The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-10-21
The Colliery Disaster ut Wigan-Morc
Lives Sacrificed.

| The explosion at MessrS. Pearsons &
! Knowles Moss Pits, lnce, near Nigan,
| bids fair to rival, in the sensational
character of its incidents, if not in the
number of lives sacrificed, the terrible
! catastrophe at Lundhill. On the 29th
ult., at the very outset OF the operations
| begun for the recovery of the bodies OF
golfers now entombed in the Wigan
nine feet seam, several more were added
to the number of the slain, and it is
marvellous that this list does not in
clude the names of the government in
spector for the district, and many Of
| the most eminent mining engineers III
| South Lancashire. In the morning the
engineers. who have hitherto directed
the operations at the collierv, not to
consult as to the desirabIllty Of reopen
ing the shafts 1t was their unan-
imous decision to proceed with the
opening of the shafts, as the state of
the temperature was thought to be a
sufficient indication that the fire had
been extinguished. The resolution of
the engineers was not made public, as
1T was certain to attract large crowd
to the pit; but the work of uncovering
both shafts was proceeded with shortly
after three O'clock. Mr.. Jacob Higson
was looking over the mouth of the mp
cast, which had been partially opened
for at neither shaft had ii been consid
cred advisable to remove the whole Of
the covering-when he remarked to
Mr. Knowles that all seemed SO quiet
below that a descent might be attempt
ed very shortly He had scarcely com
pleted his sentence, and was still look
ing over the shaft, when he heard a
rush of wind from below. This was
followed by long blast Of fire, which
III its turn was succeeded by a report
almost equal to that of a park OF artll-
lery. The engineers and officials stand
ing at the mouth OF the upcast shaft
were blown dozen yards on TO raul
way, and they had hardly time to
look round before dense cloud OF
smoke issued from the downcast, above
which was sheet of flame, which rose
to heighth of from twenty to thirty
yards above the head-gear. Mr.. Hig
the moment of the explosion walking
between the two shafts. He was
knocked down, but his injuries We're
not serious. On visit being paid to
the downcsat, it was found that nearly
every one there had been severely hurt,
and at least four or five Of the workmen
employed had been killed. This eX-
plOsion sets at rest all question as to
the existence of q fire III the mine, a
point which has been gravely debated
during the past week by those who,
having friends below, deprecated the
sudden closing of the shafts. There
cannot now be doubt that fire is
raging and that the explosion Of the
Goth ult. was caused by the fresh ar
being driven upon the fire. 1T is
scarcely possible to give any descrlp-
ton of the excitement, which was pre-
vailing i'll Wigan and the surrounding
district, The report was heard for sew
eral miles, and the sheet of flame was
seen distinctly in several places within
the borough. The names OF the killed
cannot be accurately ascertalned, and
it is very doubtful ii the full number
is yet known. 1t was the unanimous
opinion yesterday that it would be
wanton risk of life to attempt to re-
place the stopping, and only one other
wav could be suggested of extlngulSh-
ing the fire, and that was to flood the
colllery. Three sources OF water sup
ply were at hand, so 1T was decided to
make an attempt to drown out the fire
without delay The laying OF the pipes
was commenced.