Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-11-17
A NINE HORROR.
Details Ofthe COlliery Explosion in Scotland
--Over Two Hundred Men and Boys Meet
Terrible Death--Heroic Efforts to Res
enc the Living.


plosion ina Scotch colliery near Glasgow.
A correspondent telegraphed to the News
as follows
What is perhaps the most terrible dis
aster in the annals of mining in Scotland
occurred this morning at the village of
High Blantyre, about even miles from
Glasgow. Messrs. W. s. Dixson & Co.,
the well-known Scotch iron and coal
masters, have on lease number of pits
adjoining High Blantyre, and at six
o'clock this morning the miners engaged
in these descended as usual to their work.
One hundred and twentysix men and
boys were let down into what is known
Us No. 2 pit, and one hundred and seven
men and boys into the adjoining pit No.
B. Between these two pits there is
subterranean communication. Shortly
after eight o'clock, as number of men
were engaged taking out scoops in the
splint of the lower seam of No. 2, and,
it is supposed, blasting for this purpose,
a terrific explosion occurred, the gas
which was liberated having fred
and instantaneously swept the workings,
and the fire passing through the COM
munication and spreading itself up the
shaft of No. 3 pit. The violence of the
explosion wrought terrible havoc. The
shaft of No. pit, the cages and other
apparatus, and the midwall were en-
tirely wrecked, and all means of exit for
the poor miners below was therefore cut
off. The sound of the explosion was
heard above ground for long distance,
and from the dull rumbling noise as we'll
as the dense masses of thick black smoke
that poured from the mouth of the pit,
it at once became evident to those at the
pithead that a terrible disaster had oc-
CURED below, and the greatest consterna-
tion prevailed. The news having rapidly
spread througout the village and among
the men employed at the neighboring
pits, in very short time the bank and
its approaches were thronged by excited
crowds of people. The feeling exhibited
among the wives and children of the i'm
prisoned miners was of the most heart
rending character, and eager and des-
pairing inquiries were made on all hands
rs to the fate of those below. Efforts
were Immediately made to restore COM
munication with the men in the work
ings, and at length these were SO far sue
cessful that one man was brought alive
to the surface.
This man, who had escaped from No.
2 pit, stated that he was working at the
face when he heard an explosion. Not,
however suspecting anything unusual,
he made his way leisurely to the bottom,
when the sight of dead bodies all around
opened his eyes to the appalling extent
of the catastrophe. On learning from
him the state OF matters below, party
was at once organized to descend and
endeavor to extricate any survivors, and
bring up the dead bodies of the unfor-
tunate sufferers. It was found, however,
utterly impossible to proceed down the
shaft OF No. 5 in the face of hevolumes
of choke-damp which came rolling up.
Every effort was made to restore the ven
tilation which the explosion had stag
mated, but more than an hour elapsed
before q current of air would flow as it
should do from No. 3 pit along to No. 2.
Before this time party of explorers had
succeeded, after great difficulty, in get
ting some distance down into No. l pit,
but the choke-damp was too overpower-
ing to admit of their remaining down
long, and they were forced to return
without ascertaining anything. They
called as loudly as they could, but no
answer was returned to their cries, and
theywere unable to proceed any distance
into the workings. In No. pit more
definite information was obtained, and
the rescuers when they retreated had one
dead body with them. Six several times
they returned, at great risk to them
selves, and on each occasion they man
aged to bring up dead body, all Of them
being dreadfully burned and mutilated.
The choke-damp eventually became so
bad that they were forced to desist. Some
of the party, indeed, very narrowly es-
capped sutfocation, and 80 overcome were
they all that they had to be covered with
earth to free them from the choke damp
ere they recovered full consciousness.
To promote O current of air streams of
water were poured down the shafts, but
q long time elapsed before there was
much improvement in the atmosphere
below. The bodies that were recovered
were terribly scorched and blackened,
and the men who were down stated that
there was every appearance of the ex-
plosion having been @ terrible one
Dead bodies were strewn about, and
everything was O mass of confusion.
Joseph Gilmour, the hoursman of pit
No. 2, was found dead dear the engine
at the bottom of the shaft The work OF
exploration was vigorously prosecuted,
and up to $50 o'clock in the afternoon
three more bodies were recovered. They
were brought up by No. 2 shaft, near the
bottom of which they had been seen lying
by one of the first gang of explorers.
The bodies were those of young lads,
aged from twelve to fourteen, and they
presented shocking sight when brought
to the surface. They we're literally en-.
cased in mud, and the faces were all
blackened and charred. The poor fel.
lows had evidently had fearful, but al
the same time, q speedy death. Two OF
them, named Bolton and Henry, were
pony drivers, and they were discovered
lying beside their dead charges. The
third lad was identified as son of mar
removed from the same pit at an earlier
hour, between three and four o'clock.
Great difficulty was experienced in prose
cutting the exploration late in the after.
noon, but as the men who were endeav.
ling to clear the shaft of No. 3 pit
stated that they heard the sound OF
knocking from the imprisoned colliers
extra exertions, if such were possible,
were made to reach them. As many meI
as could be got in the shaft worked as il
their own lives had depended on TIE re-
suit and bands of others, equally will
ing, were standing ready to take the
places of those who became exhausted
Up to six o'clock twenty bodies had beer
recovered.
From No. 2 pit twenty of the 12t
miners employed in il have been saved