Frostburg mining journal., 1881-01-08


been killed by the fall, the fre-for
he had been burnt-or by suifocation.
The following is list OF the bodies
brought to the surface
William Lewis, 40, collier, married, five
children.
William Pearce, 85, mason, married,
wife and little niece they had adopted as
their child.
Edward Hughes, 40, fireman, Llwynpi', F,
married, seven children.
David Lodw.ck, 40, fireman, married
five children.
John Willis, G3, collier Trealaw, single.
William Dawes %, hauler single.
Morgan Thomas, 25, collier, single.
Evan Rces, 81, collier, Penygraig, single.
Howell Evans, 45, married, four child
ren, living at Treala law.
William Robin, 40, t;mberman, married,
five children.
Samuel Samuel, IA, d9or-boy.
David Lloyd, 10, lamplocker, married,
and ore child.
Noah Rogers, 80, collier, married. five
children.
John Evans, 35, married, tlmberman.
Philip Samuel, IS, collier.
And six others not identified.
David Lodwick's watch, found on
his body, was going when he lay
corpse in the shed. One poor woman
came in and gazed sadly at the dead
lying around, until some one directed
her attention TO one at the far end of
the shed. Size went slowly towards
it, as if fearing to find what she was
looking for, and exclaiming, on seeing
it, "Ie, tyna f" ("Yes, that is him, y
fell on her knees, weeping bitterly,
and tried to kiss the poor burnt face
of her brother, David Rees. it was
heartrending scene-tho man hold
ing her back gently, while she moaned
piteously, "oh, let me kiss him once"
Never did the true meaning of the
words Of the song, "Let me kiss him
for his mother" come so forcibly to
my mind. Sobbing at the door stood
an intelligent lad OF about fourteen,
who, when admitted, said his father
was in tie pit, and in broken sentences
told the officers that they might know
the body by the watch, which was
wrapped up in "baby's little stock
ing" TIE search was fruit,ess, how
ever, until some hours afterwards,
when, the shed becoming too full,
other bodies were taken to the stable
and smiths shop. 1t was at tho lat
ter place that that the little lad, then
accompanied by young woman who
seemed to be relative and, said his
father, Noah Rogers, was 80 years of
age that age, and in proof Of his idep-
tifcstion ho pointed to new gar
ment which his father had worn on
his birthday. The watch, also, was
found as described by the lad. One
old man came TO identify his son, and,
Judging from the face only, thought
he had found him, but, on examining
the clothing, said his son wore fu'-
tian jacket, whereas the CORPSE he
was then looking at lad on canvas
jacket. The old lamp-man, Lloyd,
and the boy Samuel had been burnt
but very little.
The origin Of this explosion, like
others of its kind, is enveioped in the
greatest mystery, and seeing that
only four men have escaped alive to
tell the tale of death and disaster, it
is not likely, at any rate, to be cleared
up. The pit was said to be splendid y
managed, and all the latest improve
ments in machinery, &c., were in use,
while only locked safety-lamps were
allowed in the works. The very
name of the Rowlands, of Psnygraig,
is as familiar as household word in
the district, and the management is
80 careful that people said they were
more surprised to hear of an accident
having occurred there than at any
other. 1t appeared that an accident
had occurred to the winding gear,
&C., last Monday, and that men were
engaged in repairing it, but beyond
that nothing serious-and even that
was not serious in the eyes Of the men
has occurrei here. The pit was
considered to be safe, and was so re-
ported by the fremen late on Thus
day night.
No cause can yet be assigned for
the explosion, but there is no reason
to believe that the management was
inefficient. Hitherto the colliery has
been exceptionally fortunate in its
freedom from accidents, aEd the mi
| nara are almost unapimous in giving