COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR ACCRINGTON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1122, 5 January 1884, Page 3

COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR ACCRINGTON.

A dreadful colliery explosion took place on November 7tli near Accrington, at a colliery situate at Altham, a small township in the Burnley Union, which, it is feared, has resulted iu the loss of sixty lives. The pit is known as the Moorfield Colliery, being one of two pits owned and worked by the Altham Colliery Company, of which Mr Alderman Barlow, ex-Mayor of Accrington, ib the principal proprietor. The second pit, the Whinney Hill Colliery, has been in operation about twelve yeaiSj but the Moorfield Colliery has only been working about two years and a-half. The depth of this pit is 293 yards, and the seam of coal is from twenty-four to twenty-six inches in thickness. It has been sunk on the latest principle, and is worked from the shaft by two main drifts towards the east and the uorth. The main chainway is fixod in the eastern portion of the works, and extends for about 180 yards. The pits are worked with safety lamps, the gas produced from the works being variable. Three firemen were employed in this mine, and they went to their duties as usual early in the morning. Their business was to examine every heading, and report if any danger was apprehended in any working. The men and boys began to daseend the pit soon after six o'clock, and by seven o'clock 110 men and boys had been let down the mine and procaeded to their several workings. Coal began to be wound up in the nsual manner, the cages being a double lift, and bringing eight tubs to the surface at once. Mr Thomas M'lntosh, the manager, went down the pit about seven, and was below when the explosion took place. Generally the firemen come out of the mine about eight o'clock, and at half-past eight it was remarked that they were later than usual. At ten minutes to nine the explosion took place, at a fortunate moment for those working on the pit bank, for most of them were a short distance away from it, emptying waggons into the boats on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which runs besides the colliery. The first intimation was a loud report, as if a volley of artillery had been fired. The earth was shaken, and a large volnme of smoke ascended like a pilhir. The iron plates which surrounded the pit mouth were upheaved, and the men thrown to the ground. A man who was getting his breakfast in the yard thirty yards away had his cap blown offand his face peppered with coal dust. When the explosion took place the cages were ascending and decending, the full one being about sixty yards from the top, and the other a similar distance from the bottom. The top cage was undisturbed, but the bottom one, notwithstanding its momentum, was stopped and blown back. One part of the cage left the conductors, tore up the framework, and became firmly embedded. Intelligence was conveyed at once by messenger to the Whinney Hill Pit. The noise of the explosion had been heard throughout this mine, which adjoins the Moorfield Pit, and is connected with it by a main road, 1200 yards long, known as the Billy road. The Whinney Hill is 183 yards deep, and down this pit 136 men and boys were at work. The Moorheld shaft being blocked, the Billy road was the only way the miners had to escape, and by which they could be reached. The hookers-on at bottom of the shaft very soon ascended, being driven from their post by the fumes and gas which found their way up the main road. An exploring party was at once formed, and stayed down the whole day working to rescue their fellowmen. The air and fumes were rather stifling, and all who were mec with in the pit were interrogated as to whether they could do without help, in which case the explorers passed on. A considerable number of men seem to have been clustered about the shaft, for four or five men and boys were blown into a sumph hole—a pit dug to collect the water, and which contained four or five feet of water. Fortunately these were dragged out by the men at the Bhaft.

The work of bringing up the dead and injured men was proceeded with rapidly. The dead were placed carefully ore on side. The scene on the bank of Whinney Hill Pit was heartrending. The wives and mothers ol the unfortunate miners gathered round the mouth of the pir, and made anxiou9 inquiries about their near relatives. The operations on the surface were conducted under the superintendence of Mr M*calpine, the managing partner, to whom the news of the accident was made known as he was driving to the colliery. Mr Alderman Barlow was also summoned ; his'daughters also were early on the spot, who gave every attention to the sufferers as they were brought to the surface.

Over an hour elapsed after he explosion before the first hatch of injured miners was brought up. They numbered half-a doz'n of whom were two hoys. AH were burned and two rather serious'y. They were carried into the engine house close by, and after bfing attended to were removed home. To those on the pit bank, to whom a minute seemed an hour, the work of the explorers appeared to progress very slowly. The bystanders were, however, assured that all was being done that could possibly be done to release the entombed men. As the injured miners were brought to the bank they were covered with blankets, and tea and other stimulants were administered, everything oeen done to relieve their sufferings. Among the early arrivals was a poor boy who seemed to have sustained but slight injuries, but who, unfortunately, had lost

his bight. A«ked if he conlil ivcogn his comrades, he replied that he could not, see, and became fretful. The doctors consoled him as best they could, and assured him that he might again possess his sight. Another little fellow was so terrified that he covered his head and face with the blanket, and the doctors tried in vain to induce him to release his hold. A third youth, who had an extraordinary escape, reported that in comingto thepilshaft lie had to walk over dead bodies, which were lying about in all directions. For a time very few of the wounded were brought to the surface, but efter a short interval the efforts of the explorers were most successful and thirty-six miners were scon brought up the shaft; they were all more or less hurt. Two of them were suffering from fractures of the skull, others had broken limbs and cut arms ; but the majority were suffering from burns. Several of the poor fellows were dreadfully burned about the head, face, hands, and legs; their bodies were almost entirely without clothing, and presented a pitiful appearauce. Some of the workmen were able to proceed home unaided, but most of them were conveyed in cabs. It is now beyond doubt that over sixty ilves have been sacrificed by this explosion, which appears to have been a very violent one, and some of the bodies are so dreadfully mutilated as to make recognition impossible. In most of the cases, however, death has been caused by burning and suffocation. Several painful circumstances surrounding the explosion are reported. Oue of the miners leaves a widow and nine children, and another a widow and seven children. Most of the families are left without provision, but it is almost certain that a public subscription list will be opened at once. Some of the men were insured, and the local agents of the companies have intimated to the families that the claims will be paid forthwith. It is stated that the whole of the miners have contracted themselves out of the Employers' and Workmen's Lia bility Act, but they have a local fund, which, however, is not very large. The cause of the explosion, it is conjectured, arose from carelessness on the part of some of the workmen in exposing a naked lie;ht in a heading which was considered to be free from gas.—Home News.