AFTER FORTY-THREE YEARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18444, 4 January 1922, Page 9

AFTER FORTY-THREE YEARS

BIG COLLIERY DISASTER RECALLED. A cable message from London recently said: —“Miners at work in the Prince of Wales colliery at Abcrcarne broke through an old working and found the remains of many of the 262 victims of the disastrous ex-plosion-'in September, 1878. The explosion was so'terrific that few bodies were recovered at the time." The most terrible catastrophe in the nature of a colliery accident that had ever happened to that date occurred in the Prince of Wales colliery in South Wales district at noon on the 11th September, 1878. The number of victims was 262, and only eight bodies were brought to the bank. Five persons were brought to the pit’s mouth alive, but they succumbed. They were knocked down by the force of the explosion, and were very much disfigured, not one of them ever being conscious. Of the 262 killed by the explosion 134 were married men, 67 single, and 56 boys from 13 to 18 years of ago, and six widowers. In addition to the 520 widows and children dependent upon charity, the number of men thrown out of work at Aberoarne was 700, and not fewer then 1400 women and children dependent upon them. The colliery waA the property of the Ebbw Vale Company, one of the largest iron and coal proprietors in South Wales, and is situated a few hundred yards from the Abcrcarne station, in the Western Valley section of the Monmouthshire railway. The valley is one of the most charming jn the district, and within sight of the Crumlin viaduct, well known to travellers. The pit was 330 yards deep, and the seam of coal worked was that popularly termed the Black-vein Seam. It was used extensively in tho Boyal Mail Company's service, and was esteemed one of the best coals for foreign use. Up to the time of tho accident tho pit had been deemed as safe as tho character of the coal would lead one to expect. Every precaution was used to prevent accidents. The machinery for winding, pumping, and ventilating was of tho most perfect kind, and the use of safety lamps was enforced among the colliers. The shaft was mink in the year 1862 on tho day of the marriage of tho Prince of Wales, and in consequence of this incident, it was named the Prince of Wales colliery. From that date the old shaft was abandoned, and bad been used for, ventilating purposes. Tho explosion occurred at 10 minutes past 12. Up to that time nothing bad transpired loading, to a supposition that anything was wrong, but at the time named a loud rumbling sound, a flash of flame, and a column of block smoko ascending high into the air told too plainly of the sad circumstances. The discovery was immediately mode that the winding gear was damaged, and communication with the bottom of the pit destroyed. Efforts were first made to make thiA complete, and working parties were speedily sent down. Eightytwo men end boys, all of whom were working within a few hundred yards of the shaft, wero rescued; but it became evident, as attempts were mode to advance into the workings, that little hope could be entertained of any life surviving the catastrophe. About 400 yards from the bottom of, the shaft Were situated the stables, and here 14 horses wero found, all dead. Beyond this point tho explorers could not' go on account of the impurity of the air and the prevalence of chokcdomp. The volunteers succeeded in bringing out ten or twelve men very much burnt, and several doad bodies were brought to the bank; but beyond these no others could be got at in consequence of the fire extending.