, 1866-11-17
Collicry Explosion Mt NesxcastIe-Loss
orTxTcnty-1our Lives.

4 terrible accident occurred at Pelton Col
icrys, near Cllcste:-lc street, Newcastle, on
Wednesday morning, in consequence Of an
explosion Of gas or twenty-scven men
working in the part of the pit which was the
scene 9r the S;a only three were res
about flrc O'Clock, in the soutn side Of the
Dusty or Harvey Seam. The deputies, John
Grey and Jonathan Madison, and i young
man named John Anderson, went down into
the pit about twelve O'Clock to examine the
workings before the body Of the mcu began
ticrccd men, and upon their shoulders rested
the entire charge in the absence 0i Mr.. james
1titson, tho under viewer, Mr. Morrison, the
viewer, not being at homo at the time Of tho
occurrence. At : o'clock the men proceeded
to their work, followed bY the boys at 5,
there being about forty Of them ali in lhe
different parts Of the rit. Nearly thirty mcn
and boys were engaged III the south side, TIE
OILERS being at work on the north. These
two eiacs are entirely separate in their ven
tilat:ou, aud although they are both reached
l.. the same shaft, are really distinct work.
it@s. Hence the effect Of the explosion syas
confined 70 the Dusty seam, in yliicl. it orig
mated. About the time previously men
ti"ilcd the Ia,ksmau was alarmed BY re-
port doEn the pit, followed by lie issue
from tie mouth Of the shaft. He thought
the woodwork coming down ahont him. and
made the best speed he could'to secure Him
sclf However hc was IN no danger. 1t is
Fald by eomc that the report was mt loud.
while atl'"rs affirm that they heard it ut !,
Erent distance from the place At all events
The shock was enough 10 wake the slcepcrs
in theadjoining collic.y village, AMI to spread
great alarm. MIR. Eitson, unde.-ricwcr: vii.
liam Bcattic, and Matthew Stoves were the
trst to ar5Sye on the spot, and they at once
went down into The pit to learn what had oc-
T1Irir n,,o} },f. $<
see that the accident must have becR of an
extensively fatal nature, as llc damage done
to the Ittwo.k was discovered to he very
great. So much injury had been done to the
apparatus for ventilation, doors being blown
away, and one Of the 1nain crossings" 4
very strong piece Of work, being destroyed,
that it was found impossible to push their
inquiries as to the nature OF The calamity
until lle ventilation had either been WHOLLY
or partially restored. Mr. Eitson, therefore,
willing men to partially repair the injury
done to the workings. The ventilation har-
irg been sufficiently restored, the work OF
recovering tue men and boys, dead OF living.
WAS commenced. The fltst body found Va.
brought to bank abnut an hour and halt
shaft. tue scarrhcrs came to those
who had a most miraculous ESCAPE from i'm.
n1cdiatc death, although their Injuries were
20 great that ultimate recovery WAS doubt.
iul. Alter that one dead body wGs found af
ter another in clos" succession, the tola
number being twenty-four Many Of liz
bodies were FUND covered with large quan
titles nf dforft, and were 60 fearfuliy man
! Elcd that they could scarcely be identified
" their tenow-work1ncn. Others. however
bore hardly any bruises, i. being apparent
that their death had resulted from The after
damp. It is somewhat remarkable that non,
q the men engaged in the nortt
side received anv injury worthy O
notice. They felt the shock OF til
explosion, which occurred some 10) or 50
yards from where they were employed, an,
they were rescued as speedily rs possibl
frrm the srcnc of their narrow cscapc, an,
Of the srddcn calling to their final accoun
of so many Of their fellow-beinss. By noo
all tue bodies lad been brought to bank
with the exception Of TINT Of one boy. The
were nj once removed 10 the unhappy home
which they had left only few hours bcfo,
IN the fullness of vigor, The excitemcr
That prevailed at ti,c pit-head, and through
Out the village ard ncighborhood while th
Painful Work Of bringing up the dead bodis
was gotrg OF, cannot be adequately d.
sc.ibed.