Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-04-13

LONDON, April ia frightful mining
accident occurred to day 1T Pont.y.Pridd,
Wales. A spark from an engine ignited
The gas III the coal pit near Font'y-Pridd,
and caused the gas to explode. A large
number of miners were at work at the
time. and the explosion caused terrible
havoc. The exact number OF lives lost Is
not known.
Later accounts from POnt-y-Pridd show
the situation to be more appalling Than AT
frs. supposed, Three hundred miners are
entombGd III the mine. The engine house
is in flames, and there is the greatest lear
that scores may have persisted. lie reSgucfS
who went down and were driven back
without being able to bring mp more than
five Of the dead, and the fate Of the other
miners is i'll doubt,
THE WORST FEARED.
Later advices from pont-y-Prida do not
tighten the calamity, and the worst tate is
feared for hundreds nt miners, The pit is
worked i'll sections, one seam being above
another, The fire resulting from the eXplO-
sion broke out in the eastern section From
this section 40 men succeeded in reaching
the surface through the man dip working
led by u miner who knew the roads. They
had a terrible struggle to get ont forcing
their way through fire and smoke. Many
of them were scurched, and all were terri
bly, exhausted when they emerged TO
safety.
They brought no good news as to those
who were lett behind, but, on the contrary,
expressed their dread that ali those in the
NINE had persisted.
ONLY MEAGRE DETAILS.
At 945 this evening it is still impossible
to obtain more than meaErc details Of the
accident i'll nt-yPridd coal mine. The
first alarm was given 1T 80 this afternoon.
lie sparks from an engine IL q 4 foot
seam are supposed to have IsnIted pie Of
cotton waste. The flames spread 10 the
woodwork and finally ignitod the inilam,
maDle gas in The scam. FLAMES and
smoke gave to the 300 men at work IN the
seam the first warning Of approaching
danger. All ran toward the landing.
Many were oyertaken by the lire and
smoke, fell and were left to their fate by
their comrades III advance Of them. Com
paratively few of the men who were IL
The seam at the time Of the explosion
reached the landing.
REsCEISG PARTY DRIVEN RACK.
At the entrance of the shaft rcscuing
party was formed By the pit surveyor
The party got AS tar as the landing at tbs
seam where the fire started, but was driver
back almost immediately by the dens
smoke issuing from the seam. The sur
veyur took his men back to the surface
After half hours rest they went duwi
again and forced their way 10 yards int
The workings. They found four deat
bodies, which they brought back viii
Them.
Attempts 70 go further into the working
were vain, as the woodwork was burning
and large masses of ruins were falling iii
cessanty from the roof. one of til
rescuing party who yentured too far wa
killed.
THOSE VINO ESCAPED.
The men VINO saved themselves imme
dintalv af tar 70 hp,t.e ONT ~,
much confused and frightened TO observ
the position Of their fellow workinglner
They are unable TO give any clear accom-
Of the distribution VI the miners, and til
work of rescue must, therefore,, procee
under all the difficulties of uncertainty.
Not only are scenes OF miners famlit
at the mouth of the pit but also tn
miners who were saved and the men
the other shifts. There are numerous vo
untcers to undertake the work Of rescue
soon US 1t becomes possible, At present IL
flames and smoke would render any sue
undertaking vain il not fatal, to the part
making the descent. There is little doub
moreover, that most, if not all, Of the me
left below have been sufiocated or burne
to death.
TRYING TO ExTlNGGlsu THE FLAMES.
Hand grenades, barrels of water ar
pipes attached to fire engines on the su
face are being used to eXtinguish the ii
the fire was put out. The extinction
the flames has been followed in each cas-
however by the accumulation of gas al
it is feared that explosions may folio
shortly,
Another attempt to enter the seam
which the fire started has proved resultles
Although the rescue party saw six del
bodies, they were prevented by smoke al
heat from reaching them. When the Ii
had been e1tingushed they were also II
able To make any progress as they cou
could not remain in the foul atmosphel
n The number Of men still in the mine ca
not be ascertained, although 1t is know
TO be well above 80. There is a little no
that some Of them found refuge at such
distance from the burning sections til
they are still alive
RESCUE REGARDED rs HOPELESS.
At midnight the fire was again burnt
In all sections of the mine near the sha
The service pipe, which was used to pn
water into the mine, has burst. The di
cultes in the way Of Iuenching the I
have increased greatly, and the rescue
the men below is regarded as hopeless.
LONDON, April l2.-The latest news fro
Pont-yPriddi is to the e1iectltnat the fire
the ming was virtually quenched at abe
10 o'clock to-day.
The fumes of gas were. however, still
noxious as to drive out those who und
took to enter the mine in search of
dead, and for tho rescue Of those "
might be living.
Many of the explorers are suffering
yerely from the effects of the smoke a
deadly gasses which they encountered.
Further search will be necessary TO asc
lain the full extent of the calamity.
A o. =. CONSULATE MOEBED.
Peruvian Rouahs Guilty of Violence ri