The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-15 00:00:00

WESTERN BANK OF SCOTLAND.

A statutory meeting of the shareholders in the
Western Bank of Scotland was held on Wednesday,
in the Merchants' Hall, Glasgow.
Bailie BLACK-ADDER took the chair. He said
the meeting had been called for the purpose of
confirming the resolution passed at the general
meeting held on the 24th of August last, which had
for its object the empowering the liquidators to
make compromises with those creditors who could
not pay the full sums due on the calls made on
them. No doubt many individuals would be glad
to pay their calls, but they might not be able to do
so ; and unless the liquidators had power to effect
such compromises a great deal would be lost to
the company. By giving the liquidators power to
make compromises and give discharges in a quiet
way, without coming before a public meeting many
persons not able to pay up in full would, either of
themselves, or with the assistance of friends, come
forward and pay up as much as they.could. The
shareholders would easily see how important it
was, therefore, to the interests of the concern that
the resolution of the 24th of August should be con-
firmed. He concluded by moving that the meeting
confirm the resolution referred to.
Mr. ADAM seconded the motion ; which was
opposed by
Captain MACONOCHIE, who protested against
being held responsible as a partner in the Western
Bank. That resolution was passed at a season
when most of those were out of town who would
have opposed it. The meeting alluded to was
called in Glasgow at the instance of the friends of
the directors, in order to work upon the national
feeling. They were told that they should uphold
Glasgow trade and the Scotch banking system,
and men of integrity and influence were induced to
attend the meeting and delude the shareholders of
the Western Bank. There was one party, how-
ever, who stood in a different position, Mr.
Buchanan. He then proceeded to call attention to
the act of Parliament by which the liquidators are
entitled to act, and also to the amended act under
which they wished to be empowered. He was at a loss
to see how the public prosecutor had abstained from
investigating the general management of the bank.
The public prosecutor, with the fact 13efore him of the
Edinburgh banks refusing their support, and the
evidence before the Sheriff Courts, showing that
the directors had a knowledge of the bank's affairs,
and also with the evidence of Mr. Fleming before
him, was bound to look to the matter. They were
told of the advantages to be derived from those
four gentlemen being enabled to make compro-
mises with closed doors, but he feared it was not
the small shareholders that would be benefited by
that arrangement, but the large shareholder. It
was not great shareholders that he was represent-
ing, but the mass present.
After some discussion,
Captain WELLWOOD moved an amendment to
the effect that the liquidation should go on as per-
mitted by the old act; that, in fact, they should de-
cline to confirm the resolution adopted at the last
meeting.
After a few words from a member of the Edin-
burgh Committee, relative to Captain Wellwood's
having quoted the opinion of counsel as to the re-
sponsibility of the liquidators, about ten or a dozen
hands were held "up for the amendment, and the
motion was carried.

Mr. BANNATYNE, law agent, said that it was not
competent for them at this meeting to make any
alteration Upon the resolution.
In answer to a question from another shareholder
it was explained that the committee held powers to
consult and act with the liquidators, and that there
was no necessity for giving them further powers,
as every document in the possession of the liqui-
dators was open for the inspection of any share-
holder who applied to see it.
The Rev. Mr. NEILSON, of Rothesay, alluded to
the extensive power which this vote gave to the
liquidators. The call now made, if paid up fully,
would amount to more than £3,000,000 of money.

The shareholders then resolved themselves into a
special meeting, Mr. Blackadder retaining the
chair, at the request of the meeting.
Mr. SANDFORD, of Edinburgh, said that they
would proceed to take up the following resolution
which had been come to, and copies of which had
been circulated among the shareholders :
" Having heard read the following resolution,

