The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-26 00:00:00

The Oaks Colliery Explosion.

DEATH OF ANOTHER OF THE SUFFERERS.
BARNsLEY, Tuesday Afternoon.
Yesterday and to-day the No. 2 shaft continued
to emit quantities of choke-damp at intervals.
After being clear for a few minutes, and whilst some
of the engineers were examining it, some of those on
the ground adjoining heard the rumbling noise from
the No. 2 shaft which generally precedes the explo-
sion. Those on the pit-bank immediately left, and
some said they believed it was the noise caused by
the falling of something at the bottom. But those
whose ears have become familiar with the peculiar
sound considered that an explosion had taken place,
but had in a great measure been stifled. What-
ever may have been the cause, a man has been placed
to watch the top both night and day. The experi-
ment about to be made of taking the gas out of the
pit by means of a pipe is being looked forward to
with considerable interest by our colliery proprie-
tors. A similar experiment was made a few years
since at a colliery near Wakefield, when the gas was
brought to the top and there burnt. That colliery,
however, was not so large or so deep as the Oaks.
That there is a vast quantity of gas in the pit can-
not be doubted, as, in addition to what may be ex-
pected from the usual sources, there is the feeder,
which has hitherto made sufficient to supply the
lamps in the engine plane, pouring out its volumes.
To-day a number of men were busily employed
in putting up placards within a radius of 150 yards
of the pit, with the words " Smoking strictly pro-
hibited," and "No lights whatever allowed." 'This
is in connection with the attempt to be made to
draw the gas with a pipe, as there is every reason
to believe it will spread, and, of course, would easily
ignite. Every precaution is being taken to prevent
accidents, and no one is allowed to go near to the
pit bank.
Yesterday evening another of the men who
were brought out alive on the occasion of the
pit explonion expired, after suffering greatly from
the burns received. His name was Charles
Walmsley, and from the first no hopes were enter-
tained of his recovery. There are now four left
alive, and of these two are in a fair way of recovery,
whilst the other two are in a doubtful state. To-day
the widows and children were well taken care of by
the Miners' Association, being provided with ample
materials for a good and substantial dinner, &c.
The special report as to the state of the mine says
that on Monday there were 90 yards of spoil in the
furnace shaft, and SO of water. This evening the
engineers in charge report that the spoil in No. 1
shaft and the furnace shafi had subsided very little
since the previous day. They found no water in
No. 1 shaft.

A meeting of engineers is to be held to-morrow
morning at the colliery, to arrange for the resolu-
tion of Monday being carried out.

Measures for the relief of the widows and orphans
are being adopted. The Miners' Association, in
order to enable the sufferers to spend as comfortable
a Christmas as possible, have distributed 41b. of meat
to each widow, and 11b. to each child. Yesterday
afternoon a tea meeting for the widows and orphans
was served up in the Reform Chapel, Hoyle Mill,
by the donations of several frienda.

Annual Report. of the Scotch Iron Trade.

(From 2'hornburn's Glasgow Trade Circular.)
The developments—morally, materially, socially, and
commercially—of the year 1866 have been perhaps more
wonderful than those of any year in the history of the
world.

In the United Kingdom, more particularly in the
southern portion of Great Britain, we have experienced the
disastrous effects arising from the reckless development of
the joint-stock system, applied so indiscriminately to all
branches of enterprise. _ _

With reference to our banking and monetary system, it
cannot have escaped observation that whilst a national
bank in Paris so managed that its rate of interest fluctuated
between three and five per cent., giving an average of
three and three-quarters per cent. for the year, a similar
institution in Threadneedle-street, London, has so managed
that the rate for money has ranged between three and a
half and ten per cent., averaging for the year seven per
cent. The famine in Ireland having destroyed the bread
monopoly in the United Kingdom, it may reasonably be
hoped that the panic and crisis of 1866 will give the death-
blow to banking monopoly.
On the continent of Europe a rotten and bolstered up
political system has fallen to pieces during the progress of
a seven days' war.

In Ireland, and among the vilest section of the people of
a few of the American States, under the name of Fonianism,
the doctrine of robbery has been promulgated in a manner
hitherto unheard of.

This year would have been over memorable had there
been no other achievement than the laying of the cable
across the Atlantic, by means of which direct telegraphic
communication has been accomplished between this coun-
try and San Francisco, thus extending over nearly one-
third of the circumference of the globe. The success of
this undertaking has, however, had no effect in alleviating
the prevailing depression arising from the adverse circum-
stances indicated above.

Therefore, it is scarcely to be wondered at that our
national industry has not escaped those unfavourable in-
fluences. It is, however, gratifying to remark that the
iron trade has suffered in a loss degree than perhaps any
other branch.

According to the ironmasters' returns, just made, the
quantity of pig iron produced this year in Scotland was
994,000 tons, showing the striking decrease of 142,000
tons as compared with last year.
The deliveries per railways, the shipments foreign and
coastwise, combined with the local consumption, were
1,136,000 tons, and show a falling off, when compared
with the preceding year, of 136,000 tons.
As certified by the committee appointed by the trade
the stock of pig iron is now 510,000 tons, thus exhibiting
the marked decrease of 142,000 tons as contrasted with
1865.

Luring the year the price has fluctuated from 82s.—
the highest point reached in April—to 515., the lowest to
which it fell, in May,
598. 9d. per ton last year.
averaging 60s. 6d. per ton, against
The malleable ironworks, the foundries, and the ship..
building yards, have felt the languor of the depressing
influences which generally prevail.
Taking into consideration the steady annual accumula-
tion of the wealth and resources of the British empire,
there is reason to hope fora considerable improvement in
the iron trade in the coming year.

LUCKY YOUNG LADIES.—The prize of £6,000
at the late drawing of the City of Paris Bonds was gained
by the piddles. Bonnaire, daughters of the superintendent
of the forage store for cayairy at AVOW.