The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-09 00:00:00

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Lawton, the bottom steward, also went down,
and was obligee. to be left by the party he went
with, having evidently penetrated too far into the
workings and been overcome by the sulphur.
Shortly after two o'clock it was announced that
nothing more could be clone until bratticing was
fixed aul the air-c(,nrtic was cleared.
The number of men in the pit is vai,:z.-usly esti-
mated, the lowest being that considerably more
than 100 remain to be recovered, and in wnat Otate
it is easy to imagine.

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Yesterday, shortly before 11 o'clo*::titi4oloii'"ti
of fire damp took phioe at the EdmtindlalaiilCo%l"—'
liery, which it is to be feared will be attended with
a very serious loss of life. Indeed, since the terrible
catastrophe at Lund hill in 1857, nahing apparently
so calamitous has occurred in this district. The col-
liery,
which is about 180 yards deep, and in which
the Barnsley bed of coal has been principally
worked, has been hitherto nearly free from accidents
involving the loss of life, the proprietors, Messrs.-
-Bartholomew, Tyas, Mitchell, and Co., having
adopted every means for the safety of the men.
At. the time stated the men in in the pit, numbering
close upon 300, were startled by an explosion of fire
damp whichcaused those near the pit bottom to at
once make that spot for safety; those in the ad-
vanced levels, some 1,400 or 1,600 yards distant,
were unable to reach it in
consequence of the gas.
The men at the top were soon made acquainted
with the stlte of affairs by the qTintity of coal end
rubbish thrown up out of the cupola by
the explo-
sion. Assistance was promptly obtaLled, and as
the neweteached the other collieries in the neigh-
bout hood the men at once ceased working and
rushed to the scene of the catastrophe. Plenty
volunteered to descend and rescue, if possible, the
men below. In this they were so far successful
that in a short time some 40 or 50 were brought to
the pit mouth, about 20 of whom were burnt
severely ; one man, Davy, dying on reaching his
home; another poor fellow, nearly 60 years of age,
named Pickery, was dreadfully burnt, and in his
agony called out for help, praying fervently that
God would give him strength to again see his poor
family. Mr. Walton, of Darley Main, was amongst
those. who first went down, and was brought up all
but insensible. He informed our reporter that he
heard the men near where he was devoutly praying.
.

An investigation made by several mining engi-
neers showed that there was no hope of res Cuing the
men, of whom there are supposed to be ai least
from 40 to 50 in the pit. Preparations were then
made to let the water from the canal flow
into the pit, so as to extinguish the flames.
Amongst the victims are Mr. Lawton, the steward,
and his son, and Mr. Hoyland, of Parley Main, a
volunteer, who was ever foremost in endeavouring
to rescue the lives of those endangered by similar
catastrophes in .the district.