nanimousfy passed by the general committee of
shareholders at a meeting held at Glasgow on the
4th October current, viz. That, taking into con-
sideration the lamentable condition of the affairs of
the Western Bank now disclosed, the committee of
shareholders are of opinion that the united share-
holders have a just claim upon the deputy-governor
and directors for reimbursement of the calls made,
and to be made, as well as for the loss of the shares ;
and that this resolution shall be forthwith com-
municated by the secretary of the bank to the
directors in the management at the period when
they declared a dividend of nine per cent. on the
stock in the month of June, 1857,'—this meeting
unanimously approves of the said resolution, and
authorises and empowers the said committee to take
such measures as to them shall seem fit for investi-
gating the claim for repetition of calls and loss of
capital, either independently or along with the
liquidators of the bank ; and for this purpose to
employ agents and counsel to advise with the com-
mittee, and to report to a future meeting the pro-
ceedings which may be necessary to enforce said
claim." He proposed to follow up this resolution
by moving that the meeting now unanimously
approve of the same, and at the same time that in-
structions be given thht it be communicated to the
liquidators, accompanied by a request to proceed
with all despatch in obtaining an opinion of coun-
sel on behalf of the whole body of the shareholders
as to taking steps against the directors, and there-
after to take measures to render the claims of the
shareholders sufficient. (Applause.) It was necessary
for them to set the machinery in motion by which they
hoped to be relieved eventually in some part of their
distress. (Hear.) He happened to be one of an asso-
ciation which had been formed in Edinburgh, for the
purpose of investigating into the affairs of the bank,
and for some months they had been engaged in
making inquiries. The investigation disclosed a
system of gigantic falsehood he believed unparalleled
in the history or banking, or indeed of any com-
mercial business whatever. From the year 1853 it
had now been proved that the bank had lost more
than a fourth of its whole capital, besides its whole
rest and reserve fund. From 1853 downwards the
event had been going on increasing, till, as they
knew, the year 1856, and especially 1857, when
not only had the whole capital been lost, but it was
involved in debt amounting to a million and a half
of money. He mentioned these things without
any vindictive feeling, for he had no desire to see
the directors brought befOrc the bar of a criminal
court. Neither would he press hardly against
them for civil liability, if he thought their errors
had simply been errors of judgment. At the same
time, when heithought of the many parties who by
this unfortunate concern had been brought to the
brink of ruin ; how desolation had been carried
into many happy homes ; of the extreme poverty
of those who had previously been able to afford
every comfort, and how that many a grey hair
would be brought in sorrow to the grave—(cheers)
—he could not doubt but that the law and justice
of this land would afford a remedy. (Cheers.) From
1853 downwards he found from the published
balance-sheets that bad debts, and debts due by
discharged bankrupts on which composition has
been paid, were set down as assets, together
with interest said to be due on the same. He had

;axes.

found dividends paid out of capital for the last six TILE FIRE IN THE PAGE BANK PITI
years.
Mr. BLACKBURN seconded Mr. Sandford's motion,
which was carried unanimously.
Captain W. WELLWOOD then moved, " That
this meeting sanction the appointment of a law
committee in Edinburgh to assist the liquidators:l.
The motion was agreed to ; and after some fur-
ther discussion, in which Mr. Fleming and others
took part, the meeting broke up.

