The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-09 00:00:00

A COAL-PIT ON FIRE.

Yesterday afternoon a fearful coal-pit accident
occurred at the Summerlee coal-pit, situated on the
farm of Dykehead, about three miles from Har Hilton,
belonging to Messrs. Wilson and Co. The pit is
upwards of 40 fathoms in depth, and yesterday
morning, about half-past 4 o'clock, at least 45 men
descended the shaft for the purpose of commencing
work. All went right till about 1 o'clock is the
afternoon, when smoke was observed issuing from
the shaft. Such an unusual occurrence excited great
alarm, which speedily resolved into a panic a mong
the workers' families. Scarcely had 10 minutes
elapsed from the time the smoke was first discovered.
when flames made their appearance, rolling up the
bratticing of the shaft, and igniting the frame-work
at the pit head. An alarm was instantly raised,
and a messenger despatched to Hamilton for the
fire engine. Meanwhile the flames raged with in-
tense fury, and in a brief space of time the ponder-
ous head gearing was reduced to a heap of ashes.
About 2 o'clock the Hamilton fire engine arrived,
and began to play with effect upon the burning
bratticing, and at 4 o'clock_ the fire engine from
Hamilton Palace arrived, and was at once made to
play on the burning .vaass. By a o'clock the fire
was almost extinguished, and workmen went ener-
getically to work to erect temporary pulleys, so
that an effort might be made to gain access to the
unfortunate ee orkmen who were underground.
The work was quickly effected, and a temporary
in
telligence
was sent down. The gratifying
was soon heard from the mouth of one of the sur-
vivors, who called out to raise the hutch, which
was speedily done, and he was landed in safety.
The poor man, however, could give no account of
the sad catastrophe, and only said that others of his
fellow-workmen were alive. Previous to the
working of the pulleys being accomplished Mr.
W. G. Simpson, one of the partners of Dundas,
Simpson, ana Co., whose colliery workings imme-
diately adjoin those of the Summerlee Company,
was in attendance and gave directions for the
driving of a mine from his workings through a
distance of 60 yards into the waste of the Summer-
lee Pit. The work was speedily begun, it being
thought probable that the charred bratticing might
crumble to atoms, and block up the bottom of the
pit in which the accident occurred. Although the
pulleys, as we have said, were happily got into
working order without loss of time, nevertheless the
driving of the mine was energetically proceeded
with, so that if the working of the pulleys failed
no effort might be wanting to rescue the poor
miners. After 5 o'clock smoke still ascended from
the shaft, but still hutch after hutch brought up the
poor miners who were the least fatigued, and at 7
o'clock 13 men had been raised to the surface. At
this juncture a brave fellow named Andrew Hun-
ter, an ironstone miner, volunteered to descend the
shaft, and he was immediately lowered. At this
time it was evident that those below were too weak
to fix themselves in the hutches, and it was abso-
lutely necessary that some fresh men should go down
and assist the helpless. After Hunter had been
down some time he signalled to be drawn up, and.
was accordingly brought to the surface. He
stated that alone and without a light he could.
do nothing, but with lamps and assistance he ex-
pressed his willingness to go down again. Davy
lamps were immediately procured, and Hunter and
another miner named Fleming descended, and in a
very short time an exhauited miner was raised to
the surface. The two brave fellows remained below
in the horrid choke-damp atmosphere for a consi-
derable time and rescued several helpless men,
after which they were hauled up themselves almost
fainting. Other volunteer workmen followed, and
up till half-past 9 o'clock 28 workmen were rescued.
As the evening advanced the men who were brought
up in a faint, exhausted, or insensible state, and
one poor fellow, named Macleod Nelson, 41 years of
age, expired. Dr. Win. Weir, Larkhall, and Dr.
Wm. Naismitb, Hamilton, were on the spot, and
rendered valuable service in attending the poor
men ; and iu this work, we are happy to say,
they were ably assisted by Mr. James Alston Dykes,
Procurator-Fiscal, Hamilton, who was formerly a
medical student. Later in the evening, Dr. Lennox,
Hamilton, and Dr. Goff, Bothwell, arrived, and.
attended the sufferers. The accident, so far as cad
be ascertained, was caused by the "cube," a fur-
nace which is used for causing the foul air to
ascend one shaft, while the pure air descends
another. The bratticing, or wooden lining of the
shaft, must have become overheated from the fire
in the cube, and ignited. Some idea of the fury of
the flames may be gathered from the fact that at
Motherwell—a distance of two miles—they were
observed, and appeared to be raging to a height of
two stories. The majority of the unfortunate miners
were working at a considerable distance from the
bottom of the shaft, and none of the survivors can
account for the sad occurrence. From the appear-
ance of the men who were brought out about 9
o'clock last night, it is to be feared that these
who were still in the pit must soon succumb to
the choke-damp which filled it. Every effort was
made for the rescue of the poor men, and Mr.
Walter Neilson, of the Summerlee Iron Company,
Mr. W. Neilson, of Mossend Ironworks, and :Nit..
William Moncreath, mining engineer, Coatbridge,
were on the spot, and rendered every assistance
in their power. The scene at the pit head was
most heartrending—wives lamenting for their
husbands and sons, sisters for their brothers, and
children for their fathers. As each poor fellow,
in a state of insensibility, was carried on a
stretcher past the crowd—which numbered about
1,000 persons—the face of the unfortunate man
was recognised by some one, and a shriek fol-
lowed, which was most melancholy to hear. Still,
to the credit of the poor relatives of the entombed
men, be it said, they were wonderfully patient
under their heavy trial, and many of them ren-
dered valuable aid to the doctors and the sufferers.
But every one worked with a will, and none
more so than Superintendent David Dewar, of
the county police, who, on receiving information
of the accident, proceeded to the spot with a body
of police, who kept admirable order. Captain
M'Kay, chief constable, and Superintendent Chris-
tison were also in attendance.— Glasgow Herald.

TILLS DAY'S MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE.

---•--- -
Fresh up to-day the supply of English wheat was small.
Good and fine qualities moved off steadily at full quotations,
but inferior samples were a dull inquiry, and prices were
with difficulty supported. New Talavera wheat was quoted
at 68s. to 725. per quarter.
ace.
but by no means
The show of foreign wheat was large. Generally speak.
ing, imparters were firm, in consequence of a fair demand
on French account, mostly for American samples. In the
quotations very littleavcerrygoesof grain we
changetoreok pla
ce.
Floatingsteady,
active request at full currencies.

The barley trade was in a sluggish state at barely late
rates for old qualities.

New malting was worth 335. to 445. per quarter. Malt
was steady in price, but the business doing in it was limited.
Good and fine oats realised former prices, but inferior
parcels were rather cheaper,
The show of both beans and peas was small, and the
trade ruled firm at full quotations. New grey peas sold at
from 38s. to 40s. per quarter.
Good and fine marks of flour moved off steadily at full
prices ; but inferior parcels were a slow sale.

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
Eng1i5h........ 1,830 1 120 I 1,510 I 80 I 140
Irish.. — —.— 490 —
F0reign........ 27,290 2,430 , 12,320) 250 sacks
23,630 brls.