TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7930, 22 July 1887, Page 4

TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

The explosion at Blantyre, Lanarkshire, on Saturday, May 28, seems to have been of a terrible character. The pit isowned by the Udstou Coal Company, and employs a large number of hands. On Saturday morning the usual complement of men descended the Udston pit; the actual number being about 80. The colliery has four shafts —an upcast and a downcast shaft — to each of the two pits. Just after half-

past 9 o clock a terrible explosion told of a fearful disaster. Immediately afterwards a volume of flame burst from No. 2 pit, and then from all around the district anguishstricken women and children ran to the pit head. Three of the shafts were blocked, the cages having become jambed; but in the upcasi No. 2 shaft three men were engaged in examining the shaft, and when the report occurred the men at the top commenced to draw up this cage. On reaching the surface one of three, a lad named M'Gurky, was found to be dead. The others were only slightly injured. The colliery managers at onco sec about putting this shaft in order, and selected a band of workers from the scores of volunteers who prouood forward to offor thoir services to form a rescue party. The cage was safely lowered to the first part of the workings—the upper or the EU seam, 118 fathoms from the surface, —and here all the men, numbering 41, were found alive, though much overcome by afterdamp. With care they were brought to the surface, wrapped in blankets, and sent to their homes. Then the explorers heard calls for help from the middle or main seam. Some of the imprisoned boys were sobbing bitterly, and the rescue party redoubled their efforts to release their comrades from their living tomb. But it was not until some hours had passed that the shaft was sufficiently cleared to enable the descent to be continued. At length the main seam was reached, and the rescuers found 37 men in this seam alive and four dead. The dead wore sent up by the cage, and the scene at the pithead was then of the most harrowing description. Wives and mothers pressed round the pit, some wringing their hands and sobbing, 86 one after anbther of the rescued appeared, and still no sign of their own dear ones. Every one of the saved waa eagerly questioned as to the prospects of those below, but the information gleaned failed to furnish a ray of hope. Presently word was sent up the shaft that dead bodies had been found. The first which was brought to the surface was that of James M'Tavish, who was unmarried, and lived with his father. His features looked peaceful, and he must have succumbed immediately to the effects of the after-damp. The body was conveyed in an ambulance to his home. In a little space the cage came up agaiD, and in it was the body of a man named James Richmond. The poor man had been stricken down beside his son, who was brought up along with his father's corpse. The son was very pale, but after receiving medical aid he recovered slightly. Several other bodies were subsequently brought to the surface. The scene was very heartrending when the volunteer party announced to the waiting women that there was no hope for the men in the Splint seam, where it was conjectured that 70 men were at work. Without loss of time the explorers put forth every effort to reach the Splint or lower seam. Rapidly the mass of obstruction was cleared out of the way, and at 5 o'clock the gallant band had reached the entrance to the workings. Here .the pathways were found blocked up by falls of coal and broken hatches. Notwithstanding, however, the almost insuperable difficulties in their way, two of the brave fellows crawled through the debris into the lamp cabin, where they found Alex. M'Lean, a young man of 22, lying dead. Other dead men were also seen lying around, and the explorers could only come to the conclusion that the whole of the 70 men in this part of the workings had succumbed. Still volunteers persevered uudauntedly, working in relays, clearing the road and restoring the ventilation, with the hope that some spark of life might still be found in some of the unconscious ones entombed in the workings. Several of the survivors who were in the two upper seams at the time of the explosion have made statements respecting their own experiences, but they do not throw much light on the origin of the explosion, which occurred in the lowest working. An intelligent lad named Alexander M'Lean, who was in the Ell seam, states that after the explosion he heard men shouting in the main coal bottom. Having an uncle and cousin working in the Splint, he was anxious to know how the men in that part of the workings had fared. So he called to the men whose shouts he had heard, and asked if they could communicate with those in the Splint, Somebody shouted an answer, but he could make nothing of it, owing to the noise caused by the shrieking, crying, and sobbing of the boys in the next seam. The Queen telegraphed through a secretary :— " Her Majesty is greatly distressed to learn of the terrible accident. Kindly express her deep sympathy with the sufferers and their families. The Queen hopes that many more may still bo rescued." Mr Ralph Moore telegraphed back that there was no hope of the remainder of the miners being saved.