The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-11-30
MInlFs COLUMN.
The Awful ColIlery Explosion nc Fern-
dale. EngLanda

dales Englanas A
The cable telegram which ppeared q few
tayssgo has prepared the req der for che De
sails. which are now at hand, Of one Of the
most disastrous callisry expo ons ever re- |
assted. Ii was stated that 80U persons were
in the cclllery when the accident occurred,
but II has sir &C been ascertained that the
number was greater
The Ferndale cOllieIy, the scene Of the 40 |
cident, is situated near Rhondda Each, IN
the Rhandda valley, seven miles from Pom
typridd and q miles from Cardiff, and 10
worked by Messrs. David Davies Il sons
From the London Times, Nov II.
For some days past in the end Ut last week, |
The weather was foggy. So dense was the
mist yesterday morning nothing could DC
distinguished half dozen yards on, and IN
the ntishoorhood Of the colliery, which Is
situated at TIE b, ttom OF valley, between
TWO ranges OF lofty hills, the fog was parsic-
uls.rlv thick. No doubt thi . state Of the air
interfered with the ventilalif Of the pit and
caused an accumulation Of tire-dAmp. The
explosion occurred at halfpast O'clock, and
such was its terrific force that the conclusion
shock the whole nine The report was
heard throughout the valley. Flames almost
burst up the shaft OF the pit, with cloud Of
ashes and stones. 1t was evident at once
to lhose above That frightful accident had
occurred, and steps were instantly taken 10
descend the lit as soon as the state Of tht
ar renas.e t safe. Messengers were Inn
u,diately Mt down the vAleWt to the neigh
boring pits, and over the mountains TO Aber-
dare and Merthyr, and from all parts of the
district workmen' rushed to the scene
az the disaster The manager OF the
colIiery, Mr.. j. Williams, was down In the
workings at the time ofthe explosion, and
: efforts were first made to lind him, If possis
bic, 50 thai, # alive, ; assistance might be
had ID directing operations for the rescue
Of he men. He was among the first found,
but, unAapplly, quite dead, having been suf
fgcated with cheke-damp. Exploring parues
were rapidly formed and sent into all the
workings, but the air was very foul, aud they
had 10 ptoceed very cautiously for fear of
another explosion, The pit having been so
shaken ihat large quantities CT gas bad
escape. They were also met BY heavy falls
ia tie anyways, and in many instances the
nenAiad 10 be dug out with pick and shovel.
1he process was excessively slow, and jt'
wasiound that almost all had been suttocsfed
by ,hs caTbonic acid gas .helREekthe men
: csala aeAck1si-sAe-shaIs to their assistance
By 6eluek 10 the evening" only thee per-
sons had been rescued and about 20 bodies
recovered. OF the three hitchers employed
atsthe bottom, tToha been blown violently
into The spnp and killed by the bruises, the
tl.ird miFdculousiy escaped with slight injury.
Relays Of workmen were continually sent.
down hut the obstacles were more formda-
BILE Than they anticipated, and the delay
which took pgace--somesilnes several hours
elapsing before any bodies could DO got at
Vas productive Of the most Intense and
Palnfsi anxiety in the people who had
arsssdsd fsuhd the pit waiting he arrvas
saisc. bank Of their hapiess relatives
The EaBk Of recovery went ON without IN
eriDg the whole night, many OF
naming at work until they
and with fatigue The
" recovered In patches
{ time, az the falls
4 there was the pro-
i@Fending suspense.
orning four or Eve
Mo,,.S ID above, almost all
'o'"0est there 10 no hope
.Ihree dead bodies
- aisable horses
he ireoogs tss ken.
'e Of t6f was
ior the + nc ez-
3bbish ke cd enorn ous
snOkiDg : \ Is a. = aA ssys p and
lug on all Communicates
I'VE iranload OF rubbish aud
- f1at bad To- be broken no
viii k16arsylnF lSois bad to be removed,
snd e : ii III ssitbe delay. Thas The whole
ssf<l.is dag MAS speat in clearing fall in
ihsllen 5n level, behitsa which il ii belsaysd