ACCIDENT IN WELSH COLLIERY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8166, 25 June 1906, Page 7

ACCIDENT IN WELSH COLLIERY.

MINERS KILC.ED AND INJURED.

A disaster ooourred at the Dowlais Pit, Aberoynon, South Wales, r<v salting in fire colliers being killed -and many others injured. The acoident ooourred just before two o'clock, when the day shift men were about to leave thu pit, A number bad already been taken up to the •surface, but ..many others were waiting their turn to enter the ■cage, standing or sitting about in groups at the bottom of the shaft, «nd all chatting pleasantly. The plaoe where they were waiting is at the bottom of an incline, and euddeuly, and almost without warning, a full load of 24 trams CAME DASHING DOWN this incline, having broke loose from the chain which held tbem near the top of the slope. So sudden was the rush of the trams, and so limited the means of escape, that the bulk of the men were caught by the vehicles, which knooked tbem down, passing over the bodies of some and maiming them badly. Two men were killed outright, and many others were buried under the ■coal and wreckage, the accident having unloosened limbers and caused large falls of coal. The trams bad run wild a distance of 150 yards. 60 great was the CONFUSION WHICH ENSUED that it was some time before the extent of the disaster oould be ascertained. The manager of the colliery (Mr Bruce Jones) took prompt measures, however, to organise a rescue party to extricate the colliers. Nine teen injured were removed* and one of tbem subsequently succumbed to bis injuries. Some were taken out with arms and legs broken, and others with injured spines, and it is feared the death roll may ultimately prove greater. Some of the most serious oases were sent by train to Cardiff Infirmary, In conversation with a pressman, Mr Bruce Jones said that about a ■quarter to two p,m, a full 'journey' of trams was coming in the direction of tbe shaft bottom of South Pit, where a large number of men were ready to be taken op at the olose of their day's work, when it dashed inthem. There were 24 trams mak ing up the journey and the accident was oaused by a link of the chain attaching the trams to the rope giving up. At the inquest Mr Bruoe Jones •said a number of iren had been dismissed and others fined for disobeying rules. He had had CONSIDERABLE TROUBLE beoause of men rushing to tbe pit bottom long before the time for winding up. John Thomas, master haulier, said he received instructions to stand by tbe engine to stop anyone going into the main parting before haulage ceased, but tbe previous Saturday when he stood in this position some men rushed past him, and others used him roughly, whilst some slipped by him by putting out their lamps and going behind some stationary tramß. The jury returned a verdiot of death." They stated that they were satisfied that every precation had been taken respecting the material and workmanship of the ohain connecting the trams to the naulage rope, the accident being oaused by the snapping of a link in the obaii.