The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-13 00:00:00

days. No accident of this nature has occurred in
the neighbourhoJd for many years, and this, per-
haps, made the men less cautious. Platt, it is
said, has been a collier for upwards of twenty
years.

The wounded men have been removed to their
homes, and are attended by surgeons, but it is
feared that some of them cannot survive their in-
juries, which are of a very frightful nature. The
coroner for the district has bean communicated
with, and he has fixed Monday next for opening the
inquest. It is probable, however, that the inquiry.
will be adjourned to enable the Government ' In-
spector to visit the mine.

ANOTHER COLLIERY BIPLOSION.

SWANSEA, APRIL 10.

An explosion of firedamp occurred last night at
the Gorse Colliery, the property of Messrs.
Richards and Glassbrook, whereby three persons
were killed and several others seriously injured.
It appears that the men who were to take the
night turn proceeded to their work as usual at six
o'clock, and that nothing extraordinary happened
until about 11 o'clock, when on,e of the men en-
gaged in the pit proceeded to a part of the work
where it was necessary the safety lamps should be
used. He carried a safty lamp himself, but for
some reason he had taken the cap off, so that the
light was exposed. Some of his fellow-workmen, it
is said, remonstrated with him upon his conduct,
and requested hith to replace the cap, but he paid
no attention to their injunctions, and the conse-
quence was that the air, which was of a highly in-
flammable nature, became ignited, and an explo-
sion took place.

As sotin as it was known that an explOsion,had
taken place in the pit measures were immediately
taken to ascertain its extent and to afford assist-
ance to those engaged in the colliery. Mr. Joseph
Evans, the agent to the colliery, and a man named
John Matthews, descended into the pit, and the
whole of the persons employed at the time, with
the exception of four, were sent to the month of
the pit in safety. Six of these it was found had
suffered from the effects of the explosion, being all
more or less burnt, some of them having received
severe contusions in consequence of the violence
with which they were thrown against the sid.es,,of
the pit or other objects in their immediate neigh-
bourhood.

As soon as these persons were removed, Mr. Evans
and John Matthews proceeded to search for those
who were missing, but had not gone far before they
were overcome by the after damp, and fell down in
a state of exhaustion. They were speedily removed
to a place where the air was more pure, and upon
their recovery the search wasresumed ; but for four
hours their efforts to rescue the unfortunate men
were fruitless, and when at length they succeeded it
was found that three of the poor fellows were past
hopes of recovery, having been suffocated by the
choke, or afterdamp. The names of the men are—.
John Griffith., aged 35 ; and John Mort, 16 ; and
a lad, John Knight, 13. The fourth, a lad named
Stephen., about 14 years of age, was found to be
insensible, but upon proper remedies being resorted
to he recovered his consciousness, and hopes are
entertained that he will not long suffer from the
effects of the explosion, as be is but slightly burnt.
This lad might have escaped without injury, but
seeing a companion about his own age (John
Knight, who was killed), lying upon the ground
insensible, he nobly resolved to stay behind to
render him assistance if possible, but the gallant
little fellow was himself soon rendered insensible
by the afterdamp, and it is miraculous how he
escaped being suffocated. John Griffiths, the
oldest of the sufferers. might, it is said, also have
escaped, but in -Le confusion of the moment he
went in an opposite direction to that which he
should have taken, and thus met the volume of
flame which was advai.cing. When discovered, his
body presented a frightful appearance, being com-
pletely charred. The bodies were removed to the
respective homes of the deceased for the coroner's
in quest.