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

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 for
them to carry lights, although they were enabled to
crawl through it, and men might live in it for ten or
twelve hours. North said he was sadly afraid that all
the men and boys were dead, for he bad managed to
crawl to the mouth of the tip, where he had hallooed us
loud as he po,sibly could, and had also hammered on a
piece of rock fur ten minutes, without receiving any
answer. It was possible, however, that the air to the
bottom vein might be purer than above, and that the
men might still be 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 for the rescue of their
comrades, 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
work of reparation being proceeded with as quickly as
possible. A large air shaft of canvas was passed into
the pit, and messengers were dispatched to borrow
several hundred yards of hose from 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 communication could be opened with them.
Several hours were thus employed, and at a quarter
before eleven o'clock this (Saturday) morning the men
were communicated with, and to the joy and astonish-
ment of the crowds of spectators, they were reported to
be all alive. The pleasing intelligence was speedily con-
veyed to their relatives and redoubled efforts were made
to get to:them, 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 long. A good deal of credit is due to a man
named Francis Smith, whoolter the descent was c,nsi-
dered too dang,rous to attempt, consented to risk his life,
and did not desist from the work till he bad succeeded in
landing 28 of the men. Tee other men most pro.
minent in their exertions were named Davies, Bolt, Wat-
son, Bateen, Joy, Marston, and Page. Mr. Smart, sur-
geon, was iu attendance with gatvsnie apparatus 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. Is 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.