The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-23 00:00:00

MONDAY

J U NE 23:

passed in suspense, but at length the men returned,
having been unable to accomplish their undertaking.
They stated that the air was so foul it was impossible foe
them to awry lights, although they were enabled to
crawl through it, n:::1 men might live in it for ten or
twelve hours. North said ha was sadly afraid that all
the men and boys were dead, fur he had managed to
crawl to the mouth of the tip, where he had hallooed as
loud as ho poi,sibly could, and bad also hammered on a
piece of rock tor ten minutes, without receiving any
answer. It was possible, however, that the air in the
bottom vein might be purer than above, and that the
men might still hi imprisoned alive there. They all
concurred in stating that the condition of the
wall was so exceedingly dangerous that they
durst not risk their lives again till it had been in some
measure repaired. At the same time they said they were
willing to do anything they could fur the rescue ut their
couarad -s, and another attempt was made by them, but
they were compelled to return almost immediately.
It was now determined that the only chance lay in the
vete k ut reparation being proc, oiled with as quickly as
possible. A large air shaft of canvas was passed into
the pit, and messengi re were dispatched to borrow
several hundred yards ut hose trout the insurance offices
at Bristol, through which air could be pumped into the
vein so as to give the imprisoned men a chance of sur-
viving till a cdnomuideatiou could be opened with them.
Several hours wero thus employed, and at a quarter
before eleven o'clock this (Saturday) morning toe men
were communicated with, and to the joy and astonish-
ment of toe crowds of spectators, they were reported to
be all alive. Tee pleasing intelligence was speedily con-
veyed to their relatives and redoubled efforts were made
to get to.thein, but it was not till nearly seven o'clock
this evening that any of them were brought to the
surface. The three first brought up were James
Peddar, James Weller, sen., and Joseph Britton, and
as rapidly as possible all the rest were extricated. Many
of them were quite exhausted, and it was evident that
a few more hours would have produced the most fatal
and lamentable consequences. The poor fellows stated
that on Friday night they had abandoned all hope, and
had betaken themselves to prayer. The air at times
was so bad that it was with the utmost difficulty they
could breathe, and but for the falls of earth, which
brought some air with them, they could not have en-
dured it so lung. A good deal of credit is due to a man
named Francis Smith, who, after the descent was consi-
dered too dangerous to attempt, consented to risk his life,
and did not desist from the work till he had succeeded in
landing 28 of the men. The other men most pro-
minent in their exertions were named Davies, Bolt, Wat-
son, Bateen, Joy, Marston, and Page. Mr. :Smart, sur-
geon, was in attendance with galvanic apparaps to
render his services if required. The meeting of the
poor fellows with their wives and families was truly af-
fecting, and a hymn of thanksgiving for their providen-
tial deliverance was sung. It is owing to a communica-
tion shaft being sunk from the top seam to the great
seam, at a distance of thirty yards from the main shaft.
that their miraculous preservation is to be attributed, the
outlet from the great seam being blocked up by the rub-
bish fallen from the sides of the main shaft.