FEARFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 119, 17 October 1874, Page 3

FEARFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

The Leeds Mercury gives the following account of the explosion at the Wigan Coalfield, which resulted in the loss of fifteen lives :—“The seam in which the catastrophe occurred was again the Wigan 6ft, the working of which has proved fatal to so many lives during the past half dozen years. The colliery which now has to be added to the list of those where the Wigan 6ft has proved treacherous is one belonging to the Ince Hall Coal and Canal Company. Twentyyears ago the luce Hall Alley seam was the scene of two awful explosions, but from that time to the present few companies have, comparatively speaking, enjoyed so great an immunity from accidents of all kinds. Much of this is no doubt attributable to the care and caution exercised by the manager, Mr George Gilroy, a gentleman of considerable eminence in the scientific world, and who has held the position as president of the Mining Association of Great Britain. No precaution which the experience gained by the recent explosions in this seam could suggest has been neglected by the management. The Sawmills pit, at which the explosion occurred, is situated in Ince Green lane, a short distance from the railway station. and close to the workshop of the company. It has been sunk above five years for the purpose of winning the Wigan five, four, and six feet seams which lie at the respective depths of three six, three nine, and four one yard, the five and four feet coal being drawn from one mouthing. On Saturday evening the men usually employed in the Sawmills pit had been drawn to the surface, and there were down in the four and five feet thirteen men, and in the six feet twelve men. Of the latter one was a foreman named Crompton, of proved experience, whose duty it was to fire the shots drilled by the colliers during the day, and of these it is stated that there were 11. He had with him a qualified assistant and nine detailed, the furnace man making up the number. It was about a quarter to seven on Saturday evening, when a loud report, followed by a dense cloud of dust, told the well known story that an explosion had occurred. Fortunately there was not very much damage done to the shaft nor to the cages, and in a couple of hours it was possible to make a descent to ascertain the extent, of the catastrophe. Meanwhile ten of the men in the four feet having felt the explosion, and being fortunately at a considerable distance from the mouth, made their way to what is known as the East Cannel Pit, and were drawn to the surface in safety. When, however, the first party of explorers descended they found that the remaining three of the workmen in the four feet had not been so fortunate, for, as they had been near the shaft at the time, they felt the full effects of the blast of the after damp. Two were dead—one mangled beyond the possibility of recognition—and the third was so fearfully bruised thathedied shortly after he had been conveyed home. Descending to the six-feet seam, two more dead bodies were found, one laborer seated in the cabin in The sleep of death, with his head buried in his arms. But examination of the workings for any distance was soon found to be next to an impossibility, the damage done to the main road having been so very considerable. The underlookers and firemen fought the battle with the gallantry always displayed on these unfortunate occasions, but they were frequently compelled to succumb to the effects of the choke-damp, and had to be brought to the surface to be restored. Mr Gilroy was promptly in attendat ce, and of course had charge of the operations. Many of the managers and principal underground men from the neighbouring collieries were present to render such assistance as was in their power. The night wore on, however, without any cheering news for the anxious crowd of watchers on the surface, whose patience was most exemplary. On Sunday morningthe Government inspector (Mr Bell) reached the colliery soon after ten o’clock, and he t hen found that just, before his arrival the explorers had returned to bank, doubtful whether there was not some smouldering fire in the mine, in which case, of course, the risk of proceeding further was of the gravest character. There was also an immense fall of roof to be removed, and as there was not the remotest possibility that one of the nine persons known to be in the mine could be alive, it was resolved to ask further instructions, and the precaution was by no means an unnecessary one. One feature of the explosion in this seam has been the subsequent ignition of the coal, and the second catastrophe in the Moss Pits in 1871 has led to very necessary ' carefulness. Shortly after noon a small party of men acquainted with the mines made another descent, and, on their return, stated their strong opinion that the mine was on fire. Late in the afternoon a large party descended, in charge of Mr Bullen, the manager, and Beatty, the underlooker. Their report was in favor of a continuance of the explorations, and (his was pressed forward as quickly as circumstances would allow. Four of the bodies were brought to the surface on Sunday morning and placed in one of the worksdops. The fifth lies at the house to which he was taken. The fifteen deceased were all responsible men, and they leave ten widows and thirty-one children. The colleries belonging to this firm have been connected

with the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund from its commence menl, and form one of its largest branches. The widows and dependent relatives of the deceased are therefore provided for. Inasmuch as the workings have not yet been penetrated, it is impossible to state positively the cause of the explosion. In all probability it was a sudden outburst of gas at the time of the firing of one of the shots ; but, as too frequently happens, there is not one person left to tell the tale.”