The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-03 00:00:00

A COALPIT ON FIRE.

For some weeks past our town has been suffering
from an unusual amount of sickness, in consequence
of which many persons have been obliged to with-
draw from their daily occupations, and much suf-
fering and distress have prevailed; and now we
have to record another calamity, the firing of the
Wellington Pit Colliery, by which 700 hands have
been thrown out of employment until work can be
found for them elsewhere, or the water which has
been let into this pit can be pumped out and opera-
tions resumed. It seems that the pit was first dis-
covered to be on fire a week ago; and the alarm
having been instantly communicated to Mr. Bourne,
the Earl of Lonsdale's representative at the Colliery
Office, that gentleman forthwith repaired to the
spot, and took prompt measures for staying the pro-
gress of the disaster. This was a work of exueme
difficulty and danger ; but, through Mr. Bourne's
constant personal supervision and direction, aided by
the assistance of his deputy, Mr. Mulcaster, and of
all the officers and men employed at the works, it
was thought that on Thursday the fire had been
subdued, In the afternoon of that day, however, a
quantity of gas unfortunately escaped, and igniting
some timber, gave a fresh impetus to the combustion
of the coal, which afterwards so far increased as to
render it necessary to drown the pit. On Saturday
it was found that all ordinary means were insuffi-
cient to get the fire under. The whole of the horses
down the pit were therefore taken out, preparatory
to closing the shaft, which we understand was re-
solved upon, and we believe a portion of the lower
workings in which the fire is situated will be walled
off from the dip workings, and then inundated with
water by pumping it in ,and also probably by a syphon
from the sea. These are extreme measures to take,
but we trust they will prove effective, and shortly
enable the noble proprietor to again
get this fine
coal mine into working order. The fire is said to
have originated in a flue which leads from the sta-
tionary engine at the pit bottom, and in which the
soot had accumulated. How long the soot in this
flue may have smouldered is not known, but event_
tually the fire seized upon the coal, and since Mon-
day last continued to spread, despite the efforts of
Mr. Bourne and his staff, aided by the great expe-
rience of the eminent colliery engineer, Mr. Foster,
of Newcastle, who was telegraphed for on the mat-
ter assuming so serious a shape. We regret to say
that up to the time of our going to press this disas-
trous fire continues to spread, but it is hoped from
the measures adopted that lts ravages will be confined
to a limited area. A syphon pipe is now laid down
from the pit, past Tom Hurd Rock, to the sea at
low-mater mark, while water is drawn from the
Scalegill pond, from near James' pit, and also
pumped from the sea, near the Bath Houses. As
stated above the whole of the horses,
epwarda of
,
sixty in number, were taken out of the mine. The
closing of this colliery is causing vessels in
great
numbers to leave this port for Workington and
Maryport. eight or ten vessels haying cleared out
Craft pit was
for these ports yesterday. As the
closed soma few months back, the who.e enpply has
now to come from the William and Countess pits ;
effort willb Made, to
but
iwueee,
thotlhveeve, feelsure every
demand,
not only forconsumption,
for shipment also from these pits.—Cumbeeland
Pacquet.

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