RESCUED FROM THE PIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6003, 12 February 1881, Page 7

RESCUED FROM THE PIT.

An incident in the recent coal mine disaster in Wales, is thus described in a letter dated Pent-craic, December 12Thousands of persons have yesterday and to-day thronged from all parts of the country to the scene of Friday's disaster. A strange incident in the history of colliery explosions occurred here at a quarter-past throe, o.clock vesterday afternoon, when a collier, fifty-one years of age, named John Morgan, who lives close by with his wife and f.imily of eight children (most of whom are at home), was found buried alive Mr. David Evans colliery manager, Bodringaft; Mr. \> ales, Government Inspector, and others, were at th"t time in the downcast shaft witli relays of "men pursuing the work of exploration. When near the right-hand heading of the north side of the workings they heard a voice comin" from below. The sound became more and more distinct, and the party heard some one call out, "Bring a light here." It is asserted that the horror which attached to the surroundings, combined with the deep tones of the voice, frightened some of the men, and that they began to hurry off. Be this as it may, it was with 'bated breath that the explorers watched one of their number go on to the rubbish heap and peer down into what appeared to be a black abyss. "Take out the lamp," urged the voice which had already spoken. The explorers perceived at once that there was a life to be saved, and in less time than could be conceived possible the lamp had been caught and its owner's form grasped. The man was John Morgan, feeble and famished, and yearning for light. He had been underground for nearly forty hours. During the greater part of this time he had been wedged in a crevicc, with the body of a dead comrade by his side. The intelligence spread above ground with light-ning-like rapidity ; it passed from mouth to mouth, and in ten minutes there was a sea of eager human faces at the mouth of the pit. The scene was strange and striking. Jfrc- ' sently the pit carriage came up with Morgan in it, Mr. Thomas, jun., Brynhamel, and other gentlemen by his side, supporting him. A thrill passed throu.-li the crowd as tlie rescued man tried to walk toward the lamproom. This was all he could do. Policemen guarded the door and kept everybody out except officials. Medical men were sent for, and l)rs. Hamilton, Idris Davics audXaunton Davics were quickly on the spot, and administering restoratives to the exhausted man. Morgan's son-in-law, who was at the pit edge when he was brought up, ran home at once to tell his mother-in-law and the family the good tidings. The window-blinds were down at the house, owing to the fathers death ; nobody had any hopes of Morgan's survival in the workings. So much was this considered to be beyond the range of possibility that thel'rudentiallnsu ranee Company, ■which had insured Morgan's life for £80 10s. ■on three policies, had directed their local agent to pay otr one policy to the family. What, then, was the happy revulsion of feeling when mother and children were told of his rescue may be betterimaginedthandescrit ed. Morgan's son, a young man about twenty, had come from Bristol to console his mother, and was returning from the local post-office, when lie met two men, who informed him of his lather's rescue. Morgan was .afterward : conveyed home in a chair, followed by a sympathizing crowd. His daughter, a young woman in service at Bristol, was telegraphed to after the explosion, and asked to come home. She did not know the reason, but with forebodings started by train, and yester- . day morning, between Cardiff and Pontrypridd (Rhondda) Junction railway stations, she. heard of the fatality. Her fears were confirmed at the junction by acquaintances, who told her that her father was among the dead. A gentlemau, however, who was -in the crowd, told her that he had just heard that her father was alive. The gh"l was at last convinced, and with her eyes full of tears, poured forth in broken words lier gratitude for the welcome information.