The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 23, 1857.

tion Commissioners granted to Captain Ord and others
the exclusive right of raising and exporting guano from
the Islands of the Curia Muria Group ; and whether
the opinion of the law officers of the Crown had been
taken as to the power of the Commissioners to grant
such a license I

Mr. LABOUCHERE said that there was no treaty
ceding these islands to this country, but there was what
was termed a settlement of session dated July, 1854.
The paper, if necessary, should be laid on the table.
As regarded the latter question the colonial office was
answerable for giving the license referred to, and not
the Emigration Commissioners. The law officers
of the Crown had not been consulted relative to this
license because it was not necessary. The Go-
vernment had acted in this instance as Lord
Naas did, when in office, on a similar occasion.
In the lease granted to Messrs. Ord, provisions were
made for guano being imported by them in large quan-
tities, and to be sold in the open market at Liverpool
by brokers. Messrs. Ord had informed Lord Clarendon
tbat they were willing to allow merchants to trade to
that island for guano by paying them a charge of not
more than 2/. per ton for what they took away.

THE ORDNANCE BROKERS.
Mr. BRADY asked the Under Secretary for War
whether his attention had been directed to a trial that
took place in the Court of Queen's Bench on the 13th
inst.; and, if so, if he could inform tho house if the de-
fendants in the case were the same gentlemen who were
employed as brokers by the Ordnance Department 7
Mr. F. PEEL said that since this question had been
put on the paper he bad read the report alluded to. One
of the parties was a broker employed by the War De-
partment, and had been engaged in purchasing timber
for the Government for the past 15 months. He saw
nothing in the report compromising the character of the
parties.

CUSTOMS' ENTRIES OF GOODS.
Mr. NEWDEGATE asked what were the reasons for
an order issued in August last by the Custom House
authorities, enjoining ail shippers of goods for exporta-
tion to make more accurate entries of goods exported,
both as to quantity and value, and warning them that
the suppression of such information was illegal ; and
what had been the result of such order.
Mr. WILSON said that the order was issued at the
request of the Hull Chamber of Commerce, believing
that there was great laxity and carelessness in the sta-
tistics relative to the exports of cotton yarn. The ob-
ject was to obtain more correct statistics of the trade.
NEUCHATEL.

Mr. KINNAIRD asked the First Lord of the Trea•
sury when the conference on theNeucbatel question was
to meet; and whether there was any hope of the unhappy
differences which bad arisen in consequence of the late
aggression on Swiss independence being brought to a
speedy and satisfactory termination ?
Lord PALMERSTON said that no specific time had
been fixed for the meeting of the Conference relative to
Neuchatel. As all the Powers invited by the Emperor of
the French to join in it had consented to meet, he
(Lord Palmerston) had no doubt it would shortly take
place. The Swiss Government having shown the
greatest passible moderation and spirit of conciliation,
he had no doubt the king of Prussia would be animated
by a similar spirit, and that a satisfactory arrangement
would be come to between the parties. (Hear, hear.)

LOCAL SHARE MARKETB.

LIVERPOOL, FEB. 21.

STOOK ExcHANGE.--The market continues active, and
the sales in most instances were improved on yesterday.
The following were the transactions :--Caledonian, 33$
—Eastern Counties, 10/. Bs. 9d. —Midland, B.ti i—North
Eastern, Berwick, 22A—South Eastern 238 3 A—Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 36 68 6—Lancashire and
Yorkshire, 99i 100—London and North Western, 109 8i
883 —North British, 11—Birkenhead, Lancashire,
and. Cheshire, 69i—Great Western, 68i.
ze.e..NOHESTER, FEB. 21.
_

STOCK EXCHANGE. —There was a rather active demand,
at improving prices, and London and North Western
touched 109, but closed at 1083. East Lancashire, 24R—
Blackburn, 8 11-16—London and North Western Eighths,
8 (I.—Midland, 83 i--Shefaeld, 361—Dover, 23—Leeds
Capital Stock, 191—Cheshire Junction, 70.