WILLINGTON, NEAR DURHAM,
WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
THE INQUEST.
After our despatch left to-day the following ad-
ditional evidence was called :
David Jlolam, one of the deputy overmen, corro-
borated 4.,;he overman Mould's evidence as to the pit
being in a good condition when they went down it
at 2 q'elock on Thursday morning. He said that he
met the men and examined their lamps, and set
them to work. Was coming out of the north head-
way going towards the west drift about 9 o'clock,
when a driver lad shouted that witness had to get
the men " out-bye," as the furnace-shaft was on
fire. He went all round to tell them. As he was
going out he met some of them coming back again.
They said that' they could not get to the shaft for
the " reek," or smoke, which was coming " in-bye."
They all then went to the furnace. There were
some men already there. There was no reek at the
furnce. Saw Smoke coming down from the shaft
and through the separation doors. He and Thomas
Hornsby, Geo. Pattison, and Geo. Wilson agreed to
put the furnace fire out. About 1 o'clock, about an
hour after, they put the furnace fire out. Something
fell down the shaft and threw the air back upon
them. Robson shouted "We have only quarter of an
hour to live," and began to pray. They then went
out of the workings about 50 yards from the fur-
nace. The lamps went out about 9or 10 o'clock
on Thursday night. After the lamps went out the
men wandered about. He (witness) slept a long
time on Friday. He heard some of the men walk-
ing about the pit on Friday. He was the last to
come out. Heard some of the water and some of
the burnt brattice fall. Could see the sparks fall
from time to time. Heard no explosion, or report
of one. If there had been one he should have heard.
About 3 o'clock on Thursday afternoon he and the
waggon wayman went to the shaft, and shouted up
but the smoke drove them away. Robson prayed
with the boys, as they were afraid. The ventilation
was not only good but stronger in the mine, from
the fire burning in the shaft and the water that
was coming down. He believed most of the men
died from fear. He begged the men to stay about
the furnace, where the air was good. He had no
idea how the fire occurred in the brattice. He had
wrought in the colliery since it started, and there
had been no accident before. The men never com-
plained about not having two shafts.
Thomas Brown, brealooman -at the pit, was then
called. He said he went in the pit on Thursday
morning the 30th of September; and relieved James
Watson, "set away" to draw coals. Two boys
were drawn out before Kellet came. He came be-
tween 8 and 9. After Kellet went down three
tubs were drawn. There was then a rap for men
"to ride," and a second rap to " draw away." As
he was drawing the men up he heard something
fall, but could not tell whether it was in the shaft
or not. After he heard the rattle he observed smoke
coming from the mouth of the pit. Thought he
saw it iu the " cap-head " side first. It came into
the engine-house. Could not see Mould when he
drew him up for the smoke. Heard him shout to
" fetch her up,"and he brought him to bank. When
Kellet came to go down in the morning witness ob-
served no fire or smoke. Up to the time that Kel-
let came saw nothing wrong at the pit's mouth.
If there had been any fire he must have seen it.
The men went down sometimes with Davy lamps,
but most often they went in the dark. If
there been any fire in the pit when Kellet went
down witness must have seen it. A great quan-
tity of smoke came up " all of a sudden.'
Thos. Bird, enginewright at the colliery, was at
the pit about half-past 10 o'clock on Thursday. His
duty was to look after all the ropes and machinery
connected with the shaft and the colliery generally.
He examined the shaft every night. He was busy
at the bottom of the shaft nearly all day on the
Saturday before the accident. He was changing
the " low set clack" with two men named Waller
and Robson. On Sunday he and Waller were en-
gaged tightening the inside of the low set clack
door. In examining the shaft they used large
" Davys," which were provided for them. 'Were
prevented using a naked light except at the bottom.
No smoking was allowed. While working at the
low set clack on Saturday they used a lighted
torch. It was at the bottom of the engine upcast
shaft. The torch is a large tin vessel containing
oil and having a long spout an inch and a half in
diameter, and burnt with a cotton wick. When it
was burnt down the top was shaken off, and the
sparks flew off, but he did not see it done that day.
On going down on the Sunday they passed through ,
a "shdingdoor in the brattice, 3 feet high and 18
inches wide, into the other shaft to get to the low
set clack. Was down on the Monday. Was look-
ing into the delivery end of the syphon into the
sump. Got a small oil lamp at the bottom of the
shaft for the purpose. Was at the pit every day
after the Monday, but was not in the shaft after
that day. He was very poorly and could not go
down. Was at the pit on the Thursday at the time
the accident occurred. He was standing at the
shop door, when he heard a rush and saw the
smoke coming out of both shafts. About a quarter
of an hour after he saw smoke he observed flames
coming up the downcast shaft. Were allowed to
use torches at the low clack door. The onsetter
has his lamp burning there constantly to light the
Davy lamps. Never set anything on fire by those
torches.
By Mr. Atkinson—lt was a common thing to
use torches in engine pits wherever he had wrought.
The reason why they did not use candles in the
back pit was because it was so wet the light could
not be kept in. When the sliding door at the low
clack is open there is a steady draught of air.
John Mackay, sinker at the Page Bank Pit, went
down the shaft about half-past 9on Friday. Went
to examine the pit to see if it were in a fit state to
bring the men up. Found the brattice was nearly
all burnt above the staple drift. The fire was burn-
ing at that time three fathoms below the staple
drift, but mostly on the back side of the engine pit.
There had been no body of fire below that, and
from there to the bottom of the pit the brattice was
quite perfect. The fire had been strongest just
above where a "blower" of gas lids burning. Could
not tell what had caused the "blower" to ignite.
From the " blower" to the low back door there was
about 18 or 19 fathoms. There was no appearance
of burnt brattice opposite to the furnace drift end.
Mr. Armstrong, viewer at Wingate Colliery, said
that he was sent for on the morning of the acci-
dent. When he arrived he examined the working
pit and found a very considerable discharge of
smoke from it. From the colour of the smoke and
the smell of it he was satisfied that it was from
wood and not from coal. He was then sure that

