The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-26
MINE FLOODED
AT ABERNANT
A Terrible thrush Of Water ID One Of
the Largest Coalpits 10 Wales.
PERlLOUS POSITION OF lzo MEN
shortly After Four O'Clock Ofthe 10th
Instant News Was Received Of an
thrush Of Water at an Aberdare
COlilery in South Wales.

This Is the latest possible news re-
ceived from the River Level Pit, Aber-
dare. where 40 men We're entOmbed and
all liable to lose their lives in what sell
dom happens nowadays in the mines OF
Wales or any other country. Mr.. Rich
ard Howelis manager of the company,
happened to De ON top of the pit at
the time, and at once descended, imme-
diately afterward sending men through
the return airway to warn the men TO
work their way outward. This proved
to be very effaciOus and resulted in
nearly l2O workers being promptly re-
leased from the mines. The manager
and some helpers then proceeded in the
direction from which the water emanat-
ed. and found 1t rushing from old work.
ings that had not been used since 1872.
the source being the old workings OF
iscubOr Wen colliery. which were dis
continued about a year ago, the inlet
being at the boundary line. Here they
found man named Thomas Thomas,
who had got behind an airway door,
which he was unable to open owing to
the pressure of water, and him they
brought out. A number of men were
working at the bottom of the drift In
Gellideg, mile or more from where
the water came pouring in, and 1t Is
believed that six of them at least have
met with their death. Their names are:
Thomas Jones, MOss-rOw, Abernant,
married: George Evans, RObertstOwn,
IL years of age; John Phillips, Tai-yr-
Vain, married: John Williams, Little
row, 13 years of age; John Jenkins,
Margaret street, Trecynon. married;
Thomas Jenkins, his son. about IA years
Of age. Mr.. T. G. Adams, her Majesry's
inspector, and Mr.. Richard BedlinGtOn.
the consulting engineer, together with
Mr. Edward Morgan, the resident man.
ager of the company, arrived on the
scene of the accident and rendered ev-
cry service in their power. Some faint
hopes are entertained that the men may
have got on to the rise in the return
way, through which a number of their
comrades escaped, but 1t Is feared that,
as they have not yet been reached, the
whole OF the six persons named are
drowned
EXPLORING THE MINE.
The exploring party. comprising
Messrs. Adams inspector of mines),
Gregory, W. Howells Phillips and s. A.
Williams, had difficult work in getting
at the source of the influx. They We're
continually In rushing stream, and
had to pass over barriers of coal, etc.
about eighty or ninety yards from the
place where the imprisoned men were
working. Other exploring parties re-
port that the great rush is now over,
and only the ordinary stream will
shortly have to be cOntended with. Mr..
Lewis and Mr.. Adams, mine inspectors.
intend to proceed through Ysgubor Wen
colliery and follow the stream to the
River Level colliery, which has been
explored. Hundreds of spectators are
attracted to the pits mouth. despite
the rainy weather, and ii is satisfactory
to learn that no disorders were crea-
ted. Mr. Ed. Morgan descended at IL. 30
and has not yet re-ascended.
SIX HORSES AND A DONKEY
BROCGH UP ALIVE.
The Press association Aberdare corre-
spOndent telegraphs: Some hope Is still
entertained that the six poor fellows
who are entOmbed i'm Abernant mine
which was flooded on Wednesday even
ing, may be rescued. and this hope is
strengthened by the fact that six horses
and donkey have been brought to
bank alive, and extra pumping engines
are being put down to cope with it, 1t
Is stated that rush of water had been
noticed in the collieries for some time,
and man who had been employed in
the old workings says that for days past
he and others were compelled. i'm conse-
quence of this, to leave the mine at
midday.
STILL HOPES OF RESCUE.
Edward Morgan, general manager Of
the cOlilery, still hopes that some IL
not all the men I'm the pit may yet be
In place of safety. The divers must
pass through 200 yards of water in the
sump at the main heading before there
can be any possibility of rescue. The
pumps are gaining on the water.
PARALLEL TO THE TYNEWYD
CASE
Twenty years ago, at Tynewydd
nine men We're rescued from the flood
ed pit after being below for nine days,
and II Is regarded as possible that In
this instance some of the poor fellows
may have sufficient knowledge of the
old workings to make for a place Of
safety. The thrush of water into the
pit is on the increase.
CARDIFF DIVERS ENGAGED.
Arrangements have been made,
through Mr. Evan Owen, secretary of
the Miners PrOvident Fund to obtain
the services of two expert divers from
Cardiff who are expected to arrive on
the scene at an early day.
HISTORY OF THE COLLIERY,
The River Level Pit, where the dis
aster occurred. Is the oldest in the
Aberdare Valley, having been opened
in the twenties. Close by stand the re-
mains of the once flOurishing Abernant
irOnwOrks. and the coal raised from
this colliery was principally used for
the numerous fOrges there. The pit
was sunk to the lower measures in 1866,
and in addition to the Gellideg Seam,
which has been flooded. work Is being
carried on in the mine foot and what