The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-04-26
ENTOMBED IN A MINE.
Appalling Disaster in a Colliery
at POnt-y-Pridd, Wales.
A Spark From an Engine Causes a
Death-Dealing Explosion.

A frightful mining accident occurred a
few days ago at Pont-y-Pridd. Wales. A
spark from an engine ignited the gas in a
coal pit and causei an explosion. Two
hundred miners were at work at the time,
and the explosion caused terrible havoc.
The rescuers who went down were driven
back without being able to bring up more
than five of the dead, and the fate of the
other miners was for some time in doubt.
The most agonizng scenes were witnessed,
and throngs of men, women and children.
relatives OF those below, were crowded
about the mouth Of the coal PIT.
p The pit was worked iu sections, one seam
above another. The fire resulting from the
e1olosion broke out in the eastern section.
From this section seventy men succeeded in
reaching the surface through the main dip
working, led by a miner who knew the
roads. They had terrible struggle to get
out forcing their way through the fire and
ali were terribly exhausted when they came
cut. They expressed their dread that all
those in the mine had persisted.
Flames and smoke gave to the f200 men at
work In the seam the first warning of ap'
preaching danger. All ran toward the land
ing. Many were overtaken by the fire and
smoke, fell and were left to their fate by
their comrades in advance Of them
A rescue party was formed by the pit
surveyor. They got as far as the landing at
the seam where the fire started, but were
driven back almost Immediately by the
dense smoke issuing from the seam. After
half hours rest they went down again and
forced their way ten yards into the work
ings. They found four dead bodies, which
they brought back with them.
Attempts to 90 further into the workings
were vain, as the woodwork was burning
and masses Of ruins were falling incessantly
from the roof. One OF the rescuing party
who ventured too far was killed.
Hand grenades, barrels OF water and pipes
attached to fire engines on the surface were
used to extinguish the flames in the mine.
In two sections Of the mine the fire was put
out.
Another attempt to enter the seam in
which the fire started has proved resultless.
Although the rescue party saw six dead
bodies they were prevented by smoke and
heat from reaching them.
The latest news was to the effect that the
fire in the mine was put out about 10 O'Clock
next day. The fumes OF gas were, however,
still 50 noxious as to drive out those who
undertook to explore the mine in search OF
the dead and for the rescue Of those who
might be living.
The bodies of eleven men were found hud-
died behind door. as il they had sought
shelter there from a hurricane Of fiery
SPARKS sweeping by. Other bodies were
found IN the return alrways, where the VIC
TINS were caught while trying to escape. A
doctor who has examined the bodies reports
that all Of the victims died Of suffocation.
At II o'clock in the evening the pit had
become SO cool that three exploring parties
were able to go some distance into the seams:
They found three dead men, but discovered
no trace Of the main body OF miners who
we're cut off by the q lmes from escape.
Up to o'clock in the morning ffty-three
corpses had been taken from the font-y
Pridd Dit. The searching parties had found
NO signs that any Of the missing miners
we're still alive.