Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-12-16


audience dispersed.
t'nE 1rRnlE ACCIDENT At rns MIDLOTHIAN Coal
Prs y GHrslERFfFLp- -ELEvfS l.ives Losr.-lt was
briefly announced under ctr Geographic head in Sat
Grlay morning ISSUE that terrible accident bad
occurred at the Midlothian Coal Pits, Chesterfield
comfy by which eleven lives were lost. This calam-
II, MAS caused by the breaking in Of large body of
water from one or more old and .esered pits into
the one, by which the lahorers were Immediate
IL submerged and drowned
We learn the following particulars from the Rich
moud DisPa'h
a Some few years since the company, having
hansted their old pits sunk new shaft seven hun
dred tect deep, in the immediate ncghborhood, and
since tten have been steadily deepening their dggings
BY incline plnnes, until they have gone several hun
dfeA feet below the main shaft. For some months
past the Mining Agent has been afraid of cutting
into the old pits extending for under the ground
and filled with water and to guard against accident.
had had the coal veins bored to the length OF forty
feet in every direction TO guard against water These
horings were always continued in advance OF the
miners and TO Thursday afternoon had never drawn
water Surprising that all safe the night hands
descended the shaft that evening. and Immediately set
to work in the lower passages, proppng the arches
and preparing the tmbers Tor the operations Of the
following day.
As is the practice at these its. no mining being
done at night the engine which raises the coal and men
was stopped, the fire permitted 10 die out, and the
ropes all removed from the machinery. About o.
was standing the main shaft, the other hands
being in the workings several hundred feet below
him. he heard the sudden gushing of water beneath.
and becom ne alarmed Immediately sounded the sig
nal bell above for all. As soon as the engine could
he fired and steam got un, tive of the miners
Immediately descended the shaft, and found at the
bottom the man who had given the signal standing
in water up to his arm pits and nearly dead from cold
mud alarm. He taken above possible,
and some time after another Of the unfortunate crca-
lures was rescued, the water continuing 10 rise.
Daring the hurry and confusion incident 10 sneh
destruction Of human life the boiler fthc engine
ployed above ground in working the machinery burst
into fra gments which caused partial suspension of
operations, bnt the agent and his assistance aided by
that klfu and daring miner, Mr.. job Atkins, OF the
English pits, set about preparing substitute for the
engine, in order to make renewed efforts to recover
any of the men that might have escaped death by
drowning.
When our informant left It had not been certainly
aSrertaned whether there more than thirteen
in the pits, six of whom were white and seven
coored. HI describes The scene rs the most dis
tressing he ever witnessed Wives weeping for their
husbands children for their fathers and friends for
friends added to the excitement of those who were
striving TO learn the worst must have filled every
heart with anguish.
TIE GASP EScAnpNEyT OF KNIGHT TGNpLtRs of
Virginia closed its annual assembly in Richmond on
Friday. The following named officers were elected
Tor the ensuing year
EDWARD II. GILL, Grand Master.
j. ROBIN MCDANIEL, y &. Master.
". b. lSAAcs; g. Gencraissimo.
l.. G. p. CowPER, &. c. General
PATRICK ROBERT q. Preatc
JAMES Evans. G. Treasurer.
JouS Dow, &. Recorder
JoHS ". PoTTs, 5. g. Warden.
Il. O. IlAsKSs. J. &. Waraca
GEORGE ". DANE G. sta darl Bearer.
p. B. STARK, G. Sword Bearer.
X. l.. WIrHERs, g. Warden.
ENASuFt SHmoN &. Steward.
B. 7. CHALK G. Sentinel
/ SUDDEN DEArH.--tiarlncr Grant, Sr, q citizen oil
this county residing in the Forks, was discovered
lying in the road on Monday evening last IN an IN
sensible condition the residence OF Mr, John
tIlrk-ta which lie was carriel He had fallen from
ms horse. prohahy in M apopieetc III. lie never
manifested any CONSCIOUSNESS after he was ionn'I ana
died on Wednesday morning De"off''.
REAL EsTATE IL RocKISGHAN--The late assess
mtnt Of Real Estate in Rockingham county amounts
TO the sum Of So 27o33i 08 follows: lst district
S2,75l 03 2nl district So 223.40e SO; Sd district S.
255lG5 95 The increas considerable over the last
assessment.
REr. JoHN II BococK.-We r. +rot to state that this
distinguished divine and Chri titan gentleman, pastor
OF the Old School Presbyterian Church mt this place
mas resigned his pastoral charge ndaccepted the can
ui the hridge Street Church Georgetown, u. Z. Mr.
bocotN Is of the alest diynes in the State,
combining in eminent degree all those qualities
mat are requisite in minister nfthe gospe.-Hdri-
'3r'lrg Democrat