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CARDIFF POL I C E.—MONDAY.

MERTHYR AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.

DEATH OF GEORGE CRANE, ESQ,

MOMOUTIISHIUE.

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MOMOUTIISHIUE. Charles Morgan, Esq" Octavius Morgan, Esq., aud L J. Blewitt, Esq.. left Newport on Wednesday evening )r London, in order to attend to their parliamentary utics. INQUEST.—An inquest was held at the Dock Tavern, 1 the borough of Newport, on Wednesday last, before Villiam Brewer, Esq., coroner, and a respectable jury, n view of the body of Henry Roe, aged 17 years, 'hnmas Lewis having been sworn, stated that he was son f Thos. Lewis, blacksmith, who worked for a Mr. Poole. le went with deceased about five o'clock in the evening f the preceding day to Pill, to his brother's shop but e did not go into the shop fearing that his brother would eep him there until nine or ten o'clock at night. Witness vent part of the way back with him and then left him nd saw no more of him. Peter Roe, brother to deceased ent him to Pill about five o'clock Monday evening ml on account of being informed that a cap had been een floating on the canal on Tuesday morning he had the aual searched and about half.past three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon saw the deceased picked up, and had dm carried home to his father's house. Verdict- Found dead in the canal." rHE LATE DISASTROUS COLLIERY EX- PLOSION AT RISCA, MONMOUTHSHIRE. In our last number we stated that by an explosion of ire damp (carburetted hydrogen) in one of the pits of he Messrs. Russeli's collieries at Risca, Monmouthshire, hirty-five human beings had been hurried from time nto eternity—without one moment's warning sent to heir final account. The details which we then entered into at some length, md for which we were indebted to the kindness of two orrespondents, are principally correct, as we ascertained .Y a personal visit to the neighbourhood on Saturday last. As may easily be imagined we found the place in a nost extraordinary state of gloomy agitation—"death was ilrnost in every dwelling"—.the first violent outpouring .f lamentation had given way to feelings of more settled jrief—all seemed impressed with the awful magnitude of he misfortune which had so suddenly befallen the little :omtnunity which, within the recollections of many now esiding in the neighbourhood, has sprung into existence. In the course of the day many of those who had fallen sacrifice to the terrible effects of the destroying blast vere buried. Their remains were followed to the grave )y their relatives and numerous friends in solemn and nournful silence. As on many obvious accounts an early nterment of the poor creatures was necessary, their rela- ives had not time afforded them to provide those habili- nents of woe usually worn upon these occasious but imidst the vast crowds of the assembled processions in he church-yard it was no difficult task to distinguish the vidow—the father, mother, or child, of those who had n so fearful a mauuer quitted "this vale of tears," many )f whom, if we may judge from lives of unaficctul piety ind christian usefulness, had secured mansions iu the ikies." 'Tis not alone the inky dress Nor customary suits of solemn black, No, nor the fruitful river in the ere, Together with aU fonns, modes, shows of grief, That can denote grief only:" rhose poor bereaved people seemed to have that within hem which passeth show, and which baflleth language to describe. In the course of the forenoon we proceeded to the works, where we found vast numbers of the workmen assembled and were informed that a party of expe- rienced colliers, with the head mineral agent—Mr. Green —were then in the pit in which the explosion had oc- curred, making the greatest and most courageous efforts with the view of extricating the bodies that then re- mained ill the shattered workings. One of the persons with whorn we entered into conversation was Mr. Hill, the principal engineer of the works, a most intelligent man, who most readily assisted us in procuring informa- tion, and also made a statement to us which we give reduced to the form of a narrative. He said—The accident took place in the Black Vein Pit, which is one of the pita of the Risca collieries. The proprietors are John Russell and Company. Mr. Russell lives at Risca House—just by, and has been most kind in his instructions to us since the accident, as we are directed to do everything for the families of the poor fellows who were killed. On Wednesday morning last, the 16th of January, I was down at the other pit; and while there I was sent, for by the machine-man, who said there was something the matter. While I was hastening up to this pit, having about six hundred yards to go, and had ar- rived withiu a hundred yards, I observed the men lifting their arms up to me in attitudes expressive of great alarm and consternation. That moment the air came up the pit which gave them to understand that the gas had ex- ploded. Mr. Greeu,the mineral agent, was instantly called. Some one said to me—"The fire is gone off in the pit, and I am afraid the men are all burnt." I ran on imme- diately, and took prompt measures to force down into the workings as much air