had not arisen
_from an explosion, but

in the shaft. He then examined the chimney and
the smoke from it, and from the traces of coal
smoke in it he came to the conclusion that some of
the small seams of coal were on fire. He knew the
colliery well. He was check viewer to it. Mr. At-
kinson, Government inspector, and Mr. Johnson
and himself, had a conversation as to what was best
to be done, an d they decided to check the fire in the
staple by putting in a stopping to the chimney end
of the drift, to give a current to the smoke to pre-
vent it going into the pit again. There were but two
modeslin which the fire could be accounted for; one
was that it had been cansed by a spark from the
torch used by Thomas Bird on the Saturday morn-
ing, and he must say those sparks were very com-
mon, for he had often observed them himself. They
had a fire at Wingate Grange of considerable mag-
nitude four or five years ago, which they traced to
a torch. The fire took place four or five hours after
the torch had been used. It was possible that a
spark from Bird's lamp had been carried through
the door by the strong current of air into the up-
cast shaft, when it might lodge in some recess in
the plank tub, and smoulder and burn there until
it burnt through the tub, and it would then com-

municate with the gas behind the tub to some
extent, and the explosion of that gas was in all
likelihood the cause of that rush spoken to by Bird.
The second theory or conjecture was that it was
quite possible that a spark from the furnace might
be carried with the upcast air up the other com
partments of the shafts, and might produce the

same consequences. Torches were very common,
and he thought very dangerous. He had discarded
them altogether, and only allowed them in extreme

The Coroner--Do you think if a spark had flown
from the torch on Saturday, that the fire would not
have broken out until Thursday ?
Witness thought it very probable, The tubbing
was wet, and there was no one to examine it, as
Bird was unwell. The back shafts were not exa-

mined every day.
Coroner—Don't you think brattice shafts dan-
gerous ?
Witness—lt would be better without them, but
in my experience I don't remember a single in-
stanee where life has been lost by these shaftq.
By Mr. Atkinson—Was down Page Bank Pit in
August last, and found the ventilation very good.
Noticed the furnace when he was down. It was a

very good one. Long before this occurrence we had
intended to sink a second shaft, but there was con-

siderable difficulty to be overcome before it could be
done, and as soon as these important difficulties

were overcome a second shaft should be made. He

thought it would be practicable to adopt incom-
bustible material for a bmttice. He would suggest
either iron or metal.' He did not think a "blower"

had to do with the accident until the tubbing was
burnt through. He did not think any blame was
attached to any one connected with the colliery.
He believed every precaution had been taken. The
pit had only been working since May, 1856. As-

TILE SUN, LONDON,; FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 15, 1858.

DENT.

