Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-03-15
RELY q FvAHs. Publishers.
A WELSH MINING HORROR
Terrific Colliery Explosion in
GlamorganShire, Wales.
Oae Hundred aud sixty Lives are
Lost-KtIied by Falling Rocks and
the Deadly Choke Damp.

Oae Hundred aud sixty Lives are
Lost-KtIied by Falling Rocks and
the DaRdIy Choke Damp.
a terrible explosion has just occurred IN
the Morsa eolliery in Glamorganshire, Wales.
Three hundred miners were sntombed, but
100 hundred have been rescued from the
workings nearest the main shaft
Most of those taken out are unhurt. bit
several Fave received fatal injuries.
Heavy falls OF rocks prevented the explor-
ers from reaching the more remote WORKINGS.
The choke damp is spreading, and It is feared
that at least 100 lives have been lost
The work OF recovering bodies Is going on
slowly.
Eight bodies, shockingly mutilsted, have
been recovered from the Morsa mine. Great
excitement was caused at the pit by a rumor
that appeals for belp could be heard from
the entombed men.
The rescuers are constantly suceumbing 60
the effects OF the gas, and are obliged to make
a speedy retreat
LATER -Four OF the miners who were en-
tomoed by the explosion in the Morsh Col
liery, have made their escape from the pit
without assistance.
They crawied through a crevice between
the roof OF the mine and the debris They
report that they passed over number Of
dead meu lying In heaps, and say they be-
lieve that none OF those in the pit is alive.
The fire which followed the explosion in tbs
colliery has become SO fierce that the parties
who were searching for the dead have been
compelled to withdraw from the mine.
There is no hope OF recovering the bodies.
but there are plenty OF volunteers trying to
subdue the flames and reach the victims.
Seventy-fve per cent. OF the victims were
married and leave families, The latest esti-
mate is that at least 100 we're killed.
RECENT ooLLIEnY DISASTERS.
There have been an unusual numnor OF
fatal oolliery disasters IN Great Britain dur
ing the past few months
On September 3 last there was an explosion
in the ironstone pit OF the Maurice Wood
Colliery in Midlothian, Scotland, by which
50 miners lost their lives, only IL OF the "a
men at work in the pit at the time OF the ex'
plosion being rescued.
On October 10 an explosion occurred In the
Bentilee Coniery, in Stafford hire, an Ea'
glish inland county. There were 20 miners
in the pit at the time, aud only II OF them
were rescued, making the list killed 80
But tbs most ssrious accident OF recent oo-
currence was the explosion in tho colliery at
Aoersychan, Monmouthshire, near the Dor.
der OF Wales, on February 8. There were
about 800 men ia the mine at the time, aud
for several hours no communication could DO
had with them. Over 100 OF the imprisoned
miners were fiually rescued, but 100 lost their
lives.
There have also been several serious mine
explosions on the continent recently--.n the
khein Prussen Colliery at Homburg-on. the
Rhine on September % last, when 10 lives
were lost; in a cOllierY at Bochum, Prussia,
on November IS when II lives we're lost an
in a collisry near Dscize, ga the department.
OF Nevre, Central France, on February IS
when AZ miners were killed.
During the last 10 years u disasters have
occurred at different places in Europe, which
have cost on an average 100 lives apiece.