New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-12

ING SCENES At TIE MINES MOUTH.
London. April ia fnghtful mining accident
occurred to-day at Pont-y Pridd, Wales A sparl;
from an engine ienited the gas in coal pit near
pont-y-Pridd and caused il to explode. 4
large number of miners at work at the time,
and the explosion caused terrible havoc. The
exact number of lives lost is not known
The pit is worked in sections. one seam bcng
above another. The fire resulting from the en-
nloson broke ont in the eastern section From
this seventy men succeeded in reaching the
face through the main dip working, led by a
miner who knew the roads They had a terrible
struggle to get ont, forcing their way through
fire and smoke. Many of them were scorchcd,
and all were terribly exhausted when they emerged
70 safety. They brought no good news as to
those who Were left behind. bat on the contrary
expressed their dread that ali those in the mine
had perlshed
At :4j o'clock this evening il is still i'm
possible to obtain more than mcagre details of
the accident. The first alarm was given at
.: 80 this afternoon. The sparks from an engine
in a four-foot seam arc supposed to have is-
nited pile of cotton waste The flames spread
10 the woodwork, and finally gnited the infam-
mable gas i'll the seam.
Flames and smoke gave to the 900 mon at
work in the seam the first warning of approach
inc danger All ran toward 'hc landing. Many
were ovcrtaken ny the fire and smoke, fell ana
were left to their fate ny their comrades IN
advance of them. Comparatively few oil 'he
men who were in the seam at the time ol te
explosion reached the landing.
Al the entrance of tie shaft rescue party
was formed by the pit surveyor Inc party So'
as far as the landing AZ the seam whefe '"o
fire started but was driven back almost lhic
dately by the dense smoke issuing from 'he Se"'"'
The surveyor took his men back 10 the s"i'"''
After a halfhours rest they wo'' uo""
ord forced their way ten yards into the WORKINGS
They found four dead bodies, when 'u'H "''"7
hocL with them. Attempts 10 90 furthef l''o
,be workings were vain, AZ the wo"""oiN wa"
burning and masses of ruins were failing ih''S
,,, from, +lo roof One of the rescue party
Who vcntnrcd too far killed. The men WHO
sa,od themselves immediately after IN" mr. ptohe
-. roro mo much confused and frgit'n''i - o."
-, tho no.itiors of their fclow-workm'h. ii'N
o unable 10 give any clear account ol '"' vi"
.;,,,;o, of the miners and the WORK ol r'sV"c
=. tbereforc proceed under all the dli'c"i'''
:, oor..in+v Not only arc scores OF miners
tr,uies at the mouth of the pit, but also ID" M"
Who were saved and men ot th' ol"'i ~
There are numerous volunteers 10 u'"'i
,rorl, of rrscnc a. soon "a II becomes p'>''
lent tbc flames and smoke would reho"r any
such undertaking vain If not id'aI 10 .'' P"''N
.,a,,;nr the descent There is litilr doubt more
a,.or that most if not all of the men l'lt peio"
have hcen suNocated or burned 10 dca'h'
Hand erenadc>, barrels of water ana ' pp,S
attached to frc engines on the surface are 0'Ia ~
"'' az 90 oxt;n,uisb the flames in the mine III
- sn.iors ~ the mine the fire was put ou'.
Tho ex,inction of the flames has been followed IN
da"h cs.o however, by the accumulation OF la Ya,,
and it is feared that explosions HAY
shortly. . . ,bo four-foo, seam in
which the me started has proFcd r'sn,s hodic.
sitLone the rescue party saw SIN deau ,.',n
thev we're prevented 10y smoke ahu h'ns hoo cX
,mscchino them. Where the IRE Iiad d. pcn an,.
iins"isicd they were also unat" TO makr t innl al
rrocress. as they could not r'main III III ,hn mine
l,O,nsnLer, The number Of mon SIM III th' IL li'i' ~
cannot be a.craa.d although It is hond dT% ,a !" some
rnu shoye bl,y Their" i 4 llttlr nope 'n' t ,ho
WEI! % t,rT rcfu6e AZ such d distance from tle
Surning sections thai they are ,'i xitn%.ea 3E and
.tnn,,. of mon women ani children, l"Ia'i"S% % ~
tbo,c below. ere crowded about the mouth oi '''