Year: 1869

1.-The English papers of the 4 7thiult., give


the particulars of the recent fatal explosion


in the Welsh colleries at 'Wigan, from which


we extract the following: = isf'' Fa'.


The explosion occurled shortly after 4


o'clock yesterday afternoon, and, first in
fdlcatlon at the pit bank was report as


from a heavy piece of artillery, followed


Immediately by the issuing from the No 5


shaft of dense cloud of smoke and coal


dust which spread over the whole district.


1t is said that some of the SCOT fell in Hind
ley churchyard, a mile and half way, and


the report was heard at quite as great dis


tance. The residents in the long rows OF


coiliers' cottages near tile pit and the mana


gers of the adjacent colieries knew too well


what, had happened, and they hurriedly


made their way to the colliery, the first to


learn, if possible, the extent Of the disaster,


and the second to render what assistance


was in their power The force of the blast


was plainly apparent from the, manner in


which the iron plate at the bottom of the
cage was twisted and turned and, as it was
feared that very great damage had been done
in the No. 8 shaft, it was first deemed adj


vlsa6le to rig up q pulley over the No. 9,
which could be worked by the up:cast en-
gine, and a stream of water was also sent
into the shaft to improve the ventilation!
However, by disconnecting the cage from
the connecting rods, it was found possible
to proceed down the No. in safety and the
new pulley was not needed for'the purpose
of exploration. l'ii aHg -H rn.-a


The upper seams, the five and four feet,
were soon examined, and tidings were sent
to the surface that the explorers had been
all around these workings and had found
two dead bodies, both lying near the four
feet nouthing, and both having apparently
been killed by conclusion. 1t now became
certain that the catastrophe had taken place
In the SIX feet, where nearly thirty men and
boys were employed, but as four O'Clock was
the hour for knocking off work, and as
several of the workmen had been wound to
the surface, it was impossible to state posi-
lively how many were down. 1t was at first
hoped that the total would not be over
dozen, but there is now no doubt the list Of
dead will be more than twice that number


The operations below were continued I'm.
I'll about quarter past eleven, at which /!
time eight dead bodies had been sent up,
and there were twenty searchers in the shaft
In which the disaster occurred. It was
eventually decided that no further attempt
to enter should be made that night. 4
and about one O'clock this morning the
principal engineers left the collierv, after ar
ranging fora consultation, to take place this
forenoon, and about that time also the crowd
assembled near the colliery began to dis
perse, though many remained at their posts
all night The bowman left on duty had
strict orders to keep close watch on the
body of smoke which assembled the shaft
but he perceived no change whatever either
IN quantity or smell ~ "'fl,1l b'ii


As the whole of the workings have not
yet been examined, aud in all probability
the spot where. the gas was gnited has not
been reached, no opinion can he expressed
as to the cause of the. explosion. Those
who believe the atmospheric pressure has
much to do with these catastrophes point to
the fact that the barometer was exceedingly
low yesterday. ..... - ..,..--..r. =,


SO far there have been nine miners drawn
up, eight of them dead, and the ninth NOR: |
tally injured. but still breathing. There are
eighteen still missing. is ie-irlf1a z he 1Esu