The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-11-27

\ TERRIBLE SCENE.-We have already
noticed the disastrous consequences of fire
which broke out in the shafting of an Eng
lish coal pit,in the county of Durham. There
were eighty-six men and boys in the vari-
GUS workings of the pit, and after great ex-
ertion the fire was extinguished, but notun-
til ten bf the number were suffocated by the
smoke. The bringing up Of the living was
watched with intense feeling by thousands
of spectators; but when the bodies of the
dead began to be brought up, the scene, it
is said, was distressing in the extreme. A
local paper says: ,
"When the last of the living had been
brought to daylight, fearful signal was OBJ
served to be gwen by Mackay, the staithes-
man. 1t was well understood, and the hopes
which had, up to that time been kept alive
in the relatives of those still in the pit that
those dear to them might be saved, were de-
| stroyed. A chain and sheets were given to
| the Smithsonian. With these he descended
into the dark abyss on his fearful Grand
! The excitement and anxiety were now pain
| fully intensified. After a longer interval
than usual, the signal was given one dead
body had been fastened to the staithesman,
| breast to breast; the rope was raised yard
or two; another corpse was slung to the
rope; and now the dreadful load is being
drawn up. The women cluster TO the lit
mouth, and the bodies arrive
The first is that of fine boy, about l3
years of age. There is a beautiful express
sion upon his countenance, and nothing to
indicate that his life had been taken by a
violent death. The body is unstrung, and
stalwart miner carries it, with the tender.
ness and gentleness Of mother nursing her
child, TO the anxious crowd. The child il
recognized by its parents and sisters, and
cries of agony Tend the air The either
1 brought up is enveloped in a shroud, it i:
lstal1en from the ropes, and the announcement
that it is poor Kellett is made. Renewed
wailings startle the spectators as he is borne
to his home This fearful scene is five time:
4: repeated Each time the rope ascends, i
brings with it two cOrpses, one Of boy
another of man. They are placed OF
stretchers, and taken to the crowd, to bt
recognized and claimed, and the repetition
; of the same frightful scene produced thu
deepest feelings of awe and horror.
The scene at the bottom of the pit, Will
the fire was raging in the shaft, is thus de
scribed. s-
DAT the bottom of the shaft was fur
mace constantly burning to secure yentila
ton. Around this furnace seventeen of tn
men collected during the night, for the pur
+ pose Of procuring air and warmth, but the.
eventually became alarmed lest the fir
should draw the gas from the workings an
50 cause an explosion. They, therefore, pu
Is out the fire, and during the remainder o
l. the time that they We're Imprisoned the
: were in utter darkness. The other me
ana boys were in other parts of the work
u ings; some were congregated in groups an
engaged IN prayer, while others were sing
ing, and joking and telling tales, in orde
II to cheer their companions One of ther
a says he lay down at o'clock, aud quietl
- slept the time away