Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-03

BRITISH COLUMBIA.
The Colliery Disaster-FuI Particulars.


VICTORIA, July 2d.-Last Monday morning at
$50 the inhabitants in the vicinity of the South
Wellington coal mines were Mortified by "a most
tremendous explosion rending the air. The
sound was appalling, the very earth seeming
shaken TO its limits. Miners women and chill
dren with blanched faces rushed to the mouth
of shaft No. 3, whence the sound had emanated
and in a few minutes Il party of rescuerS de
Scended. The volume of smoke that rolled
along the passages in the levels almost over
came those who had thus early commenced
the search for any who might have es
capped with their lives. The fumes of the
gas also were NEARLY unbearable, and
prevented the rescuers staying below more than
a few minutes at a time In the dark stalls the
dim light of the Davy lamps revealed Il heart
rcnding spectacle. There lay two brothers,
blackened almost beyond recognition. Further
on, in another stall, was found the body of Il
miner with his head reduced to pulp. Several
were alive when found. They were brought to
the surface. where their hurts were attended to.
The search was continued till midday, when the
accumulation of afterdamp became so great as
10 compel the work to be postponed. Seventeen
bodies had been recovered. The men were just
going down to WORK at the time, and had the
explosion occurred a few minutes later the loss
OF life would have been nearly doubled. Thirty
lives in all are reported to have been lost At Q
o'clock Monday night seventeen bodies of
the victims had been recovered and laid
out in Il room at the top of the mine
The actual cause OF the explosion was owing to
the ignition of foul gas which occasionally per
vaded No. 3. II was the duty of foreman to
20 down with q Davy lamp every morning and
report to the condition of the various parts of
the mine registering such report in a book kept
for the purpose. It is now said that he reported
that morning that everything was safe, without
having previously asceTtained that fact by going
down into the mine. The first inquiry Mr. Duns-
mair made upon arriving upon the scene, was
for this man, but he was not to be found. Should
he be discovered he viii be arrested, pending
the inquiry, and the Indignation against him IS
so great amongst the miners that if caught he
will undoubtedly be lynched.
\ young man named Walter Grifflths, who
worked in the mine, walked towards the cage
denly altering his mind, he exclaimed, NO. I'm
blessed if IN work any more until after the
Fourth" and rctracing his steps he entered his
cabin, where he had not been many minutes
when the explosion occurred.
Charles NcGarglc, who escaped with n bruise
about the bands and head, had miraculous
escape for men working on both sides OF him
were killed.
In one stall was found the dinner bucket
tools powder, lamp, etc, neatly slowed, belong
to miner, but the man himself was not TO be
found. Two Americans, brothers, who were
killed had only been working in the mine for
four days, and had announced that they did not
mean 10 work there after that day
Items from Victoria.
VICTORIA, July 2d.-Thc passengers by the
Mexico were landed from quarantine this morn
ing. All speak highly of their treatment on
board
W. II. Christopher. laborer on the railroad
at Cisco was run over by dump car and his
thighs injured. He will recover.