The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-01-31

pit many minutes when it fired the crash
OF the explosion being distinctly heard at
places nearly mile distant
THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO LIVES LOST.
fact corroborating previous statements
as to the number of men in the pit at the
time of the explosion came to light during
the Investigations and strengthens the as
sertions as to the loss of human life. A
Manchester paper says eve are informed
upon creditable authority, that four hundred
aud thirty lamps had been issued on Wed
nesday morning, and as only two or three
had been returned, the fearful estimate Of
the loss of life is not likely to have been over
estimated"
The number will be- at the lowest esti-
mate, $50 III the pit when the accident hap
pened 4; Is rescued alive, of whom IL have
since died, and % volunteers killed making
a total Of 352 killed,
CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION,
The Manchester Guardian SAYS Gas to
the cause of the explosion, little is known
practically, it is mere surmise"
The Leeds Mercury, however, says :
''The manner in which the pit was
worked was a fruitful field for discussion
among the crowd, and it was stated by sew
eral well acquainted with the colIiery that
although the only lights used in the work.
ings We're the safety lamps, the engine place
and the main thoroughfares of the mine
were lighted with gas. This was natural
gas, accumulated in the pit by placing pipes
to the principal assures from which gas
! oozed, and conducting into gasometer,
whence it was drawn as required in the us
ual way. Some of the men who had worked
in the mine and considered it safe, were in
clined to attribute the explosion to some ac-
cident resulting in all escape Of accumulated
gas 1t appears. also, that powder was
used for blasting in the getting of coal-a
practice probably attended with far greater
risk than the burning of naked lights in the
main roads; and some conjectures point to
this practice as the probable cause OF the
dreadful disaster. For the inspection of the
mine three deputies were regularly employ
ed by day and three by night. The duty
of these men was to visit all the working
aud other dangerous parts of the pit, every
shaft before the men began to work, to see
tn at they were safe. This duty YVES. we
understand duly performed, without the dis
covery of anything to create alarm.
1t seems, however, that complaints have
been made for some time of the unusual
heat in the pit. 1t is even alleged that
some of the men objected to work in it. The
heat of the atmosphere in the pit is attrib-
uted to the long distance the air had to trav-
ell through the workings, on account of their
great extent, and the quantity of gas that
gathered in the journey. On this point,
however, it is only fair to say that the heat
OF the atmosphere was regularly taken, aud
that those IN charge saw no reason to an
ticipate danger from its condition.
In the Oaks Colliery, the coal, which rises
above the level of the bottom of the shaft,
has in the main been got, and for some
time tine workings have been chiefly in the
coal which is below the level of the bottom
of the shaft In miners phrase they are
dip workings. The system of working at
the Oaks is that known as the ''long wall''
system 1t is not the usual system in South
Yorkshire district, but it is considered to
be, on the whole, safe system.
Advices by the last steamer report that
the explosion is found to have been occa
stoned by the leaving off the top of the |
must have ignited the gas. He had gone
with his head blown off.
INCIDENTS.
Some of the escapes of the miners were
very remarkable. One man named Bates,
was hewing coal III some new work about
mile and half from the shafts. He became
aware of the explosion by sudden rush of
air, which threw him down and rendered
him senseless. On recovering himself he
felt that he was being enwrapped in the sui
locating choke-damp and, with desperate
effort, he struggled towards the shafts. The
roads were so blown down, that he could
hardly find his way, and after climbing
over heaps of debris he at last fell helpless,
and gave himself up for lost. Some friend
ly hand raised him, and once more he stag
gered on toward the shaft, where he at last
Another man was knocked down sense
less, and one OF the exploring parties after
ward found him grasping in his arms the
body of dead Cat. Others brought to the
surface alive experienced singulary narrow
escapes from falling debris and after damp
To avoid the latter many fell on their faces,
stuffed their clothing in their mouths and
crawled along the level
One of the most affecting scenes which
the searchers came upon was the discovery
Of more than twenty men, nearly the whole
of whom were locked i'll each others arms.
They had faced death together, and had
carried the friendship of life to the very
threshold of the grave. Others had evident
ly been swept away while taking leave of
each other, and in the terror and confusion
of the moment others had still remembered
to appeal to the mercy of their God. Not a
few were thus found in the attitude of
prayer.
A more awful spectacle than that present.
ed to the searchers on Wednesday night
could hardly be found, even on battle
field Horses, coal tubs, and in some cases
men and ladsS were heaped together 10 one
confused mass, and some of the bodies were
So much dis6gured, more by dirt than mu-
tulation, that their friends could hardly rec
ogmze them; some had to be identified by a
button or shoe, or some part of their tat
tered garments.
Samuel Brown of Barnesley, states that
when the first explosion took place, during
the search for which he had volunteered, he
was caught by the after blast, and became
unconscious for some time. Afterward he
revived and wandered abont the north inlet,
falling over mangled corpses in the road,
and found his way to the pit mouth, where
he pulled the signal bell He thinks there
was no other living being in the pit, for af-
ter his consciousness returned hSApeyer
heard any voices or moaning, or any ~
indications of life. 49,
THE TALK o THE HILL -ooLLERY EXPLOSION.
The explosion in the Talk O. the Hill Col
Iiery, in Staffordshire, occurred at II A. NJ.
on Thursday, December 18th, about twenty
four hours after the disaster at Barnsey
Upward of one hundred lives were lost bv
this explosion. The colIiery is situated in
the parish of Take, about a mile from the
Hardcastie station; 1t belongs to the North