred in Stull churchyard. The
jury return.d. • verdict la encordance with the above foots.
Cork Coma [ntie's.
ADMISSION OP ATEORNEYS.—Upwards of 100
persons have given notice of their intention to apply to be
admitted se attorneys in the ensuing term.