The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-02 00:00:00

FROCKING COLLIERY ACCIDENT.

On Wednesday morning one of the most appalling and
terrific accidents that has ever taken place in the locality
occurred at the Green Pit, belonging to the New British
Iron Company, near Ruabon, by which ten men were
killed and fifteen injured. This colliery has rendered
itself rather notorious for the number of fatal occurrences
that have taken place. The present accident occurred
in the south main level, in the No. 1 pit, at a depth of
about 300 yards. The cause of the accident was an explo•
sion of gas, which took place a little after eleven o'clock,
and the effect of which was felt at a distance of two miles.
There was, of course, great difficulty in finding all
who were killed, owing to the d6bris beneath which some
of them were buried. The excitement in the pit was very
great. The men to whom the accident occurred were
afterwards wound up, and upon their arrival at the bank
they were attended to by the doctor. The greatest prompt.
ness and care were exercised for the re'lef of the wounded.
Six dead bodies were wound up the pit, and, being placed
in the lamp room, were soon identified. Four other dead
bodies were drawn up the No. 1 pit, and placed in carts in
readiness. The scene in the villages onhearing of the accident
was heartrending. Everyone seemed panic-stricken, and
at once rushed off to the pit to learn who were the
sufferers. The roads were thronged with eager wives and
parents, who, meeting some of the fortunate survivors,
who were themselves ha3tening home to dispel the fears
of their friends, frantically asked them had they seen a
husband, a father, or a son, as the case might be.
One young man, who had made his escape out of the
pit, leaving two brothers behind, thinking they
had perished, was proceeding home, giving utterance
to the most mournful cries. When he had proceeded
some distance, he turned back to learn some little more of
the fate of his brothers. He had but gone a little way
when he saw his brothers coming, and he ran to them and
embraced them. He then fell on his knees, thanking God
for having spared them. Just before the explosion
occurred, Mr. Joseph Darlington, one of the underground
managers, was standing in the south main level with an
aerometer and a watch in his hands, testing the air, and
at that time the foul air which had been generated in the
pit exploded somewhere near him, knocking the watch
out of his hand and breaking it, and he was thrown
down, cut about the head and other parts of the body,
and slightly burnt. Those who were near the pit's eye
wero all burnt and knocked about by the force of the
explosion. The after-damp, following the explosion,
proceeded principally along the south main level,
where a number of men were at work about fifty
or sixty yards from the pit's eye. These were
all suffocated by the effect of the after-damp,
with the exception of one man, who exhibited signs of
burning. A great number of the killed were found lying
in various positions along the level, most of them having the
appearance that in running away from the danger they were
overpowered by the effect of the gas and fell down. There
were a few who were found buried beneath the rubbish,
and one man, named Mesech Jones, was passed in the
first search after the bodies, but afterwards upon turning
up one of the " hutches " he was found in the hollow
of it. Speculations are of course rife as to the cause of
the accident. The story which gains most credence is that
foul air was generated in the " stump," and, upon rising
to the level, it by some means, still unknown, took fire
and exploded. The deceased men were drawn to the
surface in twos and threes, the first two being, we are told,
a man named Moses Andrew, and a boy named Henry
Ward. The last three were drawn up about four o'clock
in the afternoon. One little boy saved his life by placing
a part of his waistcoat in his mouth, thus keeping out some
of the foul air. When the last great accident occurred,
the medical attendant of the works (Dr. Burton) advised the
men to work in flannels, and not half naked, as is often the
case ; and if an explosion took place, they would be much
less liable to be burnt. Most of them adopted his advice,
and it is confidently believed that, in consequence, some of
the effects of the present accident had been obviated. At
first it was thought there were more than ten killed, and
the search was continued after that number was found.
Mr. Robert Taylor searched the pit thoroughly about
seven o'clock, but was unable to find any more bodies.