ANOTHER FEARFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1722, 6 May 1862, Page 5

ANOTHER FEARFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT.

l-'IJFTY LIVES LOST. Ail awful explosion occurred on Wednesday, the l^tb, at|ab>ut 12 o'clock, at the Cethin Coal-pit, Merthyr-Tydvil, by which fifty lives' have beeti sacrificed. Cethin, or Cethju-pit, the property of Mr. Crawshay, the extensive iron-master of Cyfartht, is the largest in the district, employing upwards of 200 men, and is about equi-distant between Merthyr-Tyd-vil and Troedyrhiw. At noon ou Wednesday, the overlooker at the pit's mouth bad noticed that something unusual had occurred in the pit, which was soon followed by information that an explosion of gus had taken place. Means were at once adopted to render assistance and to ascertain the extent of the calamity which, unfortunately" has proved , to be the most direful that ever happened in that valley. Up to Thursday morning forty- four persons were brought up dead, and three alive, but so severely burnt that one had since expired, and the other two are not expected survive. About half of the number were severely burnt, aud the rest had not ; a hair singed, having been suffocated by the choke-damp. The explosion must have been most sudden, for five men were found os if at their dinner, and one of the number had actually a piece of bread in his mouth when brought up to the upper earth. Some had evidently received warning of the coming storm of fire, for one was found with his little dog under his arm — both dead — and he was no doubt endeavouring to escape. The recognition scene was most agonising. The young wife, kneeling iv speechless anguish beside. the corpse of him she so fondly loved ; the : daughter, ou beholding all that was mortal of a beloved father, setting up a Wail' that would arouse the sympathy of a misanthrope. At Troedyrhiw was seen, as if in placid sleep, the body of a young man who was the sole support of his aged mother.. , We witnessed her agony, and heard her mournful cry as she uttered in the sonorous vernacular of the country. "My son, my son, would to God I had died for the." This poor bereaved woman was called upon to play the part of chief mourner — but uot for the first time -she had acted that part before, for she was a widow. As to the origin of the accident it is as yet a mystery, noho have lived to tell the awful tale, and two more have to b^brough out who are known to have perished, and for Whom active search is being made. The explosion took place in the four foot seam, and those engaged in' the threefoot vein escaped unhurt, that seam branching off in a contrary direciion to the one in which the dasuality occurred. The scene of the catastrophe has been | visited by thousands, and ' all day on Thursday there were hundreds at the pit's mouth awaiting the 'recovery of the last two bodies. The gloom pervading the place is of the deepest ; the countenances of the men, women, and even children, wear an aspect of woe. Merthyr Tyjdvil, Thursday evening 16 Feb. — Forty-nine bodies have already been brought up. One is^still missing. Intense excitement prevails.