sliming that there had been a second shaft, and the
fire had occurred in the down cast, and the smoke,
instead of coming up the shaft, should have ex-
tended over the workings, he did not think a single
man would have been got out alive.
Mr. N. Wood, colliery viewer, of Hetton, said he
was sent for on Thursday afternoon to come to the
collie 7. He described what had been done when
he arrived. He found the parties at the pit pouring
water down the pit and the staple. After consulta-
tion it was thought prudent that a second attempt
should be made to put in the brattice, and that the
whole of the force of the water should be applied to
the pit, in order to enable the men to work, that the
air should not be obstructed passing along the drift
up the staple, and that the water should not be
used in the staple unless it could be spared from the
pit. The brattice was then commenced to be put
in, and Mr. Foster arriving at the time, he con-
curred in what had been done. He left at 12 o'clock.
At that time it was thought that the fire had oc-
curred at the furnace. He was agreeably surprised
the next morning when he arrived to find one of
the boys brought to the bank. The fact turned out
to be that 16 or 17 fathoms of the bottom of
the brattice had not been burnt. On Monday
last he went to the colliery with Mr. Foster,
Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Atkin-
son, and made a most rigid inquiry of all the men
in harge of the different departments, and they
found no lights except safety lamps had been
allowed either to be taken up or down the shaft.
They found that a torch had been used by Bird in
the engine shaft, and up which the air would rush
with great velocity. Knowing it was of common
occurrence for cotton to be blown off from the lamps
into the upcast, it was his opinion that this had
been the cause of setting fire to the timber in the
shaft, which, when burnt through, would explode
the gas in the cavities of the tubbing, and in his
opinion accounted for the rush of wind described.
by Bird and for the falling deal which killed Kel-
let—the other Case alluded to by Mr. Armstrong ;
and, looking at all the circumstances of the furnace,
and the quantity of air passing near it, there being
a side drift, along which one-third of the air passed,
he could not come to the conclusion that the brat-
tice had been set on fire by a spark from the fur-
nace. Torches were used in the trade when the
passage up and down the section of the shaft was
very frequent. He was astonished that there was
any one lost at all in the pit, as there was plenty
of air in the pit. He did not agree with one of the
witnesses that the deaths had been caused by fear.
The smoke would be exceedingly soporific. He
thought that the men had put their faces to the
water to catch the current of air, and had fallen
asleep and dropped into the water, and had thus
been suffocated. In fact, they had been drowned.
Mr. Foster, viewer, of Newcastle, gave corrobo-
rative evidence, and the inquest was adjourned un-
til to-morrow. •

STRANGE SCENE; AT QUARTER SES-
SIONS-BA.RRLS'T_ERS ON STRIKE.

