Monmouthshire Merlin

DREADFUL COLLIERY DISASTER AT ABERCARN. SUPPOSED LOSS OF 265 LIVES. Scarcely have the sorrow and excitement occasioned by last week's disaster upon the Thames passed away, before we have to record another occurrence of a most terrible and harrowing description. In this instance, too, the deplorable event occurs nearer home and though in the number who have been hurried, without warning, into eternity, the disaster we are about to narrate does not come up to that of last week, yet its general features are equally dreadful. The scene, of the catastrophe was the Prince of Wales Colliery, Abercarn, situated about ten wiles from Newport and belonging to the Ebbw Vale Coal and Iron Com. pany. Here, about noon on Wednesday, occurred, we regret to say, one of the most disastrous explosions we have had to record, and the painful results of which the imagniation fails to picture. The colliery is one of the largest and best-worked in the district, and was yielding about 1,000 tons of steam coal per day. Upwards of 1,000 colliers were employed, and these were engaged on three shifts or turns. Shortly after noon on Wednesday, when 373 men, who comprised the morning shift, were in the pit, an explosion of terrific character occurred. This was made known to the banksman and others who were in the immediate vicinity of the pit by the rumbling noise and the dense volume of smoke that ascended the upcast shaft immediately after the occurrence. The sad fact having been thus made known, the manager, Mr. Pond, and other officials, were promptly com- municated with, and efforts were at once made to descend to the rescue of the men who were thus im- perilled, and for whose lives the greatest alarm was felt. The present down shaft was constrcted in the year 1862, and descends to a depth of 300 yards. Coal was first struck on the occasicn of the marriage of the Prince of Wales it was from this circumstance named the Prince of Wales' pit. The workings were known to be very gaseous, and a knowledge of this fact led to the openiug up of a new shaft and the sub- sequent adoption of the old one as a ventilator. The manager, Mr. Pond, received the aid and co- operation of the managers and engineers in the district, who readily volunteered not only their own services but also those of their workmen. Mr. Cadman, Gov- ernment inspector, and Mr. Bain, his deputy, were in attendance, and the inspector was among the first to descend the pit but such was the utter confusion and consternation, that some time elapsed before anything could really be done in the way of recovering the bodies. The disaster is something terrible, and over fifty horses have succumbed to the explosion. Eighty-twe men, who were rescued, were about 400 yards from the bottom of the shaft, and the others were scattered throughout the workings, which extend several miles under the mountain. Amongst those who have perished is Mr. Rees, the overman, Mr. Bethel, the underground manager, and Mr. Gay, the fireman. The scene at the mouth of the pit was indescribable it seemed as if the whole population were present. The colliery is situated a few hundred yards from the Abercarn Station on the Western Valleys section of the Monmouthshire Railway. The valley is one of the most charming iu the district, and within sight of the Crumlin Viaduct, so well known to travellers. The seam of coal worked is that termed the Black Vein, and is used extensively in the Royal Mail Company's vessels, and for foreign service. Up to the time of the present accident the pit has been deemed as safe as the character of the coal would lead one to expect. The machinery for winding, pumping, and ventilating were of the most perfect kind, and the use of safety lamps was enforced among the colliers. Up to the time of the explosion nothing had transpired leading to the supposition that anything was wrong. bat at the moment named a loud rumbling sound, a flash of flame, and a column of black smoke ascending high into the air, told too plainly of the sad circum ttances. The discovery was immediately made that the winding gear was damaged, and communication I ion with the bottom of the pit destroyed. Efforts were first directed to make this complete, and working parties were speedily sent to relieve the men below, Eighty-two men and boys, all of whom were working within a few hundred yards, were rescued, but it became evident, as attempts were made to advance into the workings, that little hope could be entertained of any others being got up. About 400 yaids from the bottom of the shaft are situated the stables, and here 14 horses were found, all dead. Beyond this point the explorers could not go, on account of the impurity of the air. It was discovered that the work- ings were still burning, and through the headings and roadway were coursing volumes of tempestuous fire. The searchers succeeded on Wednesday in bringing out 10 or 12 men very much burnt, and seven dead bodies were brought to bank. It happened that Mr. Cadman, her Majesty's Inspector of Collieries, toge- gefcher with Mr. Donald Bain, Assistant Inspector, were in the immediate neighbourhood, and were among the first to arrive at the pit after the explosion. It was seen that the fire would be fed by the supply of air being continued, and, on the other hand, if the ventilator were shut off, that no lives could long exist. Such a dilemma was of the most painful nature, and the anxiety of the crowds who surrounded the pit was most intense to know what decision had been arrived at. Three hundred and seventy-three men were ascertained to have taken lamps from the lamp-room on Wednesday morning at six a.m., and of this num- ber about ninety were recorded the same day alive and dead. Another account says-In a remarkably short space of time the roads leading to the pit were crowded with men, women, and children-wives, mothers, brothers, and sisters, who were hastening forward to ascertain what had really happened. The ominous fears which posstss d the minds of everyone in the neighbourhood after the sounds of the explosion had died away, were very soon to be corroborated, and that in a very mourn- ful manner. Searching parties were without delay then formed. The first consisted of Mr. Christopher Pond, the manager, Mr. Edwio James, underground manager, and Air. Green, manager at the Celynen Colliery, situated a short distance away. These gentlemen entered the cage, and were carefully let down to the bottom. But what a picture WAS there presented to their gaze! The melancholy fact was immediately brought home to them thit the pit was on