Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-04
A Tc--tbIc Sccnc.

The disastrous consequences OF q hro
which broke out in The shafting Of an Egg
lish ccal pit, in the county Of Durham, have
already been noticed. There were eighty
six men and boys in the various workings OF
the pit and after great eXertion the FIRE was
exiting uisaed, bot not until ten OF the num-
Der were suf Jcated 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 BIO
brought up, the scene, it is said, was distress
sing 10 the extreme. A local paper, IN de-
scriting it, says:
"Wheu the last of the living had been
brought to daylight, fearful signal was OBJ
served to be given by Mackey, the ssaithes-
man. |! was we'll understood, aud the hopes
which had up to that time been KEEP; alive in
the relatives Of those still in toe pit, that
those dear to them nigh: be saved, were de-
stroyed. A chain aud sheets were given 10
the Smithsonian. With these be descended
iato the dark abyss on bis fearful errand.-
The excitement aud anxiety we're now pain
fully intensified. Alter a longer interval
than usual, the signal was given; oue dead
body had been fastened to the staithesmau,
breast 70 breast; the rope was raised yard
or two; another ccrpae was slung TO the
rope; aud now the dreadful load is being
drawn up. The women cluster to the pit
mouth, aud the bodies arrive.
The first il that OF a iue boy. about thlr.
teen years of age. There is o beautiful ex.
preston upon his ccuatenance, and nothing
TO indicate that his young life had oeen ia
ken by violen: death. The body is uo-
strung, and s.alwart miner carries il, with
the tenderness aud gentleness of mother
nursing hOr child, to the anxious crowd
The child is recognized by its parents and
sisters, aud cries OF agony reEd the air.
The other brought up Is euvel1ped 10
shroud; it is taken from the ropes, and the
announcement that it is poor Kellett il made.
Renewed wailings startle the spectators as
hs is borne to his home. This fearful scene
is FIVE times repeated. Each time the rope
ascends aud brings with it two corpses-One
OF boy, another Of man. They are placed
on stretchers, and taken to the crowd to be
recognized aud claimed; and the repetition
of the same frightful scene produced the
deepest feeling of awe and horror"
| The scene at the bottom of the pit while
/ the fire was raging IN tho shaft, 10 thus de-
scrited:
"At the bottom of the shaft was furnace
constantly burning to secure ventilation.
| Around this furnace seventeen OF the men
collected during the night, for the purpose Of
procuring air and warmth, but they even.
tually became alarmed, lest the fire should
draw the gas from the workings and 50
cause an explosion. They, therefore, put
out the fire and during the remainder OF the
time that they were imprisoned they were in
utter darkness. The other men and boys
were in other parts of the workings; soma
were songregated 10 groups and engaged in
prayer, while others were singing and jok-
ing. aid telling tales, in order to cheer their
companions. One of them says he lay down
a! o'clock ani quietly slept the time away"