Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-04-17
Terrible CoIliery Explosion at Glover
Hill Hines.

terrible explosion which took place at th
Glover Hill Mines, near Richmond, o
Wednesday the Sd, are taken from the dc
tailed reports, published in the Richmon
Dispatch:
Bright Hope Mine was opened in 1851
the Clover Hill Railroad Company. 1t ha
two shafts, about 800 feet in depth, and
extends north and south about $500 feet
In 1859 an explosion took place in this mine
which resulted in the death Of nine men. /
has always been considered very safe, having
as fine avenues and apparatus for ventilation
as it was possible to have, and, therefore
accidents can only be attributable to neg
lgence.
When we reached the mouth of the pit We
found the northern or downcast shaft entirely
closed with sand. while the southern shat
was filled with blue sulphurous smoke VI
to within ten feet of the top. Nothing could
be seen beyond this: not sound came from
the dep:h, below and the thought that sixty
nine human beings lie dead at the bottom
was sckening. We turned away and left tht
scene, finding it necessary to collect ourselve:
before proceeding to gather the facts connec
ted with the calamity. We were enabled
through the courtesy of Captain J. P. Cox
assistant superintendent of the mines, tc
gather the substance of what we give below
At about half.past o'clock on Wednesday
afternoon a tremendous explosion was heard
proceeding from the mouth of the northern
shaft of Bright Hope mine, whicr was follow
ed by rush of dust and smoke from both
shafts The explosion was supposed to have
taken place on the upper or mining level. In
a minute or two afterward second explosion
took place, which was nearly as loud as the
first, and in about ten minutes this was fol-
lowed by q third explosion, which could
scarcely be heard. Superintendent Owens
and Captain Cox Immediately went to work
with what force could be gathered. They
fist commenced 10 FIX the ropes, which were
found to have been broken by the force Of
the explosion and without these it was i'm
possible to descend. The rope was taken
from the s;uthern shaft aud attached to that
of the northern shaft. The telegraph wire
communication between the pits and the en-.
gine house was also found to be broken. This
had to be rcmedied, and it wa : fully o'clock
before everything was in readiness for the
descent. AT this time, Thomas Marshall,
Sr., chief gasman, John Strong and James
Duggen, miners, descended the pit slowly in
a small rock bucket, to within about 100 feet
of the. bottom, or $50 feet from the top, when
they could go no further, and were forced to
ascend in consequence OF the giving out of
the telegraph wire. They halloued down in
to the pit, but could hear no reply.
After they had reached the top, more wire
was obtained and attached, and in about an
hour the same party again went down, and
reached the bottom Of the shaft. They found
the water-sink there filled up with timbers,
blown into it by the explosion. Marshall
went out into the air passage about twenty
feet. and found tue door for the regulation Of
so impeded that he could 60 no
further. Strong went out into the upper level
Of the mine about eighty feet, and saw FIRE
near one of the magazines. He also dscoy.
cred dead mule about twenty feet off: They
halo ed repeatedly, but could not hear the
slightest sound in reply. Fearing to 90 fur
her on account of the fire, the men returned
% the top of the pitt
This examination net proving satisfactory,
another was made the next morning by Thorn.
Is Marshall, Jr., Richard Berry and Lewis
Jux, colored, with the sar1c result. The fire
vas still found burning, aud an attempt to
ret to the south shaft through the " "stoppings"
or al: proved futile on account of their being
blocked up with the wreck of the explosion.
rhe party ascended, aad upon making their
epolt, the dreadful and only alternative of
los ng the shafts was determined upon, so
S to exclude the air, and thus smother the
he northern Shaft was closcd, but the south.
IN shaft was left open, for fear that the ex
an.ion OF heated air would cause an air
yplosion. This shaft was stopped yester-
ay-a slight aperture being LETT to prevent
ypIosion.
The scene at the pit after the explosion
as one terror and confusion. The report
as SO loud US to bcheard for miles and such
5 to leave no doubt as to its cause. In q
loment the miners in the vicinity, the wives
nd children Of those who were within, hur-
led toward the pit. Farmers who were plough.
lg in the fields unhitchcd their horses ard |
lloped thilher, and in the course of an hour
,veral hundred persons We're gathered there.
len ran here and there in the widest confu-
on; women and children gathered around
lcm, shrieking and imploring them to save
leir husbands, their fathers, their brothers,
their sons, and it was impossible to get
lem from the spnt. Quiet could not be re-
orcd until the first party descended. Then
ey awaited in dreadful anxiety to hear what
light be the result.
The fruitlessness OF the first attempt made
e suspense during the second but the more
yful an when the worst was made known,
wall of despair arose that made the stern
t and stoutest hearts quail Who can tell
e deep, bitter anguish of those women Z?
ut few hours ago their husbands, sons and
Others had left them in the full bloom of
alth, and now taey lie daad, hundreds of
Ut below them, iu the very bowels Of the
rth, torn to pieces BY the dreadful cxplo.
IN, some Of them perhaps still lingering in
Q agonies Of suffocation. Night fell upon
e SCENE, but they moved not, and who dar-
disturb them in their desolation? The
xt sun rose upon it, and Ehere were wives
d sisters still there, their countenances fill
with dismay, and their hands clenched in
lte despair,
Among the whites were several young
IN who had fought galluntly during the {
e war, and who were forced to work in
: mines for want of employment. They {
rvived the pcrils and hardships of war to
.et with death far more terrible than any {
on the battle field. Thirty whites and t
rty nine colorcd men have persisted. 9
The cause Of the explosion can, of course,
only matter of conjecture.
There are employed in the pit three gas t
N; Thomas Marshall, Sr., is the chief gas t
H. and Thomas Marshall, Jr, and John e
,ale, assistants. The duties Of the assis- q
It's are to go down in the pits heflre the !
plgmen, examine carefully, and see that I
'ryIhing is all right. The first one goes
gn in the morning, and is relieved at l2
lock by the second. Both of them are I.
: