TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION. ONE HUNDRED AND TEN LIVES LOST.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XV, Issue 67, 19 November 1856, Page 2

TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION. ONE HUNDRED AND TEN LIVES LOST.

An explosion occurred on Tuesday, the 15th July, in the colliery of Messrs. Insole and Co., at Cymmer, situate in the Rhoudda Valley, about fourteen miles above Cardiff, which has produced consequences hitherto unparalleled in the melancholy history of colliery accidents in South Wales.

It appears that on Tuesday morning 116 or 117 men and boys went into the Cymmer pit, little anticipating the horrible catastrophe about to occur. The two firemen, whose duty it was to examine the pit, to ascertain if there was any foul air or gas in it, re-ascended at about six o'clock, pronouncing the pit safe. In less than an hour after — indeed, before some had stripped off their clothes to commence work — the terrible gas exploded, and the affrighted people ran hither and thither for a few moments. Then one fell in the dark, and others staggering along stumbled on their dead companions, and fell dead also. Here some were struggling amid the tortures of the fire. There a tram full of boys, all dead ; and in other places, in sidings or niches in the level, men had sat down to await their fearful doom, and had died with their elbows resting on their knees, and their faces buried in their hands. Some had struggled forward, no doubt hoping to reach the airways and possibly escape.

When the report of the explosion was heard on the surface, it was too well apprehended what had occurred. Rumour says that for a day or two previously indications had been given of what was about to occur. " Blowers," or casual explosions of gas, had taken place. Two doorways had been blown down only on the previous day, and there were too many reasons to believe, from the quantity of electricity with which the air had been charged, that an explosion of more extensive nature might take place. This was too fully verified, and of the 200 colliers who worked in the Cymmer Colliery, more than one-half were, at a moment's notice, swept into eternity. 116 human beings went down into the pit of death that morning, and of that host only six returned alive.

The screams of the wives and mothers at the mouth of the pit — those women congregated there to await and recognise the dead — as during the long interval that ensued between the period when the first intelligence of the explosion spread on Tuesday morning till the last body was brought out on the morning of Wednesday, wers frightful and distressing. All day long the brave fellows who ventured down almost to the face of death, to bring up

the dead, sent up the bodies of the unfortunate men and boys who had perished, and when these were brought to the surface the recognition of a beloved husband or darling child awoke harrowing cries. On Wednesday morning the 110 th body was brought out, and it was left to conjecture whether any still lay in the pit of death. It was supposed, however, that all who had perished were now brought up.

Workmen were immediately put on to supply coffins for the dead. There they were, working hastily with the saw and plane, to construct rude shells in which to deposit the unfortunate dead in their untimely graves, amid the crowds of eager people, still waiting to see the last of the dreadful catastrophe.

An inquest was opened on Wednesday, and adjourned for a fortnight. Her Majesty's inspector of collieries, Mr. Evans, is engaged in fully elucidating the facts.

Many years have elapsed since any accident of a very serious nature had occurred in this valley, which is celebrated for its coaking coal, and from which the Great Western derives the supply for its locomotive power. The last explosion of a sweeping character was one in 1853, at the Middle Dyffryn Colliery, near Aberdare, when sixty-four men were killed. At present, of course, no cause can be assigned for the explosion, but the barometer at the time was falling — a circumstance which has attended every former occurrence of the kind, and which should impose on the overlookers extra caution whenever atmospheric alterations may be expected.