Messrs. Hatchette and Co., the Paris publishers, are
new publishiog a complete and uniform translation of
the works of Dickens ; it is the first that has been at-
tempted in France, the translations that have hitherto
appeared being only of isolated works, and for the most
part by incompetent hands. In a short address, in
French and English, prefixed to the first volume (which,
by the way, is "Nichol ts Nickleby"), Mr. Dickens de-
clares that "he is proud to be presented to the great
French people, whom iho !loves and honours sincerely,
and whose judgment and suffrage are an object of amei-
tion for all who cultivate letters."
COLLAPSING LIFE-BOAT FOR THE GREAT EASTERN
STEAU —SOUTHAMPTON, Saturday:—One of Ber-
thon's patent collapsing life-boats has just been brought
from the establishment of the inventor, at Fareham, and
placed in the inner dock, where it has been examined and
criticised by various nautical men of this port. It is in-
tended for the Great Eastern steam-ship, and is of the
following dimensions :—Length, 50 feet ; breadth, 18
feet ; depth, 5 feet. It has six thwarts, with head and
stern sheets, and can pull 12 oars double-banked. The
advantages of the collapsing life boat are—that it can be
stowed away in one-sixth of its width, arid when col-
lapsed-may be frapped-to against the ship's bulwarks,
where it is avail eble for use at a moment's notice. One
band is sufficient to open and lower the largest boat of
this construction, and its extension is produced by
the Viwarts, bottom boards, and gunwale stanchions—
all of which are jlinted in the middle—falling down to
straight lines as the boat flies open. It is extremely
light, - and can readily be lowered into thu water,
which it takes on an oven keel. The attention which
huaosatl,nticalatietiymbileietyn given to the construction of lifeboats asa means of saving life in ease of shipwreck and accident,
may be well directed in favourna of Berthon's collapsing
by and safely being generally acknowledged
men.
[ADVELTIRMI.NT I—llollowny's Ointment and Pills
emnrzasjiaanllloaottnieer'siroeinedies for the Cure of Bad Legs.—
a Foret) weaver of Galashiels, suffered
severely from
everything that leg,medica. .and notwithstanding he tried
leccoteudl
Td
udnteivlisheeyet
madeall wasuse to
D o purpose ; eo care wasskei
h e These invaluablef medi-
ElollowaSf's 'ointment and pills.
itlehewe
smwpneleiebkli:s.
Publicity
eines soon had the desired effect,
i andg
fort
derive h en
lien were empletthcalyt Nealeo i,ersd ;13
edit:lee vendors throughout the world •
gfi't.—stool tfhbey faalcitin,
at Professor Holloway's Establishments, 244, Strand,
Smyrna; and B.
London, and SO, Maiden-lane, New yo
ri by A.
A. Guidicy,
AiStuallirt,pilaeltoan.stautillopio ;

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH-EASTERN.

The report of the directors of the South-Eastern Rail-
way to the half-yearly general meeting and special gene-
ral meeting to be held on the 26tb, contains the fedow-
ing passages :

of December last at 37,0321., and the payments at
36,0121., leaving a balance of 1,0201.
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report,
said he hoped that very shortly arrangements would be
completed for commencing the undertaking. The
amended plans were not in the hands of the contractors
until January, and therefore they had not had sufficient
time to look carefully over the estimates, and give in
their decision. With regard to the purchase of land
about 17 landowners bad been settled with, and the
valuers were peoceeding with all possible despatch. He
had reason to believe the contract would be signed in a
very few days.
A discussion, originated by Mr. Broughton, ensued
on the land question, in the course of which it was stated
that there remained about 20 miles of the line for which
the land had not been purchased.

