RESTORED TO HIS FAMILY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3013, 21 February 1881, Page 4

RESTORED TO HIS FAMILY.

In connection with tho colliery explosion at Peny-Graig (South Wales), in which over eighty miners lost their lives, a curious incident occurred on December 11. About thirty hours after the explosion a searching party in tho mine heard a voice speaking to them, although they could not recogniso what was said. This news was immediately communicated to those on the surface, and as the name of the sitrvivor did not transpire, intense excitement prevailed, and many and fervent were the prayers that the Toice might .prove to bo that of a missing relative. Fresh bodies of mon then went down, and after a lapse of about half-an-hour succeeded in bringing tho rescued man to bank, amidst tho most intense excitement. John Morgan is a man apparently of about forty-two years of age, and has a wife and eight children. He was brought up in the cage, and was supported on either side by a fellow-workman. He ■was immediately attended to by a medical man who was summoned to the spot, was placed in a chair, and conveyed to his homo, followed by a crowd numbering some thousands. The poor man had been in the pit exactly thirty-six hours since tho explosion took place, and was lying under a large heap of rubbish and planking, Ho was lying for the better portion of a day and α-half beside tho mangled remains of another workman. When the crowd carrying Morgan arrived at his home, the scene which took place was pathetic in the extreme. On the doorstep stood his youngest son, about seven years of age, and down many cheeks the tears streamed as lie clapped his hands, danced about, and cried " Dada's coming home again." Tho poor fellow was then taken into the houso and laid on two chairs. Tho doctor at once proceeded to wash his face. It then appeared that he had a deep cut on the forehead, and ■was vei'y much burned about the head and arms. When he was carried into his home lus wife was walking about in. a state of

bewilderment, as if she could notnnderv- -ad it, and his children gathered round him with tears of joy pouring down their faces. Eventually, when his wife seemed fully to realise the position of affairs, she stood beside the sufferer and tried tospenk io him The only words she could utter, however, as sho touched him gently on tho arm, were: " Shon, dear Shon," and then burst iuto tears. Her husband turned his black and dust-begrimed faco towards her, and with an expression of tenderness which ■•rented considerable feeling amongst those who witnessed it—passionately replied : "Mydoav." With careful nursing and treatment tho man quickly recovered.