The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1891-09-03 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

TEN 3IEN KILLED.  Early on Monday morning the neighbourhood et Bedminster was thrown into a stste of alarm and excitement by an explosion at the Malago Vale Colliery. The pit is adjacent to one of the most thickly populated districts of the city, and hitherto it has enjoyed a remarkable freedom from accidents. On Saturday the miners of Bristol had a demonstration, and the colliery was closed from Friday night to Sunday night. The last of the night shift went down about two o'elock on Monday morniug,and it is calculated that at the time of the explosion—three o'clock— there were about thirty-five hands working in the pit. The report resembled the firing of a cannon, and could be heard in all the pits in Bedminster. Mr. Hope, manager of the colliery, which is owned by a company, was quickly on the scene, and organised a search party which descended by an old shaft, the cage at the new shaft being unworkable in consequence of the explosion. Superintendent Wedmore attended with a large body of police from Bedminster, and their ambulance was used for removing the injured to the hospital. The work of the exploring party was extremely difficult, and several hours elapsed before the extent of the disaster could be ascertained. When at length a party were able to penetrate the workings, it was found that some men had been killed, while others had been seriously injured. The latter were despatched as promptly as possible to the pit's mouth, and removed in the ambulance to the hospital. Their names were Frederick Chambers, James Highman, Charles Poulton, and Edward Priestly. Except in the case of Poulton, the injuries were of a serious character. The first of the dead bodies was brought to the surface about nine o'clock in the morning. This was followed shortly afterwards by two others, and then a rather long interval occurred. Meanwhile the excitement in the district had grown, and large crowds had collected in the neighbourhood of the colliery. By two o'clock seven bodies had been recovered, and it was reported that all the men known to have been in the pit had been accounted for with the exception of two, so that the deaths were not likely to exceed ten. As the bodies were brought to the surface, they were removed to the colliery offices, where they were washed and laid out. Mr. J. S. Martin, inspector of mines for the district, arrived in the course of the morning, and went down the pit in company with Mr. Bailey, consulting engineer, and Mr. Hope, the manager. Mr. E. P. Wills chairman of the company, and Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. Joseph Williams, managing directors, visited the colliery and gave expression to their sympathy with the bereaved. The bodies brought up during the day were those of George Burgess (63), William Henry Clarke (16), Thomas Bolt (64). James Woodbridge (40), and Henry Foot (35). All were residents in Bedminster, and most of them were married men, with families. Some of the bodies were shockingly disfigured. On enquiry at the hospital on Monday evening it was ascertained that Chambers hadsuceumbed to his injuries. The relief party continued their search for the missing men, and subsequently the dead bodies of William Burton and Henry Vernon were found, making the total number of deaths resulting ten. The explosion is supposed to have occurred at the bottom of the incline leading to the new shaft, but the cause of the accident is at present unknown. The examiner was on his round, and the workmen could trace his marks at various points, indicatino• that the workings were clear, but, unfortunately the I examiner is numbered with the dead. Naked lights ' are used in some parts of the colliery, and safety lamps in others where gas is known to exist. All who were working in that part of the pit where the accident occurred were either killed or injured. Though there is a large number of collieries in the Bristol district, accidents of a serious nature have been very few. The last explosion was at Dean Lane Colliery in 1886, when ten lives were lost.  The London correspondent of the FJ•et, man' sJo unua buttes that Captain O'Shea is about to be married to an English lady.  On Satur ay motaing,shortly after eight o'clock, John Carrabine who lived with his mother in Quebec Street, Wakefield, and was partner with his brother tea rag business, committed suicide.  _ . ... , On b'unctay evening two boys (Thomas Baker and Richard Scadding) were drowned in the river Tone, near Taunton. A lad named Frederick Smith, who attended the inquest onMouday morning, afterwards iisn.ced himself.  The historic Testament which the late Mr. Chas. Bradlaugh took to the House of COMMolls to be "sworn in" upon is not to go out of his family. It was catalogued as being for sale with the other 7,000 or 8,000 volumes which formed Mr. Bradlaugh's library. One day last week two ladies bought the lestaineut and presented it to Airs. Benner.  4