Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-03-21
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE APPALLING
COLLIERY EXPLOSION TN ENGLAND.

T
CoLLIERY EXPLOSION IN ENGLAND.
Py yhe last steamer we receive. 5at otSbe ap-
a., sss., ,.g.s.s n Y E.sRiRgs s. e 5gs
that it most disastrous callnity of its kind that
has eytr occurred.
On the morning of the 10Th of February about two
hundred and twenty and lads went down the pit
commence the day work. the underlooker having pre-
ceded them to ascertain if the pit safe. At
number of the out of the pit to dinner-some
state twenty thrtyand at that time they had not
observed the slightest indication OF danger While the
men and the inhabitants of the district partakng
of the midday meal, about 129 o'clock, rumbling noise
was heard accompanied with sensible vibration Of the
earth, and at the same time loud report, which
heard at Hoyland Wentworth, and other villages
miles distant from the pit Immediately after the eSpo
sion vast numbers of rushed the mouth the
pit, many of whom had relatives among those below
and some ea of the excitement which prevailed may be
gathered from the fact that after the explosion tie mine
fred and the flames spread with such rapidy and
vehemence that they aseended up the shaft which is
about 260 yards Deep and lowered above the top of the
cupoa for twenty yards Illuminating the country
for distance around.
All efforts to extinguish the fire with engines were
found to be rutless and was then attempted
some of the unfortunate people within. Three daring
fellows ventured down. and succeeded in saving nineteen
men, more or less injured by the explosion After this
determined to hazard attempt at exploring the
workings of the pit. Among those who went down
Mr.. Webster, who gives the following of the
state in which he found the mine during his perous
ploration:
He said that getting the bottom of the shaft they
found that the lower portion of the slides and board gates
entirely blewn up ard destroyed and proceeding further
they found the coal around the furnace state
OF Ignition The coal and woodwork the upcast shaft had
taken fire and the flames raging furousy He could
compare to nothing but river of molten metal being pour
ed down the shaft They proceeded about eco 25O yards
along the south level and found the whole of the furnaces
down and the coal fire. They proceeded the levels and
boardgates far they dared to until they in
contact with the inammabe and obliged
They returned to the shaft and then made examination of
the north levels along which they proceeded for distance
400 yards up the first boardgae During the inYega
ton they found many dead bodies and the who
panied them brought the remains the shaft One
found dead close the bottom of the shaft further they
found ten bodies in mass Not far from the furnace was
supposed that large number bodies lying the
generally congregated the fire st dinner time. The
furnace blown down. and the stables containing six
horses fire. When they got the upcast shaft
they immense of coal and rock falling down The
shaft like furnace They in the pit above two
hours The toppages and braces between the two shafts
were completely blown away, and therefore, except the
level the pit dead, viz full of bad air. They would have
succeeded in putting up stoppages but the fe increased to
such an extent that they were obliged to retreat They were
SO placed that they had they would hare been
excluded from the air and suocaed because the air
backing direct from shaft the other Himself, Mr.
Coe and Mr. Madison assembled the shaft and held consul
taton their companions ascended in haste saying that it
remain down course
they then considered their duty to acquant the owners with
the position of the minc and that imperative
to close the shafts there probability of saving any
more lives that the only chance render the pit
in condition fit for working in again. Mr. Webster added
Nv companions and myself fearing the awful responsibility
which upon shoulders thought only prudent
to consult with the whe had down with They
called in separately and asked they of opinion
impossible to get bodies of the mine
They concurred opinion that it impossible and act
ed upon their resolution and by covering the
tops of the pits. In few minutes after of the
mine the cupola shaft filled with fire. which reached 80
yards above the summit and the sparks that body Of
fame assembled 100 yards higher"
After ascertainng the number of parties then in the
pit the painful resalt arrived that 162 still
remained in the burning mine of whose escape from their
fearful doom the slightest chance entertained
these fires sometimes last not only for days but for weeks
and months
As to the cause of the explosion no particulars have
vet been aseerained, probably will The sur
viyors are unable account for it and the explosion
seems the strange the pit had been carefully
amined only few hours previously. 1t is conectured
that fal had taken place in distant part of the
pit and suddenly let in an oyercharge Of fre-damp,
which by some means ignited, and so caused the
explosion.