as possible, by causing a portion of the water drawn up by the pumping engine to be thrown back into the pit. From the time we were aware that an explosion had occurred to the time the water was thrown back not one minute could have intervened it was done instantly. In the course of about two minutes a volume of black thick smoke arose out of the pit, which completely hid the framing (wood.work) at the top of the pit from our view. That continued for a few seconds, and all then went quiet. In the meanwhile I despached a person for a doctor, and another person for the mine agent. During this time the men and boys near the bottom of the shaft, finding the air had knocked them about a good deal, got upon the carriage which lnd been lei. d"iwn, and came up —very much affrighted. In entering the carriage a great d.-at of confusion took place, aud, possibly, may have causedthedeathofaiittieboy. Aftez, the been moved it was again let down, and the boy being under if, and not being observed, was killed upon the spot. This is the first death that we were made aware of. Ihe mineral agent—Mr. Green—arrived short')', and in- stantly went down into the pit. When he reachc I the bottom a man came to him and asked him What is the mattei"?—why don't they pull up the coal 1"-thus shew- ing that ths part of the works in which this man worked had not been affected by the explosion. Mr. Green re- plieJ-" Thcïe is enough the m'ltter I am afraid: there has been an explosion on the other side. I do not know what the consequences may be." They then went in the direction of the place where the explosion had occur- red—proceeding as far as they safely could. In order that we might better understand his statement, we requested Mr. Hill to give us a description of the pit, which he did as follows: — The shaft is one hundred and forty-four yards deep. We have a down-cast pit but we make the pit we go down by into the works the up-cast pit, [that is, the air which enters the workings after traversing- through all the headings, stalls, &c., returns by way of the pit through which the men enter the colliery, and which is called the np-cast pit.] The pumping pit is the down-cast pit. At the foot of the up-cast pit we have an immense fire, L 1- .1 1 wnicn is Kepi consrantty Burning in order to rarefy the air—render it lighter—aud so make it ascend quickly, thereby causing a continued draught, or current of air, to pass through the works. This current of air, as soon as it enters the colliery by the down-cast pit, is by means of doors directed into every portion of the works, so as to leave no corner unventilated, if possible. It is so strong in many places that it is actually difficult to keep a can- die from being blown out. That fire has, since the acci- dent, been put out. The works underneath are divided into two separate parts-one being in a south-westerly direction, and the other in a north-easterly direction, or nearly so. At the foot of the down-cast pit the air which descends is divided into two parts—one portion going to the north-eastern section of the colliery, and the other to the south-western, in which section of the workings the explosion took place. In a particular part of the south- western division of the works there are five csoss head- ings, and there can be but little doubt that the catastrophe had its origin in one of them but in which, or in what manner, or from what cause, we cannot say-we can scarcely conjecture. Various surmises have been made, but nothing positive can be known until the place is examined, which cannot be done for some time, as the air is so impure and the place is so shattered. Mr. Green and the man who asked him what is the matter" proceeded as far as they could towards the outermost of those five cross headings. In the two first they found that no one had been injured the remaining three cross headings had all their doors* blown out, and consequently stopped all ventilation. Finding such to be the state of matters in these three stalls, we instantly took measures to force air into them as fast as we could. The men worked very hard, and indeed nobly, in their anxiety to get at the bodies of their fellow-workmen. We knew that there must have been some persons in the three stalls, but did not know who were there at all until those who escaped had assembled. The first five bodies which were brought up were discovered in the fourth cross heading then nine were found in the level heading beyond the mouth of that cross heading. Those men seemed to have been making their way out, and endeavouring to escape. They had their clothes in their hands, and were lying head to feet on their faces. They must have perished by the after damp," (carbonic acid gas.) Up to this time [Saturday, one o'clock] twenty-nine bodies have been brought up. Six now remain in the pit; and it is not expected that we shall have them for some hours we may not have them to-day. There were three horses killed. It is supposed that the fire originated in the top stall of the fourth head- ing. The coal runs very thick there, and the roof is very high and it is supposed that a quantity of gas must have accumulated about the roof of that stall. In answer to inquiries made by us as to the nature of the works—whether well