NEWCASTIE-ON-TYNE, OCT. 12.
A strange scene has oce urre d at the Michaelmas
Quarterdegree of
m Sessionsisun hdeerldstaatndtl
ingais town. A considerable
has existed between
the Recorder, Mr. Wm. Digby Seymour, and the
members of the Northern.
the Circuit who have been in
the habit of attending Newcastle Sessions.
has existedt for some time,
This misunderstanding
and originated in the circumstance of Mr. Seymour
yonhad
beenich the sessions had
having changed the dada.
the
extremely long been held. This.
con-
venient to the bar, becaune by
Sessions on
arrange-
nniothns on the Mon-
day they attended Durham
Wednesday,
the Thursday. ItTen hgurresadta
be. At present
they
hna
eydy
Northumberlanda
complain
sdoafy b, e Ninegoinvve
inconvenience,.
brought
ifnththate
loss of time, and expense in their
first to Newcastle, then south to Durham
following week, and next, towards the end of o
week, north again to Northumberland. At the
opening of the second or third sessions before Mr.
Seymour some words on the subject were exchanged
between the Recorder and Mr. Hogg as the spokes-
man on behalf of his brethren of the circuit t
court ; and Mr. Seymour then stated that he could
not in
not afford to give up his practice as a barrister at
Hull Sessions in order to accommodate the
New-
castle Sessions bar by holding his sessions at a time
to suit their convenience. Complaints were made
some time ago, by the attorneys practising at the
sessions, and by tradesmen who were called upon
to attend as witnesses, of the inconvenience of the
time at which the court was held, and the subject
was brought before the Town Council, by whom a
formal representation was made to the learned Re-
corder.
Yesterday morning thy'- dissatisfaction of the bar
broke out into an open rupture. The bar met as
usual in the Merchants' Chamber, adjoining the
Guildhall ; but in accordance, it is said, with a re-
solution come to by them at a meeting on the pre-
vious evening, dispersed without robing or entering
the court. It is usual for the bar to make their ap-
pearance immediately after the Recorder has de-
livered his charge to the grand jury. At yesterday's
sessions Mr. Lowers, [to the surprise of everybody
in court, made his appearance alone. When the
grand jury had found a true bill the brief for the
prosecution was handed, as a matter of course and
necessity, to Mr. Lewers. Some time after the
case had been opened Mr. John Davison, unrobed,
entered the court and took his accustomed seat at
the barristers' table. In a few minutes he was
followed by Mr. Fowler, another member, who also
took his seat unrobed. After remaining in court
for a few minutes they left. The immediate con-
sequences of :this " strike " of the bar were that,
with the exception of one, the whole of the briefs
for the prosecution fell into the hands of Mr.
Lewers, who reaped a rather unusual harvest ;
also that the learned Recorder had himself in
one case to conduct the prosecution (Mr. Lewers
having originally been retained for the defence) ;
and that the extraordinary phenomena of attor-
neys pleading at Quarter Sessions was witnessed.
The learned Recorder having intimated that under
the circumstances he would allow attorneys for pri-
soners to state what might be adduced in their
favour, Mr. Lockey Harle and Mr. J. Scaife availed
themselves of the permission, taking the opportu-
nity which the grand jury returning the last Bill
afforded him to refer to the occurrence.
The learned Recorder said,—Gentlemen of the
grand jury, under ordinary circumstances I should
discharge you without stopping to make any com-
ments whatever, especially upon a matter which, in
some respects, is personal to myself; but I consider
it my duty—that there may be no mistake by the
public, and that justice may be done, inasmuch as I
sit here to administer the law in the presence and
before the eyes of the town of Newcastle—l consider
it my duty, knowing that the matter has attracted
public attention, to make a few remarks with re-
gard to the conduct which the gentlemen of the
bar, who have been practising at these sessions,
have thought fit to pursue on this-occasion. By
the law under which I sit here as your Recorder I
have a perfect and indisputable right to fix my ses-
sions at what time I think most convenient, first to
the public, then to the bar and myself. My first
duty, of course, will be to the public in all cases ;
but assuming that I do consult the interests
of the public, I think that I am then entitled
to consider, in some respect, my own, un-
less it is notified to me that I thereby inconve-
nience the bar. lam bound to hold the ses-
sesions four times a-year, but the days of hold-
ing them it is mine to fix. Now, gentlemen, other
recorders of far greater eminence than I am, and of
far greater experience than I have had, fix their
,sessions at times to suit the public and their own
convenience., Take, for instance, the learned and
estimable Recorder of Leeds ; he fixes his sessions
for Wednesday morning next, although the real
business of the West Riding doesn't commence till
the following Tuesday, nearly a week later. And