After a very lengthened and animated discussion,
chiefly relating to the land question and the delay in
commencing the works,
Mr. Minshall moved an amendment to the effect
that the adoption of the report be postponed, and the meet-
ing be adjourned till the 28th of March next, instruct-
ing the directors, in the meantime, to put in force the
powers of the agreement with the contractors, or to con-
tract for the works with some other persons.
The amendment was seconded by Dr. Jones, and car-
ried nem. con. _ _

Mr. Thornton, one of the contractors, stated that
they would be in a position to state whether they were
prepared to go on with the contract or not by the fol-
lowing Tuesday.
The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to
the chairmas.

land Company states that there has been a large increase
in the traffic of the line. The dividends proposed are
214 per cent. on the consolidated stock ; 28s. 9d. per
cent. on the Birmingham and Derby ; 3 per cent. on the
preferential stock and Erewash Valley stock ; 2 5 on the
41- per cent. stock ; 2 per cent. on the Leicester and
Hitchin preference stock ; and 2 per cent, on the 51.
shares, leaving a balance of 16,0001. The dividend of
the Bristol and Exeter Company will, it is expected, be
at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum. The South Wales
dividend is at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum on the
ordinary stock ; after payment of which there will be a
balance of 4,0161. At the adjourned meeting. of the
Wimbledon and Croydon Railway the proposed lease of
the line to the London, Brighton, and South Coast
Company was agreed to. The report of the Cork and
Bandon Company has been carried, and the dividends
have been declared on the preference shares. The
dividends of the Hull and Selby Railway have been
declared as follows :-21. 9s. 6d. on each 501. share ;
11. 4s. 9d. on each 251. share ; and 12s. 4d, on each
121. 10s. share. At the Northern and Eastern meeting
the usual guaranteed dividends at the rate of 5 and 6
per cent. were declared. The dividends announced
at the Royston and Hitchin meeting was at the rate
of 6 per cent., less a charge for the expense of manage.
ment. The question for arrangement with the Great
Northern Company to pay the rent by which this charge
could be reduced was discussed, and it will again be
brought forward at a special meeting. At the Salisbury
aid Yeovil meeting the report detailing progress was
adopted, and the contractors are now prepared to pro-
ceed wherever the land can be furnished to them. The
Bradford, Wakefield, and Leeds line is to be ready for
opening in June, and arrangements have been made with
the Great Northern and the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Companies for working it, and with the Leeds, Brad-
ford, and Halifax Junction Company for using a certain
portion of the line. The available balance of the South
Yorkshire Company will, after the payment of the
guaranteed charges, allow tt dividend at the rate of
4 per cent per annum. The directors of the Mary-
port and Carlisle Railway recommend a dividend at
the rate of 5 per cent, upon shares, both original and
preference. The traffic is regarded as satisfactory, and
there has been a slight decrease in the expenditure. At
the Edinburgh and Bathgate meeting the dividend for
the half year was declared at the rate of 4s. 9d, per share.
A portion of the debenture debt is now due, which the
directors hope to renew on less onerous terms. The
shareholders of the Ulster Railway have agreed to the
dividend at the rate of 6 per cent., and have adopted the
report. A resolution was passed authorising the direc-
tors to borrow 50,0001. for the extension line, and they
were also empowered to deal with the preliminaries
respecting the Belfast and West of Ireland project.
The report of the Madras Railway is consider id en-
couraging, and, as the manager's staff is efficiently
and economically organised, the board look with
confidence to the development of traffic under im-
proved arrangements. At a meeting of the Madras
Company a resolution has been adopted that any
interference of the local Government with the traffic
fares, such as would prevent the profits reaching 10 per
cent., would violate the spirit of the contract entered
into by the East India House with the Indian railways.

The Newcastle Gaardiau says :—" We are informed on
good authority that the result of the annual statement of
the affairs ofj the Newctstle and Carlisle Railway Com-
pany is so favourable as to admit of a dividend at the
rate of 8 per cent. for the past half year, making 51 per
cent, for the year 1856."

DRICADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION

NEAR BARNSLEY.

