The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-13 00:00:00

DREADFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT.

TWENTY-ONE MEN AND SIXTY HORSES
SUPPOSED TO BE DROWNED.
DERBY, WEDNESDAY.
The neighbourhood of Chesterfield and Derby
was filled with consternation at an early hour this
morning from a rumour circulated that a serious
lccident had occurred, and a great number of lives
lost, at the extensive Clay Cross works, 20 miles
from Derby, on the North branch of the Midland
Railway, the proprietors of which are Mr. W.
Jackson, M.P.,
Sir Morton Peto, M.P., and others.
Mr. Charles Binns is the manager of the works,
which have long been looked upon as the most ad-
mirable for organisation and management that pro-
bably exists in the midland counties, and has been
carried on since the time of old George Stephenson,
who was the founder of the company, with great
ability and success. On proceeding to the works
we found that a sad accident had occurred in conse-
quence of the sudden eruption of water breaking
through a portion of an old pit into that of a
new one, where upwards of 100 men were
at work getting coal. The accident oc-
curred between four and five o'clock on Tuesday
afternoon, and although the water rushed into the
pit with extraordinary velocity, the bulk of the men
were enabled to retreat to the mouth of the shaft,
and were drawn up to the surface in safety ; but we
regret to say that no less than 21 men still remain
to be accounted for ; and as it was upwards of two
hours before the top of the level at the bottom of
pit was filled with water, it appears unaccountable
how it was these poor fellows did not escape with
their fellow-workmen. The water this evening
stood at seven yards above the bottom of the pit,
the pumps, &c., of which are at the lowest part of
the workings, and a faint hope is still expressed
that if the men in the pit have been enabled to ob-
tain sufficient air, that some of them may be found
alive. The scene at the pit mouth, after the news
of the accident had spread through the town, was
one of the most harrowing description. The parents,
wives, and children of those who were left in the
mine congregated round the shaft, and their piteous
cries rent the air, although some of them were
willing to hope that several of the unfortunate suf-
ferers might be found alive. Mr. Binns, who has
been manager of the colliery for the past 23 years,
was on the spot shortly after the accident, and re-
mained at the pit during the whole of Tuesday
(
end up to the time we write, using every
exveeirjtiion that it was possible to suggest. Mr. Hea-
ley, Government Inspector of Mines, reached Clay
Cross between eight and nine o'clock on Tuesday
evening, having received a telegram at Derby, and
he is also in attendance up to the present time,
assisting, as far as he can, in getting the mine free
of the water. Messrs. Woodhouse and Jeffcock, of
Derby, the eminent mining engineers, mid Mr.
Markham, of the Midland Railway, were also tele-
graphed for, and reached the works at an early hour
this morning; but, notwithstanding the exertions
being made, some days will probably elapse before
the works are drained sufficiently to recover the
bodies. There were between 50 and 60 horses in
the pit at the time the accident occurred, and no
doubt they have all been drowned.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

SHEFFIELD-JUNE 11.

A moderate supply of English wheat to-day, with a very
dull trade. The better descriptions sold at about the prices
of last week; inferior samples were in little request. Bar-
ley and flour unchanged in price. Beans were inquired
after, and scarce. Oats at former prices.
Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels...24s Od to 28s Od
White 1, ff ...25s Od to 28s Od
New red , f 1 ...20s Od to 22s Od
New white „ ,7 ...22s Od to 26s Od
Beans 17 ff ...16s Od to 18s Od
Peas, per qr s4s Od to 55s Od
Grinding barley, per qr 33s Od to 35s Od
Malting ditto, „ 35,30d to 43s o€l
Oats ff 258.6d to 34s Od
Millers' prices for flour-2s 2d, 2s 4d, and 2s 7d per
141 b.