Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-15
Many Miners Killed by Gas EIplo-
sion at Wiggin, Wales.
TWENTY DEADBODIES TAKEN OUT
The Galleries Filled With Dead
Men-The List Of Killed VIII
Probably be Much Larger as
the Work Of Rescuing Bodies
Progre resses-Many Heartrend-
ing Scenes About the PIT
Mouth.

LONDON. December IA fearful ex-
plosion has occurred to-day at the Bam-
furlong colliery, Wigan. and not less
than fifty lives have been lost. The
men went TO their work as usual THIS
morning, after the collery had oeen IN
spected in the usual way. They had not
been at work long when terrible eh-
plosion shook the earth for great ais-
tapce and a cloud Of smoke shot up
through the shaft into the air. A multi
itude of people rushed toward the mine
and the greatest excitement prevailed.
II was soon ascertained that large
nupber had perished and the waliing
and weaping OF women and children
made an indescribable scene. Steps
were Immediately taken to ascertain the
full extent OF the disaster and crowd
of volunteers promptly offer to explore
the pit. 1t is believed that the explo-
sion was caused by accumulated coal
gas which had escaped the notice OF the
official charged with the Inspection OF
the mine.
Later advices from Wigan state that
the loss of life oy the explosion at Bam-
furIong colliery may be less serious
than AT first reported. The situation Is,
however, most critical. A hundred
men remain In the mine unable 10 get
out, owing to the fire which followed
the explosion and which is raging
fiercely In the mine. making IT diihcult
for rescuers to get at the imprisoned
miners. The work of rescue is pro-
ceeding, and volunteers are not deferred
by danger or difficulty In efforts 10 save
their fellow miners from death. Hun
dreds of women and children surround
the mouth of the mines, waiting anx-
iously for news of fathers, husbands,
brothers and sons. Some OF the women
volunteered to assist in the work OF res
cue, but their assistance was not re-
quired.
Twenty miners have just been brought
nm by the rescuers from the Bamfur-
long mine. The remainder are stiii I'M
prisoned. The rescued men were In an
exhausted condition when orought 10
the top. As the cage came to the sur
face the women and children crowded
around to see who they were, and those
who recognized their relatives over
wbaImened them with ssrcsses. The
men who are still below are imprisoned
On seam that is under where the IRE
10 -a1i-s. strong hopes are entertained
that many of them will be rescued alive.
Despite the efforts to extinguish the
FIRE, the flames spread to the engine
house at the head OF the air tunnel,
This stopped the pumping OF air into
the mine and added greatly to the peril
of those who were in the pit. The fire
was not subdued until five o'clock this
afternoon. Some little time after the
bodies OF twenty Of the miners who hao
been suffocated by the gases generated
In the mine after the explosion were
brought to the surface by the rescuing
parties.
Though the work is extremely dan
gerous, the exploration OF the workings
is continued In the hope that some Of
the miners In the pit at the time OF the
explosion may have reached places OF
safety where they are awaiting the ap-
proach Of the rescuers.
The rescue party report horrible
scenes In the mine. In the main roads
the bodies lie in twos and threes as the
men fell, faces downward and heads to-
ward the entrance OF the shaft. Large
sections OF roof and galleries have col
lapsed.
Amid the ruins are found mangled
bodies and limbs. The ruins have block
AIDED many parts of the mine and the
men searching for bodies are unable
ID give any definite idea OF the number
lost. Several miners who were just
alive when found, died on their way TO
the surface, or shortly after being
taken from the car. One rescue party
reached the surface half suffocated by
the heat and smoke caused by the fresh
outbreaks of the fire. The rescued
miners believe that the explosion was
caused by the sparks from the engine
hnnse which Is said 10 have caught FIRE