Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-10

The C0liiery Disaster.

LONDON, September 9.h.-Accounts of the
number of men in the Seaham colliery pit
vary. The pit consists of five seams one
below another. The shallowest seam is AGO
feet below the surface The total depth of
the colliery is about 600 yards. Nineteen
men in the top seam merely felt the rush of
air, but in proceeding to the shaft found it
blocked by debris. The air coming up in the
shaft was exceedingly foul. Communication
with the top seam was opened at l o'clock
yesterday afternoon, but because of the dam.
age to the shaft the men could only be hoisted
out singly by chains and ropes. Nearly all
of them therefore elected to remain in the pit
so as not to delay the explorers in clearing
the way to the lower seams, whence knock
ings and shouting were audible. About Z
o'clock in the evening the upcast shaft was
sufficiently cleared to allow explorers to use
it, also enabling the bringing up of victims
to proceed more rapidly. Several men near
the surface, at the bottom of the upcast shaft,
were found to be shockingly burned.
1t is thought the explosion originated in
the lower seam, and that the gas was driven
over the furnace. The explorers for time
had to suspend the work of bringing up the
survivors, inEonsequence of the stables being
on fire. A woman dropped dead on hearing
of the death Of her brother in the pit. The
store room has been cleared for the reception
of corpses.
The latest published telegram from the H.
spector of Mines, dated from Seaham, last
evening. says: Fifty-nine men have been res
cued, and $50 are yet to be accounted for.
Explorations have been stopped in conse-
quence of fire in two middle seams. Great
anxiety is felt for those still in the pits.
There is plenty of assistance with relay Of
workers every four hours.
1t would appear from the above dispatch
from the Inspector that there has been later
outt reak of FIRE in the NINE
LONDON, September 9th-It is prolAble that
the dead in the Seaham mine number 100 to
140. There are some corpses in the lower
seams which are supposed to be lying q mile
from the shaft The air is SO foul there that
it is thought impossible any can have sur
vived.
LONDON, September 9lh.-The exploration
of the Seaham pit continued throughout the
night. A statement made in dispatch from
Seaham last night, that sixty men had been
rescued alive, is now confirmed. The number
of uen in the pit is uncertain, but go lamps
were given out Tuesday night. No hope is
entertained for those still in the mine. The
fire was discovered in the mine during the
night and extingui<hed. Every effort is max
ing to clear shaft No. and get the cages to
work
LONDON, September 9th.-The explorers
have just assembled the shaft and report fire
near the engine room, which will be shortly
extinguished. A relief party can get no
further yet. The bodies they saw were fear
fully scorched and shrivelled and their clothes
burned off.
LONDON, September !)th.-A dispatch from
Seaham at noon says: The fire occasions
anxiety. as many explorers are in the pit.
Vague hopes are entertained that come of the
men may have escaped to distant workings.
hut one of the agents of the Durham Miners
Union, who has been down, expresses the
opining that not man or horse on the lower
pit survived the explosion. There were $50
horses inthe mine. Corpses collected at the
bottom of the shaft which will be raised to-
night.
LONDON. September 10th-A. M.-The fire
in Seaham pit has been subduei.
The Imperial Bank OF Germany and Gold
Payments.
BERLIN, September CHA semi-oficial
statement reasserts that in no case has the
Imperial Bank of Germany in Berlin refused