The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-20 00:00:00

TILE EXPLOSION AT LUNDHILL.

Since our last notice of the state of affairs at this
colliery several important events have occurred.
The water was reduced to a depth of seven feet on
Monday, and attempts, which were successful,
were made to get out the large iron chair which was
thrown down at the bottom, and which prevented
the buckets from filling. The chair was got up on
Monday afternoon, and from that time the work of
emptying the pit was continued until Wednesday,
when the water was " unroofed," and the ventila-
tion between the upcast and downcast shafts par-
tially restored. On Friday the engineers in charge
of the mine met at the offices of the company and
received the report of the sub-committee. The water
was reduced to the depth of 31 feet, and a lengthy
consultation ensued as to the moans to be adopted
to ascertain with certainty whether the fire was
really extinguished in the mine.
On Friday night the first descent into the
mine since the afternoon of the explosion was
effected. At six o'clock seven persons went
down the shaft. On arriving at the bottom, the
party found themselves in nearly four feet of water.
They penetrated on each side of the levels, north
and south, a distance of about 40 yards, but they
could proceed no further in consequence of there
being no air. The ventilation between the two
shafts was moderately good, but all the doors and
stoppings were blown down, and in consequence the
air could not circulate in the workings beyond.
The state of the mine, as far as the explorers
could see, afforded strong proof of the intensity
with which the fire had raged. The roof was fallen
in in many places, the stables were down, as was
the adjacent roof to a great extent. The party re-
mained in the mine for a considerable time, and suc-
ceeded iu finding three bodies, which were lying in
the water in the vicinity of the downcast shaft.
They then returned to the top of the shaft and re-
ported what they had discovered to Mr. k. Wood
and his colleagues, who concluded that the fire
must certainly be extinguished.
The men engaged at the top of the shaft, havine• '
heard that some of the dead bodies had been found,
volunteered to descend the mine, and bring them
to the top. Accordingly, at two o'clock on Saturday
mornings a party descended to undertake the dan-
gerous duty. They found the three bodies, and
brought them to the surface. The bodies were
shockingly mutilated, and all recognition of the
form or features was quite impossible. They were
covered with M'Dougall's disinfecting powder, and
immediately coffined and placed In the shed erected
for the purpose. The drawing out of the water was
then resumed.

The inquest was held on Saturday night, by Mr.
T. Badger, coroner, at the offices of the company.
The first witness was John Warhurst, who proved
that he assisted to recover the bodies. He thought
one of them was the body of a young man named
Thomas Gray.
A young woman named Harriet Gray was then
examined, and she deposed that her husband was
killed by the explosion. She had heard that one
of the bodies which had been recovered resembled
her husband, and she identified it as his by finding
a very large wart on the root of the thumb of the
left hand. The features were totally destroyed.
This evidence was confirmed by that of a brother of
the deceased, who identified a belt which was found
round the body.
A middle-aged woman named Catts was then exa-
mined—She stated that her husband, John Catts,
and her three sons, William, aged 19, John, aged
17, and George, aged 16, had all perished in the
mine. She identified ono of the bodies as being that
of her son William or George, and the identity was
made out in this way :—A short time before the ex-
plosion she was making a pair of corduroy trousers
for one of her sons, either George or William. They
were wanted in a hurry, and she was obliged to
leave one button-hole in the waistband unfinished.
On one of the bodies to-day was found a waistband
of this kind, and Mrs. Cattsimmecbately recognised
it. She had no other means of identifying the body
of her son, which was dreadfully disfigured. The
witness was very much affected whilst giving her
evidence.

The foreman of the jury, Mr. Johnson, submitted
that the identification which had taken place was
sufficient for all purposes. It was a matter of im-
mense importance that, as soon as these poor crea-
tures were brought from the bottom of the mine,
they should be at once conveyed to the graveyard,
so that no injury might arise to the people of the
district, or to those who may be engaged in reco-
vering the bodies. The jury did not want to shrink
from one iota of their duty, but they thought that
the viewing of each body would be totally unneces-
sary.

The Coroner said there must be other bodies re-
cognised ; and the identification of Gray was not so
good that it would stand the test of a cross-exami-
nation if anybody were sent to trial for manslaugh-
ter. The committee expected finding some of the
bodies " high and dry" in the working, and of
course those could be easily identified by the rela-
tives. The disinfecting powder would be placed
upon the ho lies as soon as they were got out, and
the jury would run no risk in viewing them.
In reply to a question. Mr. Galland, one of the
owners, said that there was every probability that a
good many bodies which had been untouched bythe
water would be got out this week.
The Foreman persisted that it was unnecessary
that the inspection should be insisted upon ; and he
said that if Sir G. Grey had been applied to he would
at once have relieved the jury from such a painful
task.

The Coroner—Sir G. Grey has no power to alter
the law.

The inquest was then adjourned to the 30th in
stant.

On Thursday placards were issued stating that the
mine would be explored on Monday (to-day), and
asking for volunteers to undertake the task of re-
covering the bodies. The call has been responded to
by a large number of first-class men of the adjacent
mines. It is intended to work the men in relays,
eace party to be under the guidance of two of the
engineers. No doubt is entertained that a large
number of the bodies will be recovered this week.

A REAL WIZARD IN THE NORTH.-It is reported that
Prince Albert, being about to visit Manchester to open
the Art Treasures Exhibition, expressed a desire to see
the Free Trade Hall, a place rendered famous by the
harangues of the great free-trade leaders. Manchester,
it is true, no longer delights to honour such men ; but
the wishes of his royal highness, and especially under
such circumstances, were regarded as paramount to every
other consideration, and it was determined to hold a
grand dress concert in the building on the evening of the
sth of May, at which the prince might be present. But
an unexpected obstacle presented itself. On inquiry, it
was found that the building had been let for the entire
month to the Great Wizard of the North at the sum of
5001. Overtures were made to Mr. Anderson at once to
give up the hall for two nights, but be would not listen
to them, though a handsome sum was tendered. The ball
was wanted the night before the concert for a rehearsal ;
and two nights would not be any great loss oft ime to
the wizard, but he was for a time infiFx-ible. HaPPIIY
his scruples have at length been overcome, and the con-
cert, which is for the benefit of the Infirmary, has been
announced. The concession has been made, but Mr.
Anderson appears to have caught the true commercial
spirit, and for relinquishing the ball it is understood that
the committee are to give him 8001., besides paying 401.
to the owners of the hall, by whom he would be released
from payment to that amount under the terms of his
agreement. He was master of the position, and seems
to have turned the advantage to the best possible ac-
count, The ordinary charge is 201, per night,