The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-14 00:00:00

RISCA COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

RISCA, JAN. 12.
The following additional evidence was given
after the despatch of our parcel of yesterday :
John Bray examined-4 am spare fireman at the
Risca Colliery. I have been employed under-
ground at Risca for 12 years. lam day man. The
men go down with me at six o'clock in the morn-
ing. Before going down I wait for the night fire-
man, who informs me of the state of the workings
in my district, which is the First East and Second
East. On the Ist of December I went to the top
of the pit about a quarter before five. 1 saw Der-
rick, who told me it was all safe. I then went down
the pit in company with several other persons. On
getting to the bottom I commenced examining the
lamps and locking them. There were two other
persons lockin g,besides me. Theywere both firemen.
Morgan Beddow, one of them, is alive. When the
lamps are locked they are given to the haulyers. I
went in after them and examined the works gene-
rally to see if there was any fire-damp or any dan-
gerous places at the top. If I find nothing wrong
I report that all is safe.
• By Mr. Brough—The men go in first. If I had
known that seven ;or eight hours bad passed since
the examination, I should have made another. I
digeharged my duty fully and completely on the
Ist December, and found nothing to excite my
my suspicion. I have never detected men smoking
in the pit. I have never heard any man make any
complaint. I have never found that looks in my
my district have been unlocked. I never heard any
blower in my district, or in any other. All the old
works are closed in. Ihave not been into any of the
works since they have been closed. I never met
with any gas on the edges of the " gobs." I have
never heard of a " gob" being aired or ventilated.
The men have not complained to me within the last
two years of the air being slack. My duties are not
of a fatiguing description. Ido not know why
heavier duties are imposed on Derrick than on me.
By Mr. Llewellyn—l saw Edward English in
the pit about six o'clock, after we had locked all
the men's lamps. It was his duty, from 2 o'clock
to 6, to examine the workings on the west side.
When I went down I did not find any traces of gas.
The explosion did not occur in any part of No. 1
east or No. 2 east. It is my impression that the fire
took place between 3 and 4 east. I think the ac-
cumulation of gas must have been caused by a
blower. I saw three lamps brought out after the
explosion. They were unlocked, but not open. I
had locked theta. The lamp men proved who the
lamps 'belonged to, aid I knew them as having been
delivered to certain men.
By Mr. Owen—l had not been examined before
I came here. Nothing has been said to me about a
blower. This is the first time I have ever said the
gas came from a blower. I believe the blower to
have been between. the 3d and 4th east.
The inquiry was then adjourned until Monday.

[ADvEimsEmENT.l—Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—
Health and EcononlY.--The intersely and long-continued
cold weather will destroy the health of thousands whose
means scarcely permit them to obtain sufficient food or rai-
ment. Let the prat throat or chest symptoms have early
attention; Rub
Holloway's ointment well upon the skin
nearest the affected organs at least twice a day, and take
his pills accordisq to the instructions, and danger will be
averted at a trifiinv, cost. Their alterative, tonic, and pro-
tective powers eScite universal admiration in eoughs, colds,
diphtheria, and similar ailments. Even in the early stages
of consumption more reliance may be safely placed on Hol-
loway's remedies than upon any other mode. of treatment.
Acting harmonously, they strengthen, sustain, and stimu-
lato.