LUNDHILL, SATIMDIT *EVENING.
At four o'clock this morning Abraham Turner, of
Wath-upon-Dearne, one of the 19 miners got out of the
pit alive, died. It was erroneously reported that he
was dead on Friday evening. It is expected that Mr.
Badger, the county coroner, will open an inquest on
view of the body on Monday.
Oa Friday evening it was decided by a number of
scientific and practical gentlemen, who have assumed
the responsibility of the steps to be taken for restoring
the pit to a safe state, that it should be filled with in-
combustible gas. Arrangements were at once made to
carry out this decision ; but owing to its being after-
wards determined to delay the experiment until the
committee had consulted Mr. Nicholas Wood, an emi-
nent colliery-viewer from the neighbourhood of Dur-
ham, the apparatus has not yet been put into operation.
In case this experiment should be tried and fail—and it
is stated that it has not invariably succeeded—it is
thought that the only alternative will be to fill the mine
with water. As a brook runs near, this could be easily
effected, but the immense labour of pumping it out again
and the consequent de'ay would make the plan a very
costly one. In accordance with the directions of the ma-
naging committee the upcast shaft was during Friday
night nearly closed up, but not wholly eo, lest it should
cause a further explosion. A considerable quantity of
white vapour continues to issue from the aperture left in
the upcast shaft, indicating that there is still an intense
heat in the pit. Tests have, however, been applied, from
which it would appear that the heat is considerably
abating. At 4 p.m. on Friday a thermometer was sus-
pended 20 yards down the upcast shaft, and the test
has been frequently repeated, showing that the heat has
gradually fallen from 105 deg. on Friday afternoon to 85
deg. at the same hour on Saturday. At the latter period
a piece of wood and a piece of iron were lowered to
the bottom of the upcast shaft by means of a piece of
tarred rope. On being drawn up at the end of a quarter
of an hour it was found that neither the wood nor the
rope bad been cha7red or burnt, the wood and iron being
but slightly warmed. From this it would seem that the
heat is greatly abating. It is only fair to state, how-
ever, that water is flowing somewhat largely from the
sides of the shaft, and as the water had evidently fallen
upon the wood and iron it had no doubt influenced the
result of the experiment.
The exact number of persons in the pit has not yet
been ascertained, but in addition to those published on
Saturday 450) the names of about 20 more sufferers have
been ascertained. Mr. Nicholas Wood arrived at the
place about 4 o'clock p.m. on Saturday, accompanied by
Mr. Gillot, of Monk wearmouth, colliery viewer.
On the subject of the exploration of the mine and
closing of the downcast shafts the Manchester Guardian
of Saturday says :--
" Between half-past 4 and 5 o'clock (on Thursday after-
noon) a consultation was held between Mr. Coe and some
of the leading mineral viewers of the neighbourhood as to
making an attempt to explore the main road as far as pos-
sible. The general opinion was that imminent danger
awaited those who might make the effort, while some
thought there was a possibility of the risk not being great.
But each stood there ready for the attempt; each volun-
teered, calmly and after consideration, to face a danger
greater than that of most battle-fields. When the prepa-
rations had been completed Mr. Poe got into the cage, ac-
companied by Mr. Webster, of the Wombwell Main C)1-
liery, and Mr. Maddison, athe Hoyland and Elsecar pits.
They got to the bottom,and made their way to the south for
300 yards, doing all that was possible to make good the
doors and stoppings that had been blown out, and thus
partially to restore the ventilation. They passed some
dead bodies, and sawothers lying at short distances in the
workings. but their number was not great ; and as they
found no ono alive, they were not diverted from their ob-
ject—that of ascertaining what could be done to check the
fire and clear the workings of gas, so that a search might
be made. But when they got within sight of the furnace
under the ventilating shaft they discovered that all around
it the coal had ignited and was burning fiercely. Nothing
could therefore be done in that direction ; so the three
brave fellows returned to the eye of the upcast, and after
breathing awhile there they groped their way along the
north level. They went 400 yards, still occasionally pass-
ing corpses, but uncheered by a sight or sound that indi-
cated the vicinity of any to whom they could be the mes-
sengers of hope or life. One thing was satisfactory—no
fire was visible upon that side. But when they retraced
their steps, and got again to the south of the upcast, they
found the fire spreading so rapidly along the coal, and the
heat becoming so intense, that they decided to give up the
search, feeling that they could aid no one, and that to re-
main longer would be wantonly to risk their own lives.
And it was time, for, while all suffered very much, one
of the three was nearly overpowered by the sulphur, and,
falling, he narrowly escaped being enwrapped by the
lames.

