The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-09-09
COLLIEKY CALAmIrY.
Two Hundred and Fifty Men Buried IN
an English Mine-lhe Majority Probn-
biy Killed.


bly, Killed.
LONDON, September s.-A terrible col
liery explosion occurred at two o'clock
this morning at the seaham pit, in Dur
ham county, on the North Sea, about five
miles south OF Sunderland. At the time
of the explosion $50 men were in the pit,
and from that time up to II o'clock all
efforts TO reach them were unsuccessful,
Communication has, however, since been
opened with group OF eighteen men, who
are safe. The greatest excitement pre-
walls in the neighborhood, and the wives
and families OF the imprisoned aud
slaughtered miners surround themouth OF
the pit with loud cries and lamentations.
The eighteen men with whom comm uni
cation has been opened do not know how
many have been killed, but fear that
they are the only survivors of the
dreadful catastrophe. The superin,en.
dent OF the colliery ard his assist
ants are putting forth every effort to ven-
tilate the pit sufficiently to allow q
thorough exploration to be made OF the
more remote part Of the workings, where
Il Is supposed the majority Of the men
were when the explosion occurred. The
immediate cause OF the ignition Of the fire.
damp cannot be more than surmised, as
tile rules OF the mine in respect Of the use
OF lamps were as strict as possible, and 1t
was supposed to be as safe as any in the
kingdom. This forenoon large numbers
\ OF people have arrived at the scene ot the
disaster from Sunderland, drawn by Gu
ITiosity, but nothing can be seen except the
smoke which comes from below. There
is every reason to believe this to be one Of
the most disastrous mining calamlties on
record.
LoSDoS, September S.-The explosion at
the Seaham colliery occurred at 2:SO
o'clock this morning, Stratton, the resi-
dent viewer, was soon on the spot, when
Il was found thai three shafts oil the nine
were blocked. the cages being fastened In
them. StraltOn, with rope around his
body, descended TO the main seam and
heard the men ;alking-he thought about
twenty. They are considered sale. There
Ia no reason as vet 10 believe that the pit
IL on fire, but 1t Is feared the bulk OF the
uleu uhVe uhbu huleu' SoNontoSh LAoha
who we're in the pit at the time OF the
explosion are cate. The owners of the
Ssaham mine furnish the following: The
men known To be alive have notyet been
reached, owing to the damage to the shalt
by The explosion.
LONDON, September s IA dispatch from
the Sesham colliery this evening an
nonnces that the men who were working
in the upper seams Of the coal have been
found safe and well. Some OF them vol
unteered and are helping TO rescue theil
comrades who are seventy fathoms lower.
The bottoms OF both shafts are still block
ed. A later telegram reports that up tc
7o'clOck a total OF tifty.seven men had
been rescued, msjority in an exhausted
condition.
Many thousands Of people are crowdinG
around the mouth Of the pit. The guiding
works in the pit were blown TO pieces!
The explorers consequently hnd theil
work very difficult They will Keep a. II
all night, and hope to clear the way BY
, morning. So far there ls no sign ol IRE
but Il Is evident there must be large &C
. oumulalion Of gas. One hundred and bttJ
; men are still In the pit. .
A dispatch Just received from SEAMAN
!, CoVleTy saws: The rescued now number
sIxty.six. but II Is feared that there wer'
SSO men in the pit at the lime Of the ex
nlosion. Two corpses were brought-ou
At midnight, one Of which was bAdi!
T burned.