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

DREADFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT.

Accounts which have been 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, Cww-
avon, Glamorganshire, one of the extensive mines worked
in that neightesurbood by the Governor and Co. of Copper
Miners in England, and the immediate cause of the
calamity was an explosion, in the big ream of that mine,
of the explosive gas known as fire-damp. The part of
the works in which the explosion took place bad been
for some time known to be dangerous, and the proprie-
tors were at the time in the act of erecting two of
Straves'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 mea-
sure, such as cautions, the provision of an ample supply
of safetylanterns, &c., had been taken to guard against
accident. As al 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 all 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 piece there
were between 130 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-
tives 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 extert
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 works,
having arrived on the spot, means were taken for bring-
ing up the dead and wounded men, so that any meancl
which could be used, might be employed to lessen ag
extent of [the injury. Messengers were at once de-
spatched for Dr. Pritchard and Dr. Russell, and heti
these gentlemen at once proceeded to the mouth of the
pit. a.als were alto provided, and such appliances as it
was thought might lessen the pains of any sufferer, or
contribute towards their recovery. On the men being
brought out 7, 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. Two or
three others were brui,ed a good deal, but the majo-
rit y must have died of suffoeiiton, as the only marks of
injury visible upon them were some scorches, not of
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 deceased
men are David King, aged 25 ; Ilopkin Hill, aged 50;
David Thomas, aged 16 ; Walter Morgan, aged .26 ;
David Williams, aged 19 ; Hopkins Williams' aged 27 ;
John Lewis, aged 30 ; John Evans, aged 21 ; Jobn
George, aged 13 ; David Morgan, aged 19 ; Henry*
Griffiths, aged 35 ; and Thomas Thomas, aged 45. Many'
of the pour fellows were married, and have left widows
'and children to lament their untimely end. Since the
explosion the mine has been examined by several scien-
tific and practical persons, and it has been found that
the shock must have been very great. The sides of the
mine were injured, and a strong pit waggon, composed
of iron, was bent and battered up as if it had been a bit
of paper. The accident, as may be supposed, has cast si
g'oom over the neighbourhood in which it occurred, rod
in which calamities of this kind are of rare occurrence.

GENERAL Oh'DER ADDRESS -D TO TB

CIiIMEAN ARMY.

Head-quarters, Sebastopol, May 15, 1856.
Peace being now definitely arranged, the Clommauder
of the Forces has the satitfaction of publishing an extract
of a despatch from the Secretary of State for War, i°
which refereace is made to the services of this army
" I may avail myself of so fitting an opportunity as the
moment when her Majesty's troops, urder your con3ci
mand, are about to quit the scene of their enduram and
triumphs to place on rec.ird the feelings entertains d to'
wards them by her Majesty, the Government, and. he;
people. Since the period when the army first qui!ttea
the sl'ores of England there is no vicissitude of we
which it has nut been called upon to encounter. Sla,)rtif
after its arrival in Turkey, and while doubtful as to the
manner iu which it was to be brought in contact vrithi
the enemy, it had to sustain the terrible att.ack °
cholera, which prematurely closed the career of m a
gallant and eager spirit. ✓ On this occasion, the 11031
proved that moral, as well as physical, courage pery adc
its ranks. Led to the field, it has triumphed in eng
mints in which heavy odds were on the enemy's side,; ra
has carried on, under difficulties almost incredibl.
j.
siege of unprecedented duration, in the course of w! sick
the trying duties of the trenches, privations from str
tined supplies, the fearful diminution of its numbers by
disease, neither shook its courage nor impaired its ells.
cipline. Notwithstanding that many a gallant cornraile
fell in their ranks, and they were called to mourns comrade
beloved commander who led them from England, an
who closed in the field his noble career as a soldier,
her Majesty's troops never flinched from their dutiebi
or disappointed the sanguine expectations of they
country. The zealous manner in which the army pre4
pared to take the field, had the war been prolos.`geal
its eagerness for active operations, and its fitness to
meet any emergency, are known to all. These coVe
bined events and circumstances have thus afforded
the Queen, the Government, and the country, the
portunity of witnessing the conduct of the army under
every aspect, and the feeling is universal that it 100
worthily maintained its own high character and tho
honour of the British army, and you may be per.'
fectly assured that on its return home it wilt be we
corned with the fullest approbation of its Sovereign,-
and with every demonstration of admiration by the'
country at large. I add with pleasure that the set
vices of the valions departments attached to the arm}'
are of a character to entitle them to the fullest credit,.
The zeal and energy of the medical, commissariat, and
clerical departments have contributed to bring the arref
nto its present most effective condition.
(Signed)
By order.
(Signed) C. A. WINDIIAM, Chief of the Staff.

PANDLIIIa.