The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-31 00:00:00

DREADFUL COELIPRY ACPIDPVT.

Accounts which haveibeen received at Bristol give par-
ticulars of one of the most terrible and destructive colliery
accidents that have occurred for many years. The sacri-
fice of human life by it has been fearful, no less than 12
poor fellows having been suddenly hurried into eternity.
The place where it occurred was at Yusdavid pit, C
:won, Glarnorganshire, one of the extensive mines worked
in that neighbourhood by the Governor and Co. of Copper
Miners in England, and the immediate cause of the
oalarnity was an explosion, in the big seam of that mine,
of the explosive gas known as fire-damp. The part of
the works in which the explosion took place had been
for some time known to be dangerous, and the proprie-
tors were at the time in the act of erecting two of
Stra,ves's patent mine ventilators, so as to improve the
ventilation and free the mine as far as possible of the
offensive vapour. In the meantime every proper Inee'
sure, such as cautions, the provision of an ample supPlY
of safety lanterns, &e., had been taken to guard against
accident. As all the men who could have given infor-
mation on the subject have been killed, the immediate
cause of the explosion can only be matter of conjecture;
but in ail probability it arose from a disobedience of the
order never under any circumstances to use a naked light'
At the time when the explosion took place there
were between 60 and 70 persons at work in the mine;
and the dreadful state of consternation which prevailed
above ground when it became known that the explosion
had taken place, will readily be conceived. Such rela'
lives of the miners as lived within reach, hastened to
the mouth of the shaft, where they gave vent to the
most agonised cries and lamentations. The noise of the
explosion was heard by the men engaged above ground,
who lost no time in descending to ascertain the extol
of the accident. It was soon found that a very violent
explosion had occurred, and Mr. Thomas, the manager
of the colliery, and Mr. Gilbertson, master of the work"
having arrived on the spot, means were taken for bring-
ing up the dead and wounded men, so that any ineans
which could be used, might be employed to lessen tlie
extent of the injury. Messengers were at once de'
snatched for Dr. Pritchard and Dr. Russell, and both
these gentlemen at once proceeded to the mouth of tit.e..
pit. Beds were also provided, and such appliances as it
was thought might lessen the pains of any sufferer,. er
contribute towards their recovery. On the men bell
brought out, it was found that eight of them were dead'
and the four others were so far gone,that little or no hopes
were entertained of their recovery. One poor fellow had
his head and his right arm torn from his body, which
presented a shocking spectacle of mutilation. Teyner
three others were bruised a good deal, but the uo.,P;
rit y must have died of suffocation, as the only marks °I
injury visible upon them were some scorches, not °f
sufficient consequence to have produced death. The four
poor fellows who were got out alive never rallied, but,
died at different intervals. The names of the decease':
men are David King, aged 25 ; Hopkin Hill, aged 50
David Thomas, aged 16 ; Walter Morgan, aged
David Williams, aged 19 ; Hopkins Williams, aged ,7'
John Lewis, aged 30 ; John Evans, aged 21 ; Jobn,,
George, aged 13 ; David Morgan, aged 19 ; Hen%
Griffiths, aged 35 ; and Thomas Thomas, aged 45. I%l°J
of the poor fellows were married, and have left widows
and children to lament their untimely end. Since
.the
explosion the mine has been examined by several scieh;
tific and practical persons, and it has been found the
the shock must have been very great. The sides of thed
mine were injured, and a strong pit waggon, cornrs;t
of iron, was bent and battered up as if it had been a hero
of paper. The accident, as may be supposed, has cast a
gloom over the neighbourhood in which it occurred, an
n which calamities of this kind are of rare occurrence'

GENERAL ORDER ADDRESSED TO TO

CRIMEAN ARMY.

Head-quarters, Sebastopol, May 15, 1856'
Peace being now definitely arranged, the Comeesuciel;
of the Forces has the satitfaction of publishing an e%trsFo
of a despatch from the Secretary of State for War,
which reference is made to the services of this arm). :be
"I may avail myself of so fitting an opportunity as tni,
moment when her Majesty's troops, under your 0-a
mand, are about to quit the scene of their enduranco sl3O,
triumphs, to place on recird the feelings entertained ,t t
wards them by her Majesty, the Government, gbd.,l„l,,ed
people. Since the period when the army first clul"-ar
the shores of England there is no vicissitude of scis,
which it has nut been called upon to encounter. Sh°rti,'s
after its arrival in Turkey, and while doubtful as to the
manner in which it was to be brought in contact Wiof
the enemy, it had to sustain the terrible attaes: a
cholera, which prematurely closed the career of rasqty
gallant and eager spirit. On this occasion, the Arra
proved that moral, as well as physical, courage pervade
its ranks. Led to the field, it has triumphed in eogsic
ments in which heavy odds were on the enemy's side $
has carried on, under difficulties almost incredible,, b
siege of unprecedented duration, in the course of wl'ift,
the trying duties of the trenches, privations from stir by
ened supplies, the fearful diminution of its numbers ,
disease, neither shook its courage nor impaired its tilde
cipline. Notwithstanding that many a gallant corarsba
fell in their ranks, and they were called to mourn t
beloved commander who led them from England, 131°,.
who closed in .the field his noble career as a solal%
her Majesty's troops never flinched from their dude(
or or disappointed the sanguine expectations of the
country. The zealous manner in which the army Pre;
pared to take the field, had the war been prolongs,a°
its eagerness for active operations, and its fitness ;
meet any emergency, ate known to all. These c°T.,,
bined events and circumstances have thus afforded w
the Queen, the Government, and the country, the
portunity of witnessing the conduct of the army up ;$
every aspect, and the feeling is universal that it b' a
th
worthily maintained its own high character and
honour of the British army, and you may be P",,i,
fectly assured that on its return home it will be ‘.ll
corned with the fullest approbation of its Soverec
and with every demonstration of admiration by t,,r.
country at large. I add with pleasure that the se
vices of the various departments attached to the
are of a character to entitle them to the fullest ere.' j
The zeal and energy of the medical, commissariat, 35y
clerical departments have contributed to bring the 0113
into its present most effective condition.
(Signed)
By order.
(Signed) C. A. WINDHAM, Chief of the Staff'

PANMVI/5.