Welsh Fit Disaster.

Thames Star, Volume xxx, Issue 9451, 29 September 1899, Page 4

Welsh Fit Disaster.

A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.

LONDON, August 29. A terrible colliery explosion, which resulted in the loss of twenty lives, occurred at half past two o'clock on Friday morning at the Llest pita, Garw Valley, Glamorgan. At the moment of the disaster there was only the night shift in the workings. It consisted of forty nine men, and they were at work in the No 2 Bhondda seam. The pit was considered a very safe one, so much so, indeed, that naked lights were habitually used in it. The workings had been inspected not long before the explosion, and no gas was noticed. Soon after two o'clock, however, a heavy fall of coal and stone took place, and almost immediateiy afterwards the workings were filled with deadly gas suddenly liberated from their inmost recesses. In another instant the explosion occurred. It was not a particularly violent explosion, and the men at the pit's mouth did not at first suppose that the disaster could be of a serious character The alarm j was quickly given, however,and volunteers were called for to descend the pit. The call was gallantly answered, and ere long Dr Parry Jones and a number, of colliers bravely proceeded to the rescue. It became quickly asparent that the workings were full of the deadly after damp, and that the work of would he extremely perilou*"for those engaged in it. The rescue party was led by Dr. Parry tones and a collier named Herring, within half an hour of the first alarm 1 these two gallant men had grooped their way to tlie No. 2 Rhondda seam and the doctor was engaged in minis* tering to the injured men. The first they met was.one Thomas, from whose head and'face blood mas flowing from a number of deep cuts. He was stumbling along in a dazed and ex • hausted condition, shrieking for help. Dr Jones quickly did what was necessary for him and he wag sont to bank. The explorers next came across a group of eight men, who were lying on the roadway exhausted by their efforts to get to the bottom of the shaft, after a vain attempt, as it transpired, to render assistance to their comrades nearer to the seat of the explosion. Had they remained much longer without help they would certainly have perished. Continuing their noble efforts Dr. Barry Jones and Herring penetrated 150 yards into the workings and managed, despite the afterdamp and the heavy falls, io get to within twenty yards of that part of No. 2 Rhondda seam in which the explosion occurred. No sound of life could be heard, and as the two explorers were by this time in a pitiable condition from their exertions and their breathing of the poisonous atmosphere, Dr. Jones ordered a retreat. Herring wanted to persist further, but Dr. Jones, in the exercise of his authority, compelled the gallant fellow to retire. They had been underground, mostly separated from the reet of the party, for three hours, and when brought to bank had to be medically attended to Altogether twenty-three men were got out of the pit uninjured, seven were rescued either injured or Buffering from gas and exhaustion, and nineteen wore killed. The man Thomas died from exhaustion soon after being brought to the surface. There is ground for fear that the death roll it ay receive additions from amongst the gallant rescuers, who, in many instances remained below in the poisonous atmosphere longer than was prudent. Amongst these brave men. are Dr. Parry Jones, the collier Herring, and Mr Longher, the manager of the colliery, who abso* lutely refused to leave the pit until every one of his men had been accounted for.

The following is a complete list of the dead:—William Thomas, married; B. Bissett, married; Edward Davies, married, nine children; David Hopkins, single; Tom Jeremy, married ; James Jones, married; William Lewis, single; Samuel Rees, married; Owen Owen, married; William H. Jones, single; Hugh Davies, a boy; Tom Jbne?, a boy; John Mort, singleThomas James Williams, married; Samuel Williams; L. Williams, single; Frederick Evans, married; John Morgan, single; David Thomas, married; William Jenkins, married; and John Thomas, married.

Among the dead is a young man named Williams, who left his home at Morriston on Tuesday to look for work in the Garw Valley. Oo Friday his parents received a letter from him, telling them he had got work, and -while his mother was reading it a telegram came stating that he was killed in this explosion. It is now stated that the victims of the explosion at Llest Colliery number nineteen and not twenty, one of the men who was supposed to be dead having recovered consciousness. This is John Thomas, whose naaae was given last in the list of the killed. Thomas was discovered in the mine in an exhausted condition by one of the rescue parties which was organised* and, having received medical attention, was brought to the surface as quickly as possible. Here he gradually sank, his body presenting every appearance of death. Subsequently, however, he rallied, and his progress has since been so marked that there is every prospect of his complete recovery. The funerals of the majority of the victims of the disaster took place o,q Monday, work being suspended. In. consequence in the whole of the neighbouring pus. Four of t&* men were buried at the local cem^terg and two at Liangeinor churchyard. The funeral processions wey» very large some of them extending to. a length of over a mile.