Washington sentinel., 1855-03-23
Washingtnn sentinel.
Terrible Explosica--Thirty-se Seven Per-
sons Killed.

sons Killed.
The Richmond Penny Post, Of Wednesday,
gives the following account of the explosion at
the Midlothian Coal Pits, already noticed by
telegraph:
A good deal of excitement prevailed here
on Tuesday morning upon the reception of in
formation to the effect that an explosion had
taken place on Monday afternoon at the Mid:
lothian Coal Pits in Chesterfield county, about
thirteen miles from this city. We Immediately
despatched reporter to the spot, and are
enabled to give the public full particulars in
regard to the awful catastrophe.
The scene in the vicinity Of the pit was most
heartrending. Long rows Of cofins were
strewed along the ground, and the carpenters
hammer was busily engaged in closing them
up for interment. The cries OF the families OF
the unfortunate men who lost their lives, filled
the air and struck the most profound grief to
the heart of every beholder. The hands in the
pit were busily employed hunting for the dead,
and as each basket would arrive at the top of
the shalt containing mutilated body, the ac-
quaintances who recognized it would give vent
to their grief in loud lamenta tation More hor.
rible mutilation of the human body we never
saw. Some of the corpse were drawn up with
out rag OF clothing, and the skin literally
fayed OF. One body was taken out with the
legs burned off close to the body, which had
occurred from the deceased Laving been blown
into pile of burning timber.
The cause Of the explosion, as we learn
from Major Woodbridge, the President of the
Midlothian Company, was on accident which no
skill could have averted, and no caution pre-
vented. The company had worked shaft
and from the rising of the water in it, had
been forced to discontinue operations there.
The shaft being abandoned, the foul air accu-
mulated there, and needed only the application
OF fire to explode. The workmen in another
PIT belonging to the same company had worked
back to the old pit without being aware of it,
and upon setting off blast, the wall between
the two pits was blown through, the gas from
the old one running into where the workmen
were employed and exploding.
The fatal effects Of the explosion were as
sudden as if caused by lightning, and the floor
OF the pit was instantly strewed with the dead
and the dying. The accident occurred at half
past 5 o'clock Monday afternoon, and directly
the smoke had cleared away sufficiently from
the mouths of the shafts to allow those outside
to render aid to the victims, it was done. Dur
ing the entire night the buckets were at work
and the larger portion of the bodies were lifted
out.
Mr.. Job Adkins the superintendent was
most indefatigable in his efforts to get the
workmen out and aid the wounded after they
were gotten out. His explanation Of the cause
OF the accident is similar to that given by us
above, and shows that it could not have been
averted other than by providential means.
Last Of the Klled.-We give correct list OF
the killed and wounded, which was furnished
us by Mr. Adkins, to whom we are much in
debted for many favors in gathering the part
culars:
White Miners-John Lester, John Evans,
Samuel Gouldin, JOS. Hows, Thomas Dunn.
White Boys-Jonathan Jewett and William
Wright.
Negro Miners-Philip Forsee Henry Speers,
Frederick Harris, Alfred Woodbridge, Stepney
Burton, Daniel Depp, Wilson Mills, Fendall
Pickett, Grange Champion, Dick Hancock, Ed
Jordan Goode, Herod Pope, John Goode, Bob
Adams, Billy Harwood, Lewis jackson, Pat
rick Mills, Isaac johnson, VIM. Kinney, Bob
Burton, Armstead Ritchie, Chas. Wilson, Chas
Williams.
The whole number Of killed amounted to sc
persons.
List Of the Wounded.-The following is q
correct list Of those who were in the pit at the
time of the explosion, many Of whom are not
expected to survive their injuries:
White Miners-John Howe, Samuel Hunt
(boy,) Nicholas Ham, Thomas Kennedy, (boy. ;.
The latter had bis head badly fractured, and
the others were dreadfully burned
Negro Miners-Dick Smith, Henry Taia
ferro, Joseph White, Joseph Forsee, Frederick
Jones, Anthony Jones' Israel Walker, Frank
Mills, Isaac Minor, Dick Depp, Lewis Monroe