or imperfectly ventilated-mode of working, &c., &c., we were told that the works were in admirable order in every respect that last spring they were surveyed by Mr. W. P. Struve, of Wind-street, Swansea, (a. very eminent "Colliery viewer) as it was then thought they would pass into another company's hands and for that other company he (Mr. Struv6) made the survey, which having made, he gave his written report as to their condition. His opinion was that the works were so well laid out and ventilated that he could not suggest an improvement, —which is, of course, as much as any man could say. It is necessary, however, for us to state that in this fa- vourable opinion of the works many experienced persons, not connected with the Messrs. Russell, do not concur. One man told us that accidents by explosions of carbu- retted hydrogen were of frequent occurrence in that pit, but had not in many instances caused death. He told us that he left the works two years ago when several men were dangerously burnt, and a few killed by an explosion, being absolutely afraid to continue there any longer. Another man told us that the Black Vein Pit was a horrible place to work in—so full of fire: he would just as soon work in a barrel of gunpowder." The following is a correct list of the unfortunate per- sons who were killed:- Daniel Dainty, aged 44—has left two daughters John Dainty, (his son) aged 22-single man John Dainty, (brother of Daniel) aged 49 John Evans, aged 50-has left two daughters James Pike, aged 24-wife and one child George Banfield, aged 3S-wife and four children Thomas Banfield, aged 14, George Banfield, a|ed 13, t both s°ns of Geo. Banfield John Watts, aged 29-wife only John Attwell, aged 21, John Bath, aged 23, A Charles Collier, aged 19, William Thomas, aged 26, Charles Hurn, aged 21, Elias Jones, aged 19, Isaac Fudge, aged 37, William Harrison, aged 20, William Thomas, aged 26, Charles Hurn, aged 21, Elias Jones, aged 19, Isaac Fudge, aged 37, iz, William Harrison, aged 20, James Crooke, aged 19, VAll Singlemen. Emanuel Crooke, aged 15, John Crooke, aged 13, George Williams, aged 24, Samuel Silcox, aged 22, Josiah Hodges, aged 19, John Poole, aged 21, George Williams, aged 24, cox Samuel Silcox, aged 22, Josiah Hodges, aged 19, John Poole, aged 21, George Curtis, aged 21, Isaac Br) ant, aged 46—wife and two children Wm. Bryant, aged 14, and ) Samuel Bryant, aged 12, } Sons> of Isaac Bryant George Summers, aged 25-wife and one child; but his widow shortly expects her confinement John Powell, aged 31-wife and two children James Campell, aged 35—wife and one child Isaac Lovell, aged 38-wife and five children James Gullick, aged 42-wife and two children James Lane, aged 32-wife and one child Thomas Woodward, aged 11. Out of the twenty-nine bodies which had been brought up, only five or six showed the effects of fire-that is, were not by any means severely burnt, so must have perished by inhaling the after damp." One man had received a violent blow upon his head-probably by being driven against a tram which he was engaged in filling when the explosion took place. For the remains of each of those poor fellows well- made coffim were provided at the sole expense of Messrs. Russell, who seem, from what we could learn, to have behaved very kindly upon the distressing occasion to all who, by this lamentable event, have been deprived of protectors. As soon as the men engaged in the neighbouring works were apprised of the occurrence of the explosion they instantly hastened to the spot, and rendered all the assis- tance in their power. Parties relieved each other con- stantly, so as to make continued efforts, by day and by night, to clear the works and get out the bodies. There were two .overmen or firemen appointed to the pit in which the accident occurred, whose duty it was to see that the various parts of the colliery were free fiom noxious vapours previous to the arrival of the colliers; and we were-informed that on Wednesday morning one of the firemen, named William Hazael, actually went through the five cross-headings above referred to as well as through other parts of the works—tried the air in the usual manner with the Davy lamp, and reported that all was right. As we have before stated the north-eastern side was uot at all affected by the explosion; nor were two of the five cross-headings on the south-western side: the force of the blast seems to have been entirely confined to the three cross-headings, which were almost knocked to pieces. The men engaged in these coal works were principally Englishmen—natives of Somersetshire and Gloucester- shire and out of the thirty-five who perished only one is a Welshman. His name is John Powell; and it is said continued at the works with great reluctance, being convinced from appearances that an accident would in- evitably occur. THE CORONER'S INQUEST. As a matter of course, William Brewer, Esq., coroner, was instantly made acquainted with the melancholy oc- currence, and hurried to the spot in order to hold inquests upon the bodies which had been recovered. The follow- ing were sworn upon the jury Mr. John Rosser Mr. Jacob Jacob 11 William Matthews „ William Hodges Williai-n Itees )( William Jones Henry Moses Samuel Bateman John Duffil John Phillips David