Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-04-11
Dreadful Disaster.

Most of our readers are familiar with the
coal dug from the Clover Hill pitts in Chester
| field County, about twenty-one miles from
Richmond by road, and thirty-one by rail, the
company's branch railroad nineteen miles In
length, connecting at Chester, twelve miles
from this city, with the Richmond and Peters
burg railroad. These mines, which have been
worked for many years, consist at present, OF
three pits, known respectively as the Bright
Hope, Raccoon and Halls pits and from these
pits were raised last year about DOC, 900 bushels
of COAL Both Of the last named pits having
been for some time submerged, operations in
them were temporarily discontinued, and the
Bright Hope mine was the scene of terrific
explosion on Wednesday last, which without
a moments warning, hurled nearly hundred
human beings into eternity What was the
cause Of disaster must ever remain an impene-
trable secret, for the lips of all who might have
explained the mystery, are closed by the death
which spared none to tell the tale 1t Is sup
posed, however, to have been caused by the
neglect of drunken gasman 70 discharge the
duties of his Office, which are 10 examine. with
one of Davy's safety lamps, the condition OF
the air, and attend to the proper ventilation
Of the pits, this ventilation being kept up by
means of doors opening into various portions
of the pits the publication of the air in this
mine being additionally secured by powerful
wind-fan driven by the pit engine.
There are many other causes which may pro-
duce an explosion in the mines, one of these
being tumble, or las it is technically termed
by the miners, fall, which occurs when a
portion of the roof falling in, admits into the
! pit the impure gases which may have accumu-
lated above, and which taking fire from the
! lights used by the workmen, is sometimes the
cause of an explosion; but as we have already
stated, the cause of the late disaster viii never
be ascertained.
We are informed however that few days
since portion of the roof of this pit threaten
ed "a fall, and that Mr.. Owen was prepar-
ing TO put in scalers to prevent the danger.
The pit has two shafts fused respectively
for ascending and decendingl running $50 feet
beneath the surface of the earth, butso power
full was the explosion that the overseers on the
platform at the entrance to the shaft were
greatly Jared, and so terrific the heat of burn
ing gas that the rope to the bucket IN which
two or three poor fellows were at the time as
cendng to light and life, was instantaneously
severed as though by knife, and the unhappy
men with lightning-like rapidity were hurled
back to an awful. but happily, speedy death.
The number of operatives in the employ OF
the Clover Hill Company is nearly 200, and a
little village, with population Of about one
thousand, has sprung up in the vicinity of the
pits, and when the tidings of the disaster,
which had killed some seventy men, spread
through the village, the excitement, suspense,
and agony were intense.
The mouth Of the pit was soon surrounded
by some hundreds of persons, and the shreks,
means and lamentations of the female friends
of the victims were indeed narrowing. Stern
men, who had faced the horrows of the battle
field, were unable to bear the heartrendlng
scene and, weeping like children s.arned away
utterly unnamed.
The following letter, which was received on
Yesterday, will enable our readers family to
imagine the extent and the horrors of the CO
taStrophe:
CLOVER HILL, April 4, 1867.
d. S. Woodbridge, Esq.
Dear Sir-When the pit bottom was reached
last evening it was ascertrired that the lumber
house in the pit, which contained some powder,
was on fire. endeavored to get the men to
put it out, which, no doubt, could have been
done but the men feared the danger of another
explosion, and were unwilling 10 work. The
pit has been examined this morning, and the
lire so small that il could be managed if the
men were WILING 70 rislS rho CiTnscr. Under
all the circumstances, have determined to
save the pit by closing both shafts. We are
now engaged in, this work.
All OF the men, about seventy in number,
and ALL the mnles that were in the pit are OF
course lost. The bodies cannot be recovered
until the fire is extinguished and the pit is re-
opened. Very respectfully,
OF the victims of the explosion some twenty