The Express.
London, England, 1868-11-30 00:00:00

SIXTY-ONE DEATHS.

WIGAN, tlaysaAtl

When our pared was despatched yesterdsi. y the
party of explorers who were again examining the mine in
the hope of discovering the bodies of the men who were
still miming had sot retorted to report the result of their
labours. In the course of tho afternoon they came back
to the surface, and stated that they had dimovered the
body of John Boleroft, who had been badly burned in the
dip workings. The body was kept at the foot of the shaft
all day, and about 9 o'clock, when brought above ground,
it was at once placed in • wain and carried to
the smithy. Rolcrofee remains were terribly muti-
lated ; he had been engaged "boleing" at the
time of the explosion, and he had apparently been
struck by the full force of the blast. The only body then
believed to be in the pit was that of Richard Beesley, who
was thought to have been buried beneath • fall of roof,
and about half-past 1 to-day he was found, in the manner
expected, about 400 yards from the pit eye. A coffin was
sent down, and in an hour the corpse was sent up and
placed with the others in the smithy. This makes the
total number of dead bodies brought out of the pit 69,
and to this lie we have to add the names of two pawns
who hate died from the fearful burns they received.
Thew are the lad Ilighton, whose condition was
so serious on Thursday night that he was re-
ported deed, and who lingered only till yea-
terday evening ; and another youth named Samuel
Rostern, 12 years of age, residing in Rotten-row,
Ilindley. Thus the total number who have up to
the present time lost their lives by the explosion is sixty,-
one, and there still remains several dangerous came under
the treatment of Mr. Brayton, the surgeon,and his as-
sistants. The principal of these are :—JohnTyldesley, of
Stackyfold, who is very badly burned ; John Gerrard, of
Chapel-lane, }Hadley, seriously burnt, but doing well ;
Thomas Ingram, Sandy-lane ; Thomas Sergeant, Rol-
lins; and James Hayes, School-row • all three severely
injured, but will probably recover ; lames Reyes Hind-
ley-green • John Thisley,Staehyfold ; and Thomas Win-
nett, Stackyfold. None of these men can give any satis-
factory account of their escape. They appear to have
been " dared," and to have had the good luck to struggle
into safety.
Asa good deal has been written on the effect which the
state of the atmosphere, as indicated by the barometer,
has in in the tendon to explosions in collieries, it
may be stated that • barome is kept at this colliery and
read daily, and the quantity of air passing through the
mine is also stated. The average number- of men working
during the previous fortnight was between 260 and 270,
and for this number there was an abundant supply of air.
On the day previous to the explosion the workings were
examined by five different firemen, and reported to be in
good order, and the information sent to the manager was
that 64,430 cubic feet of air per minute were paining
through the pit. The reading of the barometer at that
time was 30 6-10. On the following day, the
morning of the explosion, the reading was 30 6-10,
and this bad been entered in the book kept for the pur-
pose. The several firemen had reported the workings safe,
and the underlooker had made his entry in •
small memorandum-book ni which he wrote the state-
ments made to him before laying them officially before the
manager.
A jury of about 20 persons was called togrther this
morning by Inspector Dickinson, and they viewed the
todi,e. The letter of instructions from the coroner stated
that after this had been done the bodies might be removed,
and he would formally open the inquiry on Monday
morning, at half-past eleven o'clock, and take such evi-
(truce as would justify him in issuing certificates of burial.
As soon as this became known amongst the friends of the
deceased much dissatisfaction was expressed ice conse-
quence of arrangement' having been made in many cases
for the internment of the bodies to-morrow. Several per-
sons offered to go to Southport and see the coroner (Mr.
Driffield) at their own expense, and eventually it was
decided that Sergeant Senvens should lay the circum-
stances of the case before him. The messenger went ac-
cordingly, and the reply he brought was that it appeared
impossible to alter the arnuicements. The news
spread rapidly throughout the village, and the relatives and
friends of the deceased entreated the inspector of police
and the manager of the colliery to make another attempt
to secure the early attendance of the coroner, who was
stated to be at Fresco., where his brother, the deputy
coroner. had died very suddenly. It was ultimately de-
termined to send a second message to the coroner, and
Sergeant &livens and one of the officials of the colliery
have proceeded thither. They are not expected lack
before midnight.
A hearse, a Shillibeer, and four or five cabs have been
engaged all the afternoon in removing the bodies to the
desolate bowie in the neighbourhood.
WIGAN, Sorrosv NlOlll%
Much excitement prevails in Hindley, as the bodies are
decomposing, and cannot be interred till the coroner comes
to-morrow. Graves have been prepared in Medley
churchyard and Leigh cemetery. Some of the relatives
proclaimed their intention of burying the bodies them.
selves or placing them in the churchyard. Gentlemen of
influence and the churchwardens went round and per-
suaded the people not to take this step. There have boon
crowds at the pit all day.

