WELSH PIT DISASTER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 62

WELSH PIT DISASTER.

120 MINERS KILLED.

The following extract from a Home exchange gives details of the dreadful mine explosion, of which the cable informed us at the time: —

Another terrible colliery explosion occurred in the Rhondda Valley on July 11th, the scene of the disaster being the No. 2 Pit of the United National Collieries Company, Limited, Wattstown. For a long time it was impossible to ascertain the extent of the disaster, as the pit-head machinery was blown away by the force of the explosion, and no communication could be established by means of the shafts with the workings of the pit. Entrance was, however, obtained by means of the No. 1 Pit of the same company, which adjoins, and rescue parties speedily ascertained that the worst had happened, and that nearly every one of the men in the workings at the time, numbering 121, had suffered a violent death. In the No. 1 Pit there were 800 men employed at the time, and, strange to say, none of them felt the explosion. These men were speedily got out, and the pit utilised for rescue parties to No. 2, where the disaster occurred. VIOLENT EXPLOSION.

The first of the explosion was a loud report, followed by a cloud of smoke and dust issuing from the shaft. Those on the surface immediately realised that something serious had happended, and when the winding gear came to he examined it was discovered that it was not in working order, and grave fears were at once entertained. An ominous incident occurred an hour later, when a number of stretchers were taken into the cage going down the Nix 1 shaft. Meanwhile news of the explosion had spread far and wide, and great crowds of people went flocking to the pit-head, eagerly seeking the scanty information which was at the time available. The mountain roads suddenly became black with people hastening to the scene of the disaster, and, as on all these dread occasions, colliery managers throughout the district and medical men left their ordinary practice in order to render assistance. The directors of the ill-fated colliery, who were on the Cardiff Exchange at the time, also hastened to the Rhondda, in order to supervise exploration of the workings. The great crowd at the pighead many being relatives of the men in the mine, had not long to wait for definite news, as word was soon sent up that a number of bodies had been recovered, and that little hope was entertained for the great bulk of the men who were at work when the disaster overwhelmed them. RECOVERY OF THE DEAD.

Meanwhile the smith’s shop was being converted into a mortuary, and a large number of hands were also engaged in fixing up stretchers- for the removal of the injured for treatment and the conveyance of the dead home. The first

two men reached by the rescue party were living, but badly injured, having been burned and having sustained great shock. They were taken to the pit-head and removed home amid a pathetic scene; but one soon succumbed to his injuries. One of the first bodies recovered was that of the general manager of the colliery, Mr Meredith, who had only descended the pit two minutes before the explosion occurred. Other bodies wei;e speedily recovered, and it was ominous of the extent of the disaster that no more of the men were found alive.

The pit where the disaster has occurred was opened in 1834. Its output approximates 1500 tons a day, and the number of men and boys employed i& about 1500. PATHETIC SCENES were witnessed on Wednesday as the women who had so recently lost their husbands were conducted to the smith’s shop, temporarily converted into a mortuary,to identify the dead. Hardly one was able to walk unsupported, and in one or two instances as the widows nearthe door of the death chamber they shrank back, screamed, and fainted away. These were carried back to their homes, and the necessary duty of identification was performed by some other relative. In some instances, too, there were observed following behind the bereaved women their weeping children, some of them too young to properly realise what the loss of their father meant, and crying simply because others around them were doing so. At one time no less than three fathers and three sons lay side by side in the mortuary, and among other victims are a man and his two sons. Only a few weeks ago a third son was fatally injured at the same colliery. Perhaps the saddest feature was the number of lads brought up dead. The ruddy glow of health was still on their cheeks; and in one or two cases a smile played about their lips. On the faces of some there was a serene and peaceful expression. THE SCENE IN THE MINE. All through the night and all through the day, the exploring parties continued their task, and when they came up they were naturally disirdined to say much. Mr W. W. Hood, who was directing the operations below, said the scene in the mine was a most pathetic one. “I have been in about fourteen explosions,” he added, “but I have never come across such pathetic scenes in my life. One little chap was lying down just as if he had fallen asleep.” Mr D. Watts Morgan, minersi’ agent, was most active in the work of exploration. “We discovered the body of one man,” he said, “who had gone into a shelter, and had placed his head under a slip, while he clasped tightly to his breast a water tap. His features were calm and placid. Nearly all the men found had a similar appearance, and must have died from afterdamp. We have come to the conclusion that there is absolutely no hope for the recovery of any alive.” Mr Morgan pointed out that the seam adapted itself to the working of a man and a boy together, and it was pitiful to see the very large number of little boys who had fallen victims. The voice of even the experienced miners’ agent trembled with emotion as he referred to this heartrending feature of the catastrophe. Another explorer said the dead lay in all directions. One man Tiad his “jack” lifted as if in the act of drinking tea. Another lay close by his sons, while in yet another case a fathers body was found a short distance from those of his two lads, who weye locked in each other’s arms. It has been ascertained that there were 38 boys in the mine, their ages running from 14 to 18. SOLE! SURVIVOR’S NARRATIVE. The sole survivor, Matthew Davies, who is severely burned, gives a thrilling acoount of his escape. He said:— “I was in the cabin with a haulier’s boy when I felt a severe shock, followed by. a rush of air. My experience at onoe convinced me that something veryserious had happened. Inside my jacket pocket was my tea can, and I poured the tea from it upon my jacket and applied the wet garment to my mouth. I held it till it dried, wetted it again with what tea remained, and applied it again to keep out the bad air. Soon I lost consciousness, however, and I remembered no more until I came to myself in bed at home.” Asked if there were any other circumstances at the moment of the explosion that he could call to mind, Davies said that the haulier’s, boy died as he lay in the cabin, which Mr Meredith, the manager, who also pei’ished, left only about 10 minutes before the explosion occurred. At this point Davies showed signs of and it was deemed imprudent to ask him any further questions. There is, however, every promise that he will speedily make a complete recovery. Hie undoubtedly owes the preservation of his own life to his remarkable presence of mind and resourcefulness.