The true Democrat., 1856-08-19
Terrible Collicry Explosion in WaIes-One


 Hundred and ten Lives Lost.
 The Liverpool European Times, of the 18th of July, gives the following account of the terrible colliery explosion in South Wales, a brief notice of which we had in the telegraphc summary of news brought by the steamship Arabia:
 An explosion occurred on Tuesday, the 18th inst, in the colleries of Messrs. Inslee & Co.,, at Cymmer, situate in the Rhoudda Valley, about fourteen miles above Cardiff which has produced consequences hitherto unparalleled in the melancholy history of colliery accidents in South Wales.
 Itappears that on Tuesday morning 116 or IF men and boys went down into the Gym mer pit, little anticipating the horrible catas. rophe about to occur. The two fremen, whose duty 1t was to examine the pit, to ascertain if there was any foul air or gas in it, reascended at about o'clock, pronouncng the pit safe.-- In less than an hour after--indeed, before some had stripped off their clothes to commence work, the terrible gas exploded, and the af- lighted people ran hither and thither for few moments. Then one fell in the dark, and others staggering along, stumbled on their dead companions, and fell dead also. Here some were struggling amid the tortures of the fire There train full of boys, all doad; and in other places ill sidingS or inches in the level, \ men had sat down to await their fearful doom, and had died with their elbows resting on their knees, and their faces buried in their hands. Some had struggled forward no doubt hoping to reach the airways and possibly escape. When the report of the explosion was heard | on the surface, 1t was too we'll apprehended what had occurred. Rumor says that for a day ~two previously, indications had been given Of what was about to occur. "Bowers," or casual explosions of gas had taken place. Two dOorwavs had been blown down only on the previous day, and there were too many reasons 10 believe, from the quantity of electricity with which the air had been charged, that an explo- son of more extensive nature might take place. This was too fully verified; and of the 200 colers who worked in the Cymmer Col hery more than one-half were at a moments notice swept into eternity. One hundred and sixteen human beings went down into the pit ot death that morning, and of that host only Il SIX returned alive.
 II The screams of the wives and mothers at the mouth of the pit-those women congre- \ gated there to await and recognize the dead as during the long interval that ensued between N the period when the first intelligence of the VI explosion spread on Tuesday morning till the tas tas body was brought out on the morning of Wednesday,, were frghtful and distressing Al day long the brave fellows who ventured down, almost in the face of death, to bring uI Ae dead, sent up the bodies of the unfortunate men and boys who had pershed, and wher '1eSe were brought to the surface, the recog- lton of beloved husband or darling child s"oke narrowing cries. On "Wednesday morn ng the Tooth body was brought out, and it was et to conjecture whether any still lay in the Ft of death. 1twas supposed, however, tha awho had perlshed were now brought up.
 Workmen were immediately put on to sup Py collins for the dead. There they were sorking hastility with the saw and plane, tc construct rude shells in which to deposit the Unfortunate dead in their untimely graves amid the crowds of eager people, still waiting to see the last of the dreadful catastrophe.
 An inquest was opened on the Wednesday and adjourned for fortnight.
 Many years have elapsed since any accden very serious nature had occurred in thi valley, which is celebrated for its coking coal and from which the Great Western railwa. gerlves the supply for its locomotive power The last plosion of sweeping character wa one in 1853, at the Middle Diflryn Colliery Killed
 \ At present of course, DO cause can be as ssned forthe explosion, but the barometer a @e tune was fallng-a circumstance whcl L@ attended every former occurrence of th
 Hua, and which should impose on the over ToKers extra caution whenever atmospheri
 ~efatlons may be expected.