The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-05-25
TnE RECENT ExpLOSroN AT THE
Coat MINES. CssEsTERrlsLp Co.


~ COAL PITB
Coat MINES CaEsTKRFiELp Co.,
An explosion haviag occurred at the pits
Of the Chesterfield Coal and Iron Mining
Company, attended with the loss Of nine
teen lives, on the 18th inst, MIR. iHoMAs
=. Foaz4r, the Mining Agent, requested the
nfkendnnce Of the Magistrates OF this division
,nf The county. with the concurrence Of Mr..
John Fsrrar. the Manager Of the Company,
n order that as much light - could be shed
upon the cause, which led 10 the calamity by
she evidence Of the men engaged working
In the pits, might be afforded for the golfers
and public satisfaction. Accordingly on this
day. Messrs. T.. Cunlife and r. Winfree, at.
tended at the pits and heard the following
statements made. by the several men, whose
names are attached to this deposition
George Schoefeld, underground overseer,
being 6rst sworn, deposeth as follows:
lst Question. WAS the pit as far as the
working was considered in good state of
ventilation
Answer.-h was
aud Question.--When did you last go
Answer.-Myselfa and Tompkins went thro'
the workings about six o'clock in the morn
ing of the 18th where the men worked, with
ont detecting any signs Of gas. We then went
after the men had started to work, down the
north mule incline, and examined the dams
ON that part Of the workings, and found them
all safe. We then came up to breakfast,
about twenty minutes to eight o clock. At
ter breakfast, we went down the pit again,
and went round the southside mule incline
into the south workings, where the coal has
been dug away; but. In consequence of the
roof having fallen down, we could not 20 to
the back Of the old workings, but found no
gas 90 far as we could 20.
3rd Question.-When did you leave the
pitt
Answer.--About 10 or IL minutes past IL
o. clock. 5f
4th Question.-Did Mr.. Tompkins accom-
pany you
Answer.--He did to the bottom of the
shaft
5th Question-Have YOU any reason to
suppose that he visited any portion of the pit
which he thought might be dangerous
Answer.-No, sir.
eth Question he any work which
he wished personally to attend to, whilst the
men were at dinner!
Answer.-Not particularly so, his dinner
having been sent down he would not come
up. y3
9TH Question Mr. Thompson's du-
Answer.-Yes, sir.
9Th Question.-Was there the utmost mu-
tual confidence existing between you
Answer-Yes.
9th Question.-Was there any besides you
two in the same position?
Answer.-No, sir.
10th Question.-In what state did you find
the pit after the explosion, and in what state
did you leave it,. and were you the last man
in it?
Answer.-Aftef the explosion which occur
red, myself and Job Atkins, went down about
twenty minutes past two O'Clock, and we
found the choke damp very strong at first,
but it soon began to clear away. We heard
one man mourn ON the north incline Mr..
Atkins wrote up that there was one alive, and
TOR more help TO come down. There came
down Thomas Wakelam and James Castle.
Myself Wakelam and Castle. went down the
north incline about 100 hundred feet, and
found VIM. Elliott alive and brought him up
TO the top Of the Incline. While Mr.. Atkins
was bringing him up the shaft, found Moses
Syrah in the north level top of north incline
We then fastened the doors at the bottom of
the shafts. after having sent Syrah out of the
pit. We then came up the north shaft, and
reversedthe air to its original course. We then
went down the south shaft and walked down the
south incline, and found Il in better condition than
we expected. We found the doors all blown out at
the botem Of the incline which we replaced az well
Is we could, and proceeded forward about fifteen
yards from the bottom of the Incline and we found
the bodies of John Elliott Robert Crostick Joseph
Shaw, Albert Branch, end Henry Godsey. then
went up the south drum incline and found John
Thurman on top OF said incline l then returned
TO the bottom OF the shaft incline, and told the men
! had found Thurman, as before stated. While
they were sending the bodies OF the men which we
dalready found out Of the pit, myself and VIM
10 m drrrpo
from there to the top of the north drum incline,
and found the body of John Jones. We then re.
turned to the south drum incline and found the gas
level with the top of the south mule incline. We
then returned to the bottom of south shaft incline
and we told the other men where the body of Jones
Icy. and also where the explosive gas was at that
time. They then went and fetched the BODY of
Jones then requested them to put a stopping in
said level which they had brought Jones out, 90 as
to conduct the air forward to take the gas away
from top OF south mule incline was now become
90 sick a. to be compelled, though unwilling. To
ecsme up out OF the pit; but the other men perse.
vered and found Henry Vest on top OF south mule
incline, but all now being SO exhausted were COM
PEELED to give over for the night. Tuesday mora
ing, 10th inst, about six o'clock, me and Thomas
Wakeiam went down. but stayed at bottom of the
snen until Joseph Rawlinson, George Jones' Tbos
Peacock and others came dow to assist us in onr
search, &c. We then went down the shaft incline
to the bottom from there to the top of south mule
,nciine. and found the explosive gas before men.
WGut q ao,,tl,
mule incline, followed by George Jones Josenh
kawitnson, Thomas Peacock, and Thomas Wala
lam. and found the bodies of Ezekiel Dobb;ns
ho6t Williams, Jeremiah Cain, and Thos. Brorxn'
called and told them had found four more hn.
aies' and they said, and we have found Wi,l,s,,
Palmer" We then returned to the bottom of ,ha
souio shalt incline tor help to fetch the hd;s
which we had already found and there met tI Me-
aob Atkins Mr.. J. Barrons and several Others wbo
save W every assistance they possible could haro
were now four bodies missine as thew were an;ac
TO fetch the bodies out they found Jabex Peaeoek
thelr way. They brought Palmer, and then we al
Went that could to fetch the other bodies While
s9ey were bearing one of the bodies awav. mvsaif
me 4 Guest, and George Jones found the bodies
u John HYPER and Samuel Vest. An the bori;es
were now found excepting one, and sent ont of the
pn we then came up to dinner, after which, NV
sen and Mr.. T. Guest, James Render and Others
went down south shalt and down the incline IN tI,s
ooom. crossed from there to bottom of north nh AZ,
ancnne aud myself and L. Guest went to ton nf
aostn drum incline; but after frutless search had
10 return without the body of Thomas Tomnk;ns
/. We olly one missing. Mr.. Guest and j. Kendlev
sucn went pthe north shaft incline about 400 sas;
equally uns1ecessul. when they were comue, n.;
20 return; and Mr.. Guest overpowered and 1' sx
.e.Nea' wethen came to the bottom of son,h sh.t.
tocuno end from there to the hottor. - -.S seaiI