so I might refer to other recorders, to whom has
never been offered a breath of opposition to their
perfect right to do it, and as to whose conduct no
question has ever been raised by the great body of
the bar, or by any barrister that I am acquainted
with. Now, with regard to this' particular occasion,
several among the members of the bar are con-
nected with county families, and this being the
long vacation they are resident more or less in this
neighbourhood or in the adjoining county. Others
are local practitioners in this town. I took it for
granted that in holding my sessions a few days be-
fore the ordinary County Sessions of Durham and
Northumberland, I should not beguotinlgwwahagsainnsit
the real convenience of many who are probably in
the locality with their families and amusing o
somemembersen at
them-
selves in this part of the country. B
content with speculating on this, because
the Liverpool Assizes I intimated to
of the bar my intention to hold the sessions this
week. They had a month's notice beforeLasr
sincesem-
bled here to-day, but neither at Liverpool,
the notice has appeared, has a single murmur reached
my ears. No member of the bar has called at or writ-
ten to my chambers in London, although I was there
till just lately, asking me to fix .the sessions at a
more convenient time, or stating that this was an
inconvenient time to them. The gentlemen of the
bar always have found me, whatever provocation I
may have been subjected to, ready in every way
in my power to consult their convenience, and had
such a course been taken I should have cheerfully
and gladly adopted a course which might be equally
convenient to me and more convenient to them-
selves. I must now refer to the conduct whichhasadl been been pursued to-day. Had the gentlemen
con-
tent with coming into the town, n
without appearing in this court, I should, ea
PeirnhgP
a its
in my own breast have passed judgment on their
conduct, because I should have considered that they
acted foolishly for their own interests, and left it
there; but when they added the studied indignity
which was deliberately committed, and which has
been offered to me here to-day, then lam bound in
my judicial capacity to notice it, because it is not
that the gentlemen assembled and left, but that
they delegated two of their body to come in and sit
in this court, unrobed, under my bench here this
morning. Gentlemen, I think conduct like this it is
very sad to see, because if gentlemen have a griev-
ance of a private nature to complain of, let them not
parade it before the public. Let the profession of
the bar have its own proper, separate course, one
towards the other, but I do think it a scandal and
an outrage to public justice and decency that an at-
tempt should be made to disturb my feelings and
my composure here in this seat of justice by a
studied indignity like that. Gentlemen, above this
petty personal animosity I appeal to a higher tri-
bunal. Since I sat on this bench as your recorder,
now for many years, I have never met with the
usual and customary sympathy and support of the
bar. It is true there have been some exceptions •
it is true that there has been to-day a generous and
honourable exception to the general course that has
been pursued ; but I appeal to the town of New-
castle and to those who practised before me in the
town if they have ever seen my temper ruffled, have
ever seen me irritated, or the dignity of justice
ever suffer ii my hands on account of these things.
Gentlemen, I hope I may make this appeal to the
town, I hope that the inhabitants of this town will
allow that I have endeavoured to observe the dignity
of my position, and fairly and indifferently to ad-
minister justicnealtloythine punishmentindifferent
ttocriticism
ctiflisiethkedfnroems;
and vice, equally
whatever quarter it may come, proTsidneodt
my
w
r notn
conscience tells me that criticism
ethetarotn
say the
of ,
generous, and not just. Gentlemen, in this spirit I
shall continue to sit here. There is
i nol7 fear that
public interests will suffer. I
v
that if it had been known among will
h
the Northern Circuit that such a coursehave
been 20 gen-
tlemen was medi-
tated
hereheret ready t
to-day there
take would
careh that justice was
administered, that it should not suffer, and that
such a scene should not take place; and if no one
came I trust I should have been equal to the emer-
gency. I hope, as I said before, that these
at it spirit
in which they
what obser-
vations will be taken in the
sittl
e here,
should
have
a am
are meant. I know
of
Newcastle is
e to
ca,s
anxious that the town
confidence in me. I a
be no mistaken 111
anxious that there should
1 have told you feelings about what has taken place.
in what they whatare my rights ; I have shown
spirit which havehas done wrong ; I have told you the
always animated me; and all that
I can say is
I shall e_ , i th.
s, that as long as I sit here I hope
naeavour, whatever course may be pur-
sued towards
me by- my professional brethren, to
administer even-handed and impartial justice, so
that the town of Newcastle at all events will not

