SHOCKING COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR WIGAN.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 635, 12 February 1870, Page 4

SHOCKING COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR WIGAN.

10S8 OP TWENTY-SEVEN UVES. Wigak, Monday Night, Nov. 15. At four o'clock this afternoon a disastrous explosion took place at the No. 5 Pit of the Moss Hall Coal Company's Collieries, Plattbridge, three miles from Wigan, which has resulted in the loss of 27 lives, and it is feared that this number may be increased by the death of some who "have : received very severe injuries.: Several exploring parties were formed immediately after the explosion, arid they speedily ascertained that the gas had fired in the lowest seam. Their operations were continued until about a quarter to; eleven o'clock, and at that time about 20 searchers were in the mine where the disaster 1 happened. The workings run north, southj and west from the pifreye,; and in each direction are somewhat extensive for straight work, but the boundary is in no instance more than 350 yards from the shaft. Exploring parties proceeded along.; each . level,- carrying- the air: with them, and arranging as far as possible to be within -call- from the mouthing. One party comprised a man named Sharratt and twoother colliers, and took one of the'mainisouth levels, Sharratt states that they had travelled about two hundred yards, or thereabouts, when they' Observed strong indications of burning. They had already met choke-dampj but not in sufficient quantity to stop' their progress,: He was slightly in' 'advattce of his companion's, and On coming to one of the openiugshe saw at the extremity- a large blaze; as though- the coal were' oh fire. Before his companions could reach the- corner round which he had looked he bade them run for their lives, and they hastened to the. pit-eye. As soon as Sharratt had made his statement it was decided that all should ascend the pit, and with all speed the cage was filled with men and sent to the surface, fof-iVwas feared another explosion might occur. The of the explorers ohreachirigthe batik : caiised tiie mostintenseexcitement amongst the crowd assembled, and this panic on the surface would hardly bear comparison; with that which prevailed amongst thei group of searchers at the bottom of the \ shaft, who anxiously waited the return of : the cage. Mr JohnHigson, who attended: as the representative of -his father, Mr ; Eeter r HigsOn, Government Inspector of Mines for the district, and several managers'; and engineers from neighboring collieries, were in the mine at thetiriie. At length all were raised to the surface in safety, and a consultation took place. Although' Slmrratt was known to be thoroughly trustworthy, there were some on'the pit brow who tho«ght:he had^been needfessly alarmed, for on the .sutfaije there were no signs of a fire in the mine; Sharratt pointed on the colliery plan to the place where he had seen the fire, and declared that there was a large blaze. Several were, however, still inclined ;to qu'estiod the abvisability ot -leaving- ;the workingswithout further search, until at length Sharratt said he would say no! mofe about it, and, proceeding to a corner of the bank, burst into tears. It was eveiitaSllydecidedthatTio further attempt to eiiter the workhigs should be made' that Wight, and about one o'clock this morning the principal engineers left the colliery, arranging to meet again dt ten, arid about this time also the crowds assembled near the colliery began to break iip. All night a browman kept close watch on thesmall : body of smoke which ascended the shaft, but he perceived no change -whatever either in the quality or the smell. morning some of the most emirieht engineers itt the county have assembled at the ; colliery; and: when"this parcel was despatched the result of their ; coriference hadnot transpired.^ ; . ; The bodiesTecovbred have been removed to an UTlterianted farm house; known W the Ijow Hall, about 200 yards from the coiiiery. r < Wigan,. Tuesday night. The colliery is on fire. Eight bodies, only have been recovered, and nineteen still lie in the workings. Both shafts have been closed, to extinguish the burnring coal.