Jones 11 W. L. Cock William Howell The ceremony of viewing the bodies occupied con- siderable time, after which, the coroner proceeded to examine witnesses. Two or three were examined, but their statements, we are informed, were totally imma- terial to the inquiry. It was ultimately arranged that the inquest should be adjourned till Wednesday the 4th of February, in order to afford time for having the col- liery surveyed, as it was said by some parties not to have been well ventilated. A great many extraordinary These doors serve to direct the current of PURE. A'R ^ROM the surface into the stalls and headings, so as to cause it '° P*s_s through, or ventilate, every portion of the works conse»iuui when the doors are destroyed, the passage of the air is rem ere imperfect, and the place quickly becomes filled with the gas evolved by the coal after an explosion, and w uch is called •' black damp" in some places, the scientific term, however, being carbonic acid gas." Ventilatiou being destroyed, those poor fellows who escape being burnt by the explosion quickly perish by means of the deadly nature of this black damji," by which they are wholly surrounded. statements were made to us by persons of apparent re- spectability with reference to the state of ventila ion in the works, but as they are to be surveyed and reported upon by some eminent engineers, and as the most ligorons investigation is to take place, we think it nvst advisable not to insert anything calculated unnecessnrilv to inn im- the public mind, already sufficiently excited by the s;;d occurrence. Our readers may depend upon having the fullest report of the proceedings at the adjourned inquest. (From a Correspondent.) RLSCA, January 20th.—While YOU were there on Saturday, six bodies were in the workings; and som after you left we succeeded in extricating five. The Sixth and last was got out on Monday. The friends of the poor fellows seem satisfied that Mr. Russe'.l has done all that could he done by means of money towards alle- viating the sufferings occasioned by the dreadful event. Ihe destitute ha\e had all their temporary-wants liberallj supplied and arrangements are now in progress "or pro- viding permanently for the widows and the children. For promptly aiding sufferers from explosions, the foil vic- ing directions may be of mur/i use. In case of burniuz, the miner should be, with as little delay as possible, covered up from the influence of the aid not to be disturbed until the arrival of the sur- geon, whose directions should be strictly obeyed. But in cases where the miner is overpowered with the black damp (carbonic acid gas, and often nitrogen g-as) many a valuable life might be saved, before the arrival of more talented assistance, by any one possessincr presence of mind, and attending to the following instructions :— The state of being choked by the black damp, as it is called, is known by the name of asphyxia, the symptoms of which are easily known by the sudden cessation of the breathing, by the stoppings of the beatings of the heart, and of the action of every sensitive function. The countenance is swollen and marked with reddish spots, the eyes are forced outwards, and the features are often twisted. If more than one is endeavouring to rescue the sufferers, the first man in the works should place every body he meets with in a sitting posture, to take it out of the influence of the gas which lies upon the floor, and the next follower should remove it into the open air as soon as possible.—1. Having the miner in a suitable situation, undress him, and dash over the body several gallons of cold water.-2. Endeavour to make him swal- low, if it be possible, cold water slightly acidulated with vinegar.-3. Clysters should be given, two-thirds of cold water, and one-third vinegar afterwards to be followed up by the administration of others with a strong solution of common salt, or of senna and Epsom salls.-4, At- tempts should be made to tickle the lining inside of the nostrils with the feather end of a quill, which shouid ho gently moved in the nostrils of the insensible person, or stimulated with a bottle of volatile alkali, or strong srnel- liug salts, put under the Ilose,-i), Introduce air into the lungs, by blowing with the nozzle of a bellows into one of the nostrils, and compressing the other with the fingers. —6. If those means do not sufficiently produce the effects which are expected, the body of the asphyxed per- son preserving its heat, as that generally occurs for a Ion:; time, it will be necessary to have recourse to blood-letting, of which the necessity will be clearly indicated if the face be red, the lips swollen, and the eyes protruding. Blood- letting from the jugular vein will produce the speediest effect; in default of drawing it from that place, it should be made from the foot.—7. For the last resort, an opening should be made in the windpipe, and a small pipe intro- duced, through which the air should be pressed by the aid of a little bellows. By following those instructions persons may be certain that they are doing good and upon the arrival of proper assistance their endeavours will have facilitated, rather than retarded, recovery.

BRECOSSHIRE.

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