tire. Dead bodies iay in heaps on the roadways—dark, shapeless, charred itias-ses, which a short time ago were moving about animated with life. Here and there could be clearly seen the terrible results of the explosion. The brattices, of course, hact been blown into pieces over- turned trams were strewed about, and by the faint light of the safety-lamps could be seen, intermingled with the dead human bodies, those of the horses, which along with the poor colliers, had met a fearful death. The searching party made a careful examina- tion as far as they could go, and the result was such as to convince them that a very small number of the 373 colliers who had entered the colliery alive and well in the morning would ever come forth alive. The difficulties of the situation, though comprehended by those who were competent to judge of them, were really so stupendous as to puzzle them how to deal with them. The pit was on fire, and the timber was burning away. There were 373 poor fellows entombed, but how could the rescuers proceed to relieve them from their position ? If they cut off the ventilation the men would be suffocated, while if this were not done the air would fan the flames and increase the conflagration. Then there was another danger. The fire, as it rolled along the workings, might come in contact witn other accumulations of gas, and thus the work oi exploration was attended with absolute danger. The tirsb exploring party remained down for a long time, and in the interval a portion of the miners were enabled to make their escape. Eighty-two of the poor fellow^ were crowded together at the bottom of the a.i.rt struggling with each other to get up first..Suae of them were severely burned, and the fearful look which hung about their faces as they were drawn uu the shaft to the open air again, will perhaps never be* forgotten by those who were ready to help them as they left the cage. There were kind and fond relations anxiously waiting for them as they "?>H' reached the bank, and with as little delay as possible they were conveyed home. But the rejoicing on the part of some of those on the bank proved to be very short-lived, for, alas several of the eighty-two colliers, though brought up from the fiery tomb, ha 1 received such a shock to the system, and the after-damp had so effectual] v done its work, that shortly after death released them from their sufferings. Dead bodies were also removed from the pit, and placed, in the presence of sorrowing and weeping friends, in the fit- ting-room of the colliery. Amongst the dead recovered were the bodies of the engineer, whose post was at the bottom of the shaft, and the chief overman. Some bodies had been thrown by the force of the explosion into the sump. A second exploring party, composed of Mr. Pond, Mr. William James, mechanical engineer, and others, were down later on, after the men who had escaped from the explosion had been brought to bank. The distress and anguish which everywhere charac- terised the female portion of the crowd was heartrend- ing. In the majority of cases hope had been suc- eeeded by despair, as it became whispered that the explorers bad returned, and nothing more could be done. There they lingered, however, bewailing losses which were irreparable. Mr. Pond, the manager, was sustained in his painful and trying ordeal by the readily-proffered assistance of the leading colliery managers of the district. Many of these gentlemen volunteered and went down the pit to give him the benefit of their practical experiences. Amongst these were Mr. Kelly, the New Abercarn Colliery Mr. Edwin James, Risca Mr. Robathan, Mr. James, and Mr. Powell, of Ebbw Vale, and other leading men of the collieries adjoining. Messrs. D. Whitehouse, The Gaer, Newport; P. D. Phillips and S. M. Phillips, Abercarn; Mr. Temple Stroud Mr. Eli Bailey, and a host of others who are thoroughly acquainted with colliery operations, were present to render any assistance in their power. The medical men who rendered aid to the sufferers were Mr. J. W. Davies, Mr. Robathan and sons, Mr. A. E. Davies, Mr. F. J. Davies, &c. Besides the sacrifice of human life, the destruction to property is estimated to be enormous. No less than 60 horses were in the pit, and of these only three are said to have escaped. The workings are shattered in such a manner as to completely obstruct progress. On Thursday, intense excitement prevailed through- out the neighbourhood, and thousands flocked to the place from all parts of Monmouthshire and the adjoin- ing counties many had travelled all night over the mountains. As bad been the general opinion, no further bodies had been found, no one being able to enter the pit owing to the tire which was raging there. As before stated, exploring parties were formed on Wednesday, but about two o'clock a messenger was sent on horse- back, at the request of Mr. Cadman, the Government Inspector, who was then at the mouth of the Aber- carn pit, to order the men to come out, as a second explosion was feared. It was then determined to turn a continuous stream of water into the pit in order to put out the flames. A gap was made in tha side of the canal, which runs near the mouth of the shaft, and the required stream was obtained, willing hands soon accomplishing the work. Smoke, black and dense, was seen issuing from the flue, and this, mixing with the steam occasioned by the extinguishing process, blackened the atmosphere. It is not now expected that the filling of the pit with water will be finished for three weeks. A consultation was held among the Goverament Inspectors and the managers of works who were present, and it was only after long delibera- tion that it was determined to flood the workings, and now, as the bottom of the pit is so flat, and as it ex- tends for miles each way, it is feared that a period of three weeks will elapse before sufficient water has been let in to place a second fire beyond possibility. In order to be quite safe on this point, it was decided that after the airways were sufficiently cleared at the Cwmcarn shaft, marks should be placed there to show the gradients of the water, as it ascended or descended, it being desirable that the water should be visible there before the pumping-out process be com- menced. It will take about a month to pump the water out again, so, apparently, before anything more can be done, two months or so must elapse. Those who were brought out alive on Wednesday are -David Absalom, James Absalom, George Ashman, Edward Hancock, Henry Lewis, Edward Haynes, Thomas Alsopp. John Knight, Thomas Morgan, Charles Morgan, William