TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION IN SCOTLAND.
(From the Home News, November 15.) A terrible explosion of fire-damp, resulting in the destruction of many lives, occurred on October 22, at the coal-pits of William Dixon and Go. (Limited), Upper Blantyre, Glasgow. There are three pits, within a distance of about a quarter of a mile, connected with each other underground,, and it was, in No. 3 pit (the furthest cast) that the explosion occurred. The men. 283 in number, went down as usual about six' o’clock, and at that.time and for some time afterwards everything appears to have been right. The overman went over the whole workings with a naked light, and there was no indication of the presence of fire-damp. About a quarter to nine o’clock a sharp explosion was heard, and from the mouth of No. 3 pit a stream of fire and a large quantity of debris, clouds of dust, boards, and coal, were shot into the air. Among the rubbish was found a man’s leg. The'noise of the explosion was hoard a long way off, and crowds of people soon collected round the months of the pits. , The greatest consternation everywhere prevailed, and for some little time nothing could 1 be done. Bands of rescuers were soon formed, for everybody seemed anxious to get something done for the safety of the men below. It was found utterly impossible to go. down the shaft of No. 3 in the face of the volumes of chokedamp which came rolling up. Every effort was made to restore the ventilation which the explosion had stagnated ; but more than an hour elapsed before the current of air .was in circulation. Before this time a party of explorers had succeeded in getting some distance down No. 2 pit; but the choke-damp was too overpowering to admit of their remaining long down, and they were forced to ..return, without ■ having ascertained anything., They,.called as i loudly 'as they could, ,b.ut no answer was,returned to their pries, and they were unable to proceed any distance into the workings. .On a. 'second attempt more definite information was obtained, and the rescuers when they returned lhad one dead body with them... Six different : times they returned, at, great .risk to them- ; | selves, and on each occasion they managed to ■ bring up a dead body. The choke-damp ■ eventually became so bad that they were forced ito desist, and some of the party .very narrowly ; escaped. To provide a current of ajr, streams of ■water,were poured down the shafts, but a long time elapsed before there was much improve-. iraent in the atmosphere.below. . The bodies, 'which were recovered were fearfully scotched and blackened, and the men who went down state that there is every, appearance of the explosion being a terrible one. Dead bodies wore strewn about, and everything was in a state of confusion. . . , , , ( Joseph Gilmour, the overman of pit No. 2, was' found dead near, the bottom of, the shaft.. Had he survived, he, would have; been , able to ■explain the cause of the, explosion. These three pits are situated close to the village of ■High Blantyre, about eight miles from Glasgow, and although no definite information can be obtained as to the cause of. the explosion, it is'supppsed. that the foul gas which exploded camejrom the'exhausted works. Six bodies, as already stated, were found near the bottom of the shaft, one of .them being that of Joseph Gilmour, the underground manager. When he was found his leg was broken, being under the body of a horse. . It ■ was thought that but for this unfortunate, occurrence be
might have saved, himself, as he asked one man to assist him in getting rid of the encumbrance ; but, although help was given, it was of no use, and the man said, “ Well, Thomas, I must either leave you or lie down and die beside yon.” The poor fellow replied, “ Well, go, and leave me, and save yourself.” This body, like the other five, was brought to bank ; but the whole of them, were dreadfully blackened and disfigured. Another attempt was afterwards made to pierce the mine, and seven other persons were ultimately got out, but it was soon found that the foul air had obtained such a force that it was impossible to continue the search, and the explorers were forced to leave the pit. Only one man has as yet escaped, named James Stephen, who at the very outset passed to the bottom of No. 2 shaft, and was only aware of the serious character of the explosion when he came on the dead bodies. Ho then looked about for bis brother, but not .finding him, he was forced to leave off and crawl to the bottom of the shaft, injured as he was. After a considerable amount of perseverance it was found that the relief party could not get further than twenty-four fathoms from the, bottom, as the midwall had been blown down and blocked up the shaft. But the men State that they distinctly heard shouts from beneath,; showing that some men were at any rate still alive. The relief party at once began to work their way through the barrier ; but to add to their danger they found that a considerable portion of the bratticing had been destroyed, and that the earth, being pushed inwards, was falling in, and threatened to bury them.
It is now believed that at least 200 lives have been lost in this explosion. Of the 233 colliers who went down into the pit, only twenty have been brought up alive, and several of these are not expected to live. A consultation has been held by the mining engineers, several representatives of the firm of Messrs. William Dixon and Co., and various gentlemen experienced in colliery matters, and their unanimous opinion is that there is no hope for the safety of tho imprisoned miners. It is, therefore, deemed advisable that future operations should be conducted with the greatest care for the safety of those engaged .in the. work, so as to guard against the possibility of; further loss of life. The Home Secretary has! telegraphed to Mr. Moore, the Government Inspector for the district, that he was much : grieved to hear of the disaster, and desired the inspector to express his deep sympathy with the relatives of the sufferers. Twenty-six bodies have been taken out of, the No. 2 pit, and a great many more are expected, because; in consequence of the sending of steam down that shaft the air is considerably purified. During the, night a pony was found in the; north side of the workings. It was still alive, but suffering from the effects of foul air. These! north workings formed that part of tho mine; where the twenty men rescued immediately after the explosion had been working. A telegram has been received from her Majesty at Balmoral, expressing her sympathy with the bereaved, and hoping that the loss of life was not so great as had been,reported.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5243, 12 January 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)
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1,168TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION IN SCOTLAND. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5243, 12 January 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)
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