" The three gentlemen named had thus spent more than
an hour and a half continuously in the burning mine.
Their prolonged absence caused the greatest anxiety as to
their fate, an the fears were much heightened by what
occurred not long before the watched-for signal from be-
low was heard. For about that time the flames shot up
high above the cupola ;' bricks and shattered timbers
were scattered far and near; the lurid glare spread over
miles of country, and a broad, well-defined streak of soot
and ashes was deposited across several of, the adjoining
fields, while the bank was covered with coal and wood
ashes. Those below knew nothing of what had occurred ;
those above attributed it to a second explosion, which had
probably done immense damage to the works. There is no
doubt that what we have described was coincident with
the rapid extension of the flames, which placed the search-
ers in so much danger.
" Another long and anxious consultation was held ; and
its result was a determination to cover with boards and
puddling the months of the upcast and pumping shafts. At
this time the level ground and steep slope between Womb-
well and the colliery were crowded; and when the deter-
mination became known it naturally staggered the hopeful
and appalled to silence those who had scarcely dared to
hope that yet any human beings might be got up alive.
That the pieasure showed on the put of the proprietors,
viewers, &c., a conviction that no hope could be enter-
tained that any one below was alive is true ; but, even, if
such bad not been their conviction, they believed that such
a step was the most prudential. For it was felt that no
search could be attempted while the fire raged, and that no
one could get through the fire to the shaft, so as to escape ;
that nothing could be done until the fire was at least
checked ; and that it could not be checked until the ingress
of air was prevented. The effect of stopping the two
shafts was soon seen in the disappearance of flames from
the cupola • but the smoke showed that the coal was
still smouldering most extensively, and that no one could
reach the bottom alive."

The proprietors of the pit felt that in permitting the
downcast shafts to be closed they incurred a most grave
responsibility, and, as stated in The Sun of Saturday,
they during Friday morning took the opinion of a num-
ber of colliery viewers and other gentlemen whom they
invited from the surrounding district, upoa the subject.
That opinion was one of unanimous approtal. In order
to set themselves right with the public the proprietors
and the gentlemen by whom that course had been ad-
vised again called the colliery viewers and other gentle-
men together and invited the representatives of the
press to be present at the meeting to hear the opinions
on the subject. There were present Mr. J. Woodhouse
Day, an eminent colliery viewer from Derby, in the
chair; Mr. C. Bartholomew, South Yorkshire Com-
pany ; Mr. Henry Holt, of Wakefield ; Mr. Beecher,
of Chapcltown ; Messrs. S. and T. Sutcliffe, of Barns-
ley ; Mr. Maidicon, of Barnsley ; Mr. Charles Morton,
Government Inspector ; Mr. Webster, of Iloyland ; Mr.
Cue, of Lundhill ; Mr. Peacock, of Barnsley ; Mr.
Chambers (Newton, Chambers, and Co.) ; and the pro-
prietors of the mine.

