The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1876-12-02 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

PRISONED IN A MINN.  On Tuesday afternoon, a sad explosion occurred at Kibblesworth Colliery, resulting in the death of two men, serious injury to several others, and the destruction of a great deal of valuable milling plant. The colliery is owned by the weil-known firm of Mews, John Bowes and Partners, and is situated at the top of Kibblesworth village, about a mile and a half from Lamesley Station, and about five miles south from Newcastle. About 120 men and boys were employed in the works below ground, and between 20 and 30 were engaged at the pit mouth. No. 3 boiler was not in use, and on it two blacksmiths, named Josaph Askew and Joseph IlindmarA, were executing some repairs. A few minutes after half-past three o'clock the catastrophe took place. No. 2 boiler, the one next that on which the two unfortunate blacksmiths were employed, burst with a fearful noise, carrying death and injury in its tram. The effects of the explosion were seen by persons a long distance away, and drew many people to the spot. With the willingness characteristic of miners, a band of workmen was soon organised and commenced the work of search. Where the boiler house had staid was a mass of broken bricks and wood and slates. To increase the confusion and the ruinous aspect of the place, the cries of the injured onild be plainly heard amid the shrieking of escaping steam, the noise of falling stones, and the shout of numerous and anxious , spectators. The bodies of the two blacksmiths who had been engaged repairing the cold boiler, were found among the ruins. The workers soon came upon another,body, that of a labourer named James Cartwright. It was also scalded and wounded, and appeared almost lifeless. It was discovered, however, that a spark of breath still lingered, and every attention was taken to revive it, but for some time all efforts proved unavailing. By medical aid he was somewhat revived, but still lies in a dangerous condition. Of the numerous workmen who happened to be in the engine house when the boiler exploded, and who escaped with their lives, though many suffered severe injuries, none can describe wh.it took place. There was a fearful noise, a cloud of burning steam, enveloping everything in darkness and causing everyone instinetly to seek, if possible, for his own safety, and that is all they can tell. Some of them had fallen among the burning ruins again; while others had crept into most dangerous places, some even underneath the lighted furnaces, in the hope of saving their lives, heedless of injury to their persons. A good few maavellously escaped without any injury to speak of. It was found, however, that six men had suffered severe wounds, caused either by scalds or falling stones.  The Prince and Princess of Wales returned to Sandringham on Saturday. Mr. Bright will address a public meeting at Birmingham on Monday on the Eastern Question.  An inquest has been hdd at Cradley touching the death of Mary Millward, who threw her child into the Cradley Pool, and afterwards jumped in herself. The child was rescued alive, but the woman, when found, was quite dead. A verdict of "Suicide, during temporary insanity" w_ap returned. The child was seriously injured, but'ik now in a fair way of recovery. An accident has happened at Warren Corner; near Farnham, by which three young men were killed. A traction engine belonging to Mr. W. M. Parker was descending the hill when the driving chain broke, and the driver George Hunt, lost all control over the machine, though he reversed the action. Hunt escaped by jumping off, but two of his assistants, named Stubbs and Parfitt, and a yowl; fellow named Dimes, who had gut up for a ride, were killed. They all jumped off to save themselves, but were caught by the machinery, Dimes being run over, and Parfitt crushed under the fore part of the engine, which is enbedded in the bank by the side of the real. Ii