TILE SMITUFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW.—The
official regulations prescribed by Orders in Council for the
forthcoming cattle show of the Smithfield Club, will no
doubt have a considerable influence in securing excellence,
as well as quantity, in the stock to be sent for exhibition.
In consequence of the entire cessation of the cattle plague,
a modification of the consolidated orders of 1867, with re-
ference to the licenses for removing cattle, has been pre-
scribed. In addition to a license this year having been
granted for the holding of a cattle show at Bingley-hall,
Birmingham, the power hes been vested in the Commissioners
of Police of the metropolis and City to permit cattle to enter
for the purpose of exhibition at the Smithfield Cattle Show,
also animals from other parts of the United Kingdom,
into and through any part of London. The effect of this
will be that as the Birmingham show takes place during
the ensuing week, and closes finally on Thursday, some
of the principal specimens in the cattle classes there ex-
hibited (liming previously had entries made for them, on
the speculation that some such relaxation of the orders of
the Privy Council would take place) will be brought to
Loudon for competition at the show of • the Smithfield
Club. Equal facilities are also to be afforded, under
proper restrictions, for the removal of cattle from the
show after their exhibition, under sanction of the
Privy Council, through a wee master, to which office
Mr. John Sibley, of Millhank-street, Westminster,
bus been appointed. Under the same order, and
as a precautionary measure, Professor Simonds, of the
Royal Veterinary College, and Professor Brown, of New
Cavendish-street, Portland-place, veterinary surgeons,
have been appointed as examiners of all stock on its arrival
during the exhibition, and at its departure from the show.
No animal is to be permitted to be exhibited that has been
within the limits of the metropolis fur more than seven
days prior to holding the exhibition. To-morrow (this
day) is the first day for the reception of implements,
and notwithstanding the high figure charged for space,
and the increased amount which the addition of exten-
sive bays to the galleries, produced by bringing their
frontages forward to the firrf row of pillars forming the
rests for the iron arches supporting the roof of the grand
area, affords, every inch is occupied. Nothing but speci-
mens of machinery and articles directly associated with
agriculture and agricultural produce are to be permitted
in the galleries, but it is stated that there will be found
many novelties in both these departments, and that the
stands of the seedamen and produce growers will exceed
anything of the kind previously exhibited. In the arcade
the stands are to be devoted to the implemeuts, &c. of a
household or domestic character, amongst which will be
found manufactories of bread, butter, cheese, sewing ma-
chines, washing and baking machines, sausage machines,
&c. The arrival of cattle mayeoinmence as early as Wed-
nesday next, but no stock of any description will be admit-
ted to the show yard after 10 o'clock on the night of Satur-
day next, the 6th prox., and on !today will cattle be admitted
after nine o'clock in the evening. The show will consist
this year of 61 classes—viz., 34 for cattle, 18 for sheep, and
9 for pip; and the amount of money prizes for cattle will
be 1,3061. • for sheep, 676/. ; and pigs, 1361. ; or in the
grant 2,0261. as money prizes ; and in silver cups and gold
and silver medals over 2001., making the aggregate amount
of prizes reach the munificent sum of 2,200/. The judges
will make their examination and awards on Monday, the
7th December, to which the members of the club and the
public press will be admitted ; and after two p.m., pro-
vided the judges have by that time finished their awards,
the aristocratic portion of the public will be admitted at a
charge of es. The show will open to the general public
on Tuesday morning, the Bth, at the charge of Is., and
will continue open daily till the following Friday, when it
will finally close.-06serrer.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL FOR WESTMIN-
Wmt.—A pastoral letter from Archbishop Manning was
read yesterday in the Roman catholic churches of London
respecting the proposed cathedral intended as a memorial
of Cardinal Wuieman. In the letter it was pointed out
that although a COMMeSIC6MSDt of the collection was made
soon after the cardinal's death, it was felt that the luxes.
cities of the diocese, especially with regard to the educa-
tion of poor children, were so great that all matters not
of urgency must be postponed for a time. Accordingly,
the effort to promoU education was first followed up.
The collection, however, for the cathedral was not
forgotten, but west an at home and abroad, and • con-
siderable was bed bass subscribed. A site in Carlisle.
piece, Weatranater, bed been secured, and a large
amount of the porthole-money paid over. Reef:eating
the church, the archbishop tone re stated that it meg be
the work of a very long time, but that be Loped seem to
commence, so as to make the baileys whisk eirght to be
about it subservient to the work ail the diem% Ors of
those buildings would be a boors for the residease of the
diocesan. These buildings world be exerated Mr.
Gilbert Blouo‘ and the drips for the were
entrusted to Mr. Quitter. Weis ability of endi of those
architects the Wm bore muted testrear . The
stated that the collection for the etrf be
allowed to interfere with the other works of the diocese.
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