The CHAIRMAN, referring to the closing of the down-
cast shafts, justly observed that such a measure was cal-
culated to excite public feeling, considering that a great
number of bodies were left in the pit ; but it was the
only hope. The accident occurred at half-past 12 o'clock,
so that a period of seven hours elapsed before the pit
was closed. Another resolution was that Messrs. Web-
ster, Cos, and Maddison should be deputed to carry out
the views of the committee. The proprietors of the col-
liery were called in, and were informed of what had been
done, and were fully satisfied. The opinion of Mr.
Woodhouse was that practical men should carry out the
views of the committee rasher than that the responsi-
bility should rest upon the owners of the pit. The com-
mittee would consist of Messrs. Woodhouse, Hartack,
Holt, Webster, the Messrs. Maddison, Mr. Cooper, Mr.
&liars, Mr. Carr, and Mr. Child, all practical men con-
nected with the colliery.
Mr. WEBSTER gave an account of the result of his
visit to the mine. On getting to the bottom of the shaft
they found that the lower portion of the elides and
broadgates were entirely blown up and destroyed, and
on proceeding further they found the coal around the
furnace was in a complete state of ignition. The coal
and woodwork in the upcast shaft had taken fire, and
the flames were raging furiously. He could compare it
to nothing but to a stream of molten metal being
poured down the shaft. They proceeded about 200 or
250 yards along the south level, and found the whole
of the furnace down and the coal on fire. They pro-
ceeded up the levels and broadgates as far as they
dared to venture, until they came in contact
with the foul air, and were obliged to retreat.
They returned to the shaft, and then made an exa-
mination of the north levels, along which they pro-
ceeded for a distance of 400 yards, up to the fourth
broadgate. During the investigation they found many
dead bodies, and the men who accompanied them
brought the remains to the shaft. One man was found
dead close to the bottom of the shaft ; further on they
found 10 bodies in a mass. Not far from the furnace it
was supposed that a large number of bodies were lying,
as the men generally congregated near the fire at dinner..
The furnace was blown down, and the stables (contain-
ing six horses) were on fire. When they got near the up-
cast shaft they saw immense masses of coal and rock
falling down. The shaft was like a furnace. The differ-
ence in the state of the fire when he entered the pit and
when he left it was very great. They were in the pit
above two hours. The stoppages and brattices between
the two shafts wero completely blown away, and theroef-
fore, except in the level, the pit was dead—i,e., full
bad a'r. They would have succeeded in putting up stop-
pages, but the fire increased to such an extent t they
were obliged to retreat. They were so placed that_ if
direct
had not retreated they would have been excluded'f
r,o theythe
air and i.uffocated, I,ecause the air was " backin
from one shaft to the other. He, Mr. Coe, and Mr,.
Maddison ascended the shaft and held a consultation,
but their companions ascended in haste, saying that it
was impossible for any one to remain down any longer.
Of course they then considered it their duty to acquaint
the owners with the position of the mine, and to state
that it was imperative to close the shafts, as there was no
rantly,emore lives, and that it was the
pit in a condition fit for work.
probability
only
chance
consulted with
to
inocnu rr
anded
ing in again, He gone
•
down with them. They were called separately, and
otfosarevnindge
Trileesyolue
asked if they were of opinion that it
.was impossible to
4et any more bodtiehsoyouatctoedf tuhpeomninteh.eir
with ttem, and ~
their own by covering over the tops of the pits. In a
few minutes after they left the mine the cupola shaft
was filled with fire, which reached 50 yards above the

