The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-05-16
COAL MIME ExPLoeIoNslt
TERRIBLE LOSS or LIFE.
lTw ENTY Pc RsONs KILLED


On the arrival OF the Danvile cars Yesterday af
ternoon, we learned Of terrible explosion and
great lose Of life at the .Engllsh Coal Pits, 10
Chesterfield county about fourteen miles from this
city, and IN order to become possessed Of all the
particulars. we procured a fast team from Mr. Cos
BY on Wall street, and ct once repaired to the f.
tai scene
When we reached the pits our heart became APP
palled at the shrieks and grosns of the widowed
wives, whose husbands, many Of them in the prime
of life had been hurried into eternity; OF the sobs
and tears of children anienting the death OF their
fathers; and Of mothers, who, but few hours be-
fore, had parted from their darling boys, the pic
lures of health and cheeriulness, now in the cold
embrace of death. Sad and heart.rending indeed
was the sight before us, and we could but excaim,
| from the deepest recesses OF our heart, what
shadows we are and what shadows we pursue"
On arriving at the location of the shaft beneath
which the accident had occurred, we saw grouped
| around it some twenty thirty men, apparently
| dumb-founded, laboring earnestly to secure from
the depths beneath the remains of their coaborers
| friends and acquaintance. From Mr.. JOSEPH
FoIzEY, the manager we learned that there were
there was very little reason to hope that any of
| them were alive.
MIR. JOB ATTK1naa experienced MINER and one
OF the superint ID of the Midlothian Pits. !"
had come over, and with his usual daring, at once
volunteered to descend to ascertain the result OF
| the explosion, and il possible secure any OF the
| miners who might not be dead Fresh air was inn
mediately pumped in, the pit speedily purified and
Mr.. with other volunteers stepped into the back
ct aud were instantly lowered They lad only been
down short time, when the signal was given and tn e
bucket, containing the crushed, mangled and life
less body of MosEs CYRIE, was drawn up The
bucket being again lowered, the signal was repeat.
| ed, and VIM. ELLIOTT was drawn up dreadfully
| burned and bruised, but not dead. He was imme.
diately taken to his boarding house near by where
medical aid was promptly given but it is greatly
! feared that he cennot recover
Ths third body rescued that of JOS RIGHT
sHAWs an intelligent lad about IA years of age whose
father was killed by explosion in the pit in
1851. This poor little fellow had helpless widowed
mother and, perhaps brothers and sisters for whose
support he was laboring at the time of his death -
His remains were badly burned and charred, but his
countsnance as calm and placid il only asleep.
The fourth signal brought up the blackened and
eudiiou curse oI ROBERT SROSTlch, man OF iaiii-
| ly and very worthy citizen, who, from appearsn-
ces, was just in the ect of putting his hand to his
mouth, when the explosion. which killed him, took
| place.
Mr.. JOB ATKINS who had descended the pit. now
| came up, and reported that there five six
other dead bodies at the end of the shaft the first
inclined plain and that farther down there were ten
| or twelve Others, all of which were more or less
| blackened, disGgured and charred by the sad acct
dent He further stated that the four mules in the
| pit all dead; and that there no hopes of
| finding any of the miners alive On this report,
volunteers were preparing to descend the pit to
the dead bodies when left the scene, at 10
| O'Clock, P. M.
The explosion took place about half past II o'clock
and must have happened just at the time when the
miners had ceased their labors and eating their
dinners. How it originated it is impossible to tell
at this time, Though the presum ptien is that of
the men thoughtlessy approached some of the old
'damps." with their lamps, and that the explosion
was caused by the escape of gas from unknown
leaks. Certain it is that not ten minutes before the
accident two of the miners ascended the shaft and
up to thetime that they left, gas foul air had
been discovered. This pit is 625 feet Deep and ex-
plosions have occurred in it two or three times be.
FORE +*.
We give below the names of the persons who
in the pit at the time of the explosion the first
twelve of whom married men, and have left
helpless and destitute families to mourn their loss
Moses Cyrie, John Thurman.
Albert Branch, Henry Godsey,
Thos Tompkns, William Elliott
Ezekiel Dobbins, John Elliott
Robert Williams, Samuel Vest, -+as
John Jones, John Peacock
Robert Crostck, Joseph 81 aw,
Henry Vest, jeremiah Kane,
William Palmer, Thomas Brown
John Kiver, Joseph RightshAw.t
Taose marked thus are boys.
We sincerely hope that philauthropic citizens
win at once put foot Inscription to aid the
helpless widows and children of the unfortunate men,
who have with this sad and sudden calamity; and
that all who do So will contribute literally and
promptly Money will not heal the broken hearts of
the unfortunate survivors but 1t will save from
starvation. ..tsr E-z5
Before closing our hasty and imperfect notice. we
must return many thanks to Messrs. Foley Clifford
John and Job Atkins, and other gentlemen whose
names do not remember, for their extreme cour-
tesy in enabling to gather such facs as we have
already gwen
FAIRFIELD RAcRs-It is only necessary
for our readers to be reminded that the spring
races over Fairfield Course commence to-day. to
ensure large attendance. Those who wish to
have pleasant trip to the track, and at the same
time get clear of the exhorbtsnt charges of hack
men to take them out can readily do SO bya pleas
ant walk up nth street through Towards Grove
when they are almost upon the course The gate
fee is a mere song to one who wishes to see good
race but when extra dollar is stuck on for the
benefit Of hackmen, the tax Tor q little pleasure
becomes onerous. Persons who do not belong to
the Club can have the privilege OF the quarter
stretch during the week, by paying S., which is
only one-half the amount each member OF the