THE COLLIERY CATASTROPHE AT HAYDOCK.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 3141, 9 September 1878, Page 2

THE COLLIERY CATASTROPHE AT HAYDOCK.

RECOVERING THE BODIES. Wigan, Junell. Tbe terrible effects of the colliery, exploßion at the Wood Pit, Hay dock Lane, have not been exaggerated. It is now b&yond doubt that at least 200 lives have fallen victims to the disaster. The bodies found near to the bottom of the pit shaft are so shockingly mutiliated that it is fearful to contemplate what must have been the fate of the men who were in the working and exposed to the fall force of the explosion. The faces of all have evidently been- severely burnt, sis they are red and in some cases brown like mummies, and their Hair and'beards have been scorched off. The head of , one boy is seperated from its body, having apparently been blown completely away. The head of another seems to have been literally smashed, and all are, more or less bruised. Oak coffins have been provided, and the bodies that have been identified hidden from view. There has been an exploring party in the pit since the ex- | plosion, but their progress has been" bat : slow. The following is a copy of a telegram sent by Mr Jos. Dickinson, her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Mines, to the Home Secretary on Saturday : — " Haydock Colliery, : 8.30-^-1 have penetrated with the explorers 800 yards ; gaa there prevents further access. The ventilating force I found put out, and only one steam jet substitute. More ventilating power is required ; one furnace has dumb drift, but too short in the opinion of some persons to allow of safe relighting at present ; more steam jets are to be tried, and the blown-put; air stoppings, to be more effectu'aly replaced. Chadwick the general manager and his staff are in charge. Hedley (the Government Inspector) remains to-night. I will return to-morrow morning. No progress likely meanwhile. Loss of life probably about 200." Mr Dickinson states that the explorers are stopped simply by gas. They got over the falls, but the foul air drove them back. As yet it is impossible to state from whence the body of gas which exploded came, and by what means it was ignited, and • nothing -definite is known with regard to the cause of /the explosion. G unpowder was • never used in the mine, the coal being got by cutting only. The gas must have been ignited at either the ventilating furnace or the ■ safety lamps used by the men, unless some one, with gross and criminal carelessness, struck a lif ht. ' The Home Secretary has telegraphed to Messrs Evans & Co., proprietors of the colliery, expressing sympathy with the sufferers. Efforts are being made to raise a fund for their assistance. At a preliminary meeting held on Saturday, it was decided to form a relief committee, and to issue an appeal for help. It is believed that not less than' one hundred widows and three hundred children are left destitute, and a very large sum will be needed to make provision for them.