summit, and the sparks from that body of flame ascended
100 yards higher.
Mr. MORTON (Government Inspector)—This was very
strong evidence that you had nearly remained too long.
Mr. MADDISON confirmed the statements of Mr. Web-
ster. He particularly mentioned the immense difference
they found in the state of the flames from the time they
first saw them until they left the pit. The fire wag
really awful when they came back. When they passed
the stables at first they could go up to the fire and kick
the embers with their feet, but when they came back
they durst not approach the place ; the flames extended
from one end to the other. They would have been
killed if they had not retreated at the time they did. ,
Mr. C. BARTHOLOMEW expressed his conviction that all
the men in the pit must be dead.
Mr. WEBSTER added that he had reported his proceed-
ings to the committee, who concurred with him as to
the propriety and prudence of the course he had adopted.
Mr. MORTON declared his concurrence in the prudence
of the measures which had been adopted, as exp:ained by
Mr. Webster and Mr. Maddison. The responsibility
which Messrs. Coe, Webster, and Maddison bad all'
sumed of closing a pit which contained more than 150
persons was a very fearful responsibility, but they b°,re,
it creditably, and the measures they had adopted cetw4
not have been improved under the circumstances.
Mr. BARTHOLOMEW.—It would be satisfactory to the
public to be assured that the pit was not closed until
there remained no chance of saving any more lives. ,
Mr. MORTON expressed his approval of a repose'
which had been made to force carbonic acid gas into the
pit with a view to extinguish the fire yet burning. :If
the pits had not been closed they would not have been
able to get into them again for many months ; the probe"
bility was that the shafts would have closed themselvect
and the loss of the whole colliery would have been ion'
minent. There could not be two opinions that when the
shafts were closed there was not a man living in the pit.
He supposed, of course, that the search was not llbalv
doned untill all hopes of recovering any bodies were 01‘.
tinguished.
Mr. WEBSTER.--Certainly not. I did not leave that
mine until every hope was gone. The men who accco"
panied us begged us to return, but we did not clone
back until we were positively frightened for our ova
lives. If we had remained longer we should have been
lost.
The INSPECTOR said that he should spare no exertkon
to have the cause of the accident fully investigated when
the proper time arrived, He suggested to the owner°
that they should do their best to allay the grief of the
persons who were bereaved of their friends. Manz, °f
,
them were not only suffering intense mental anguish,
but it was to be feared were suffering also from want
food and money.
The CHAIRMAN said the proprietors of the colliery bee*.
given 5001. as a beginning to the subscription, and
had no doubt the example would be followed.
On all hands it is stated that the Lundhill Colliery
was regarded as almost the model mine of the district!
that the air-ways were spacious, the ventilating myrtle!
ample • and that the proprietors had from the firstsparedno expense in doing all that could be suggetn7,
to make and keep the workings in the. safest state pol,
sible. Although the seam is admitted to be "
it is stated that accumulations of gas, even smaltl
bulk, were very rarely discovered. The firemen: L 4
strict orders, which the proprietors do not suppose sve.7,
disobeyed ; and the working rules generally, hal'lPl
been drawn up with care, have been strictly enforce-1
Corbridge, the fireman who was below at the time P
the explosion, and is now alive, has stated that ever'
thing was most satisfactory during Thursday forenc °fa
and that up to the fatal moment he considered the 010'
as safe as at any period since it was opened. If firedamp
was discovered during the inspections early in the ulorl
ing, or at any other time, a board, bearing the I;
" fire" in conspicuous letters (white, with a red gong
was hung at the entrance of the particular working, °I
the occupiers of it were bound not to enter until Per
mitted by the firemen. The system of working Wye 0
that of " leading and following banks ;". the ventilati%
round the face of the coal was considered excellent, 611„
no pillars have yet been " robbed" or " get." Indeed,
although the mine has been worked extensively dur_li,
the two years it has been in operation—the ave`7o„, s
being about 600 tons a-day—only 13 acres have)
been " got." But, having stated these facts, it reccra
to be added that the men worked with candles, Illge”
lamps being very rarely used by them, and never I'
cept when the firedamp was known to exist. It is 01:
that there has only been one previous fatal accident in
the Lundhill colliery. That was from an explosioc
firedamp—accumulated between Saturday and Morldigle
during the sinking of the shafts; and it caused the des
of two or three persons. The coroner for the district.
Mr. Badger, but nothing has transpired as to whea
inquest will be commenced ; and evidently no idea
s"
be formed of when it will be possible to pursue the
quiry into the cause of this deplorable accident. a
Since the above was written the result of a long the
earnest consultation, held on Saturday evening at irkoffices of the proprietors, by Messrs. Day (in theral,„(lhif6oii;
N. Wood, C. Morton, Government Inspector, l,rhe
and other colliery owners, has been made known.
decision arrived at was not to try the experiment
troducing incombustible gas into the mine, but onlY
introduce steam and allow a considerable (Pa
This statent" 0
f
water to accumulate in the workings.io
things is to continue until Wednesday next, when it f
understood that Mr. Wood and the other members
the managing committee -will again meet and con"
what further steps may be necessary. From what W 5
stated it would appear that the committee are of opinion
that the heat in the pit is very greatly abated; but they
have given directions for the shafts to be still nore
securely closed up, being of opinion that if any ;
derable current of air were permitted to pass into " r•,,
mine an explosion of a more violent character would
suit, and the pit be again set on fire. During Saturl
the houses of the miners who have perished were visit
by members of the firm of Taylor and Co., who ear"'
relief to the necessitous.