ANOTHER AWFUL COLLIERY ACCT

Scarcely have six weeks elapsed since our columns
recorded a fearful colliery explosion in the Cyfing-
pit, Ystalyfera, Swansea-valley, whereby six poor
fellows lost their lives and three or four others were
seriously injured. It is now our painful duty to
detail the particulars of another and still more
serious colliery accident, in the same district, and
within three or four miles of the Cyfing-pit, and by
which no less than 14 fellow-beings have been sud-
denly hurried into eternity. The pit in which this
accident has now occurred is known as the Prim-
rose Colliery, worked by a company known as the
Primrose Coal Company, of which Messrs. Morgan
and Lewis are principal owners. It is situated near
Pontardawe, Swansea-valley, about 9 miles from
Swansea, has been for many years worked, and is
one of the most extensive pits in the valley, there
being about 200 men engaged therein whenthefatal
accident which we now relate occurred.
On Wednesday morning last the whole of the col-
liers proceeded-to work at the usual hour—viz., about
6 o'clock in the morning, and about half-past eight
one of the men came running up from the pit stat-
ing that the whole place was full of sulphur, and
that all the men were killed. This dreadful intel-
ligence created the greatest alarm, and spread
rapidly through the small surrounding villages,
and it being known that some 200 men were engaged
in the pit that morning, the scene which occurred
was heartrending in the extreme. Within about
half-an-hour at least 300 people, chiefly wives and
mothers, were congregated round the pit, whose
agonising shrieks and lamentations could be heard
for at least a mile. Fortunately, it was soon ascer-
tained that, although there were 200 men in the pit
at the time, the catastrophe had occurred in a dis-
tinct heading or working known as the Old Ma-
chine Level, and in which particular working only
30 men were then engaged. It was at one time
thought that the whole of these must have lost
their lives, but the result proved that many had
been miraculously saved.
Within a very short time after the accident there
were found some colliers heroic enough to risk their
lives in endeavours to save those of their fellow-
workmen. Two brave fellows (one named Wil-
liam Lewis, 60 years of age, a married man
with several children, and Griffith Gibbs, aged 18
years), who were thus laudably engaged, fell a sacri-
fice thereto, being suffocated by the fatal choke-
damp. David Thomas, the overman, also descended
within a very short time after the accident, and
nearly sacrificed his life by so doing ; he was ren-
dered insensible, and was afterwards conveyed out
of the pit very much exhausted. The exertions of
Thomas Morgan also deserve to be mentioned; he,
too, risked his life for that of his fellows, and is
now confined to his bed in consequence of the exer-
tions made and the powerful influence of the after-
damp.
When the foul air had sufficiently cleared off for
a descent several of the colliers instantly volun-
teered their service, and within a few minutes the
lifeless bodies of 14 workmen were brought up and
laid side by side near the pit's mouth. The agony
of the wives and mothers when recognising the in-
animate forms of their husbands and sons may per-
haps be imagined, but they baffle all attempts at
description.
The names of those who have lost their lives in
consequence of this awful visitation are as follow :
David Evans, aged 38, married with five children.
John Gibbs, aged 36, married, with two children.
David Hoggins, aged 32, married, with one child.
Griffith Jones, aged 19, single.
John Llewellyn Rees, aged 25, single,
Thomas Griffiths, aged 18, single.
Henry Williams, aged 36, single.
Hopkin Evans, aged 15, single.
William Thomas, aged 18, single.
John Davis, aged 19, single.
Isaac Evans (door boy), aged 11 or 12.
William Lewis, aged 60,.a wife and children (the
latter of whom are all married), who lost his life
in attempting to save others.
Morgan Gibbs, aged 18 (brother of John Gibbs),
and who also lost his life in-going to the rescue of
others.
There are also seven dead horses now lying in
the pit.
The origin or cause of this dreadful calamity
is at present shrouded in the most profound mys-
tery, but an inspection of the pit after the accident
by practical men ascribes it entirely to the opening
of a door fixed to prevent the air from the boiler
again going into the works. Certain it is there
was no explosion of any kind, the deaths being
caused by the fatal choke-damp, the bodies, when
-brought up, being undistorted, and having the ap-
pearance of sleep, and some kind and affectionate
mother would not for many a long hour believe
that her son was locked in the last embrace of
death.

It appears that about a week or ten days ago a
large engine had been placed underground to raise
the coal from the deep. The air which supplied
the boiler fire was the return air from the colliery,
and it was then conveyed through an old level a
distance of some 500 or 600 yards, and then up the
up-cast pit. A wooden door was fixed to prevent
the air from the boiler going into the works again,
and it is confidently asserted that this door was
fastened up a few days since by means of a staple.
This door was, however, found open after the acci-
dent, and the air instead of going up the pit re-
turned into the level where the men were at work
and killed 12 ; the other two lost their lives in their
efforts to save their comrades, as already stated.
How this door became opened, if fastened, as posi-
tively alleged, is the point for the coroner's jury to
unravel.

What renders this accident the more remarkable
is the fact that the pit has always been noted for
the large current of air which has always been
found to pervade the whole of the workings, and it
is no uncommon occurrence for the lights of the
workmen to be blown out by the current of air.
The management of the pit is under Mr. Thomas
Morgan, who is also part owner, and who is known
as a gentleman of great experience, and one who
has always studied the safety of his men.
Mr. T. Evans, the Government Inspector of Coal
Mines for the South Wales District, was
on the
spot within a few hours of the accident, and made
an inspection of the pit in order to acquaint himself
with the various air-courses, &c., and other scien-
tific details necessary to the inquest, which
was opened yesterday (Thursday), before Mr.
A. Cuthbertson, coroner for the Neath district. No
further particulars, however, than those already
given transpired.
It is hardly necessary to say that so serious
an accident has spread a gloom over the whole of
the Swansea-valley.

have reason to blush for the conduct of its recorder.
Gentlemen, I am sure you will pardon these obser-
vations, because the case is one of a very peculiar
nature, and I were more than man or less than man
if I did not feel touched at the course of these pro-
ceedings. I thank you cordially for the attention
you have paid me while I have made those remarks
which I felt bound to make, and I now dismiss you
with the thanks of the town for your attendance.