Year: 1867

sl-st [From the London Times, 1lth.l


For some days in the end Of last week


the weather was foggy. So dense was
the mist yesterday morning that moth
ing could be distinguished half a dozen
yards off, and in the neighborhood of
the colliery, which is situated at the bot
tom of valley, Between two ranges of
lofty hills. the fog was particularly
thick. No doubt this state of the air in
terfered with the ventilation of the pit
and caused an accumulation of fire.
damp. The explosion occurred at half


past one o'clock, and such was the ter
rife force that the concussion shook the


whole mine. The report was heard
the valley. Flames almost
burst up the shaft of the pit, with
cloud of ashes and stones. 1t was evil


dent at once to those above that fright.
full accident had occurred, and steps


were instantly taken to descend the pit
as soon as the state of the air rendered
it safe. Messengers were sent down the
valley to the neighboring pits, and over
the mountains to Aberdare and Merthyr,
and from all parts of the district work
men rushed to the scene of disaster.
The manager of the colliery, Mr.. j.
Williams, was down in the workings at
the time of the explosion, and efforts
were first made to find him, if possible,
so that, if alive, his assistance might be
had in directing operations for the res.
cue of the men. He was among the first
found, but. unhappily, quite dead, hav-
ing. been suffocated with choke-damp.
parties were rapidly formed
and sent into all the workings, but the
air was very foul, and they had to pro-
ceed cautiously for fear of another ex-
plosion, the pit having been SO shaken
that large quantities of gas had
They were also met by
heavy falls in the airways, and
in many instances the men had to be
dug out with pick and shovel. The pro-
cess was excessively slow, and 1t was
found that almost all had been suffocated
by the carbonic acid gas before the men
could descend the shaft to their assist
ance. By seven O'Clock in the evening
only three persons had been rescued and
about twenty bodies recovered. Of the
three hitchers employed at the ottom
two had been blown violently into the
sump, and killed by bruises, the third
escaped with slight injury.
Relays of workmen were continually
sent down, but the obstacles were more
than they anticipated, and
the delay which took place-sometimes
several hours elapsing before any bodies
could be got at-was productive of the
most intense and painful anxiety in the
people who had crowded round the pit
waiting the arrival to the bank of their
hapless relatives. The work of recovery
went on without intermission during
the whole night, many of the
remaining at work
until they could scarcely stand with ia
tigue. The bodies were generally re-
covered in patches of twelve or fifteen
at time, as the falls were removed and
then there was the prolonged interval of
hpart-rending suspense. By four o'clock
this morning four or FIVE, persons had
been received above, almost all so fright
fully injured that there is little hope of
their recovery. Fiftythree dead bodies
had been recovered. Seven valuable
horses were also found dead in the drift,
and brought out. At this point, the
work of recovery was brought to stand,
for the force of the explosion was such
that the walls and roofs of the pit had
been loosened, and enormous quantities
of rubbish kept falling in all parts of
the mine, choking up the airways, and
cutting offall communications.
Tramload and tramload of rubbish and
masses of rock that had to be broken up
with quarrying tools had to be removed.
and this was added to the delay. Thus
the whole of this day was spent
in clearing fall in the Duffryn
level, behind which it is believed
there are some thirty-fve work
men. 1t is not thought that one of them
can be alive, as the air current is COM
pletely cut off, and in the face of the


working the atmosphere is so foul and
dangerous that the working parties have
to grope their way in utter darkness.


Mr.. Curnew, the manager of the Plym-
9th Collieries, Merthyr, and who was
manager of this very pit, went
down about elevon o'clock to-day, and
Mr.. II. Lewis, of Merthyr, and re-
NAMED with the working party in the
foul air until six o'clock. He then
thought that in the course of twelve
hours the distractions would be removed


sufficiently to get the bodies. Mr.. Cur


new has determined not to leave the pit


until the Duffryn level has been cleared,


and on Sunday morning his party will


be relieved by party under Mr.. Nor


gan Joseph, who will be succeeded, if it


becomes necessary. by Mr.. Jones, until


the men are got out. Operations


will then be commenced for the
removal of the men in other


parts of the pit, all of whom, it


is feared, are dead. In the Dufryn dis


trict, at the time we write, communica-


tion has been established with two


horses which were found alive, and wa


ter was supplied to them through hole.


1t is hoped that these animals will be


saved. The distance between Currew's


party and the workings beyond the fall


was calculated, at seven o'clock, to be


about twenty yards,and to drive through


it would take until tomorrow morning.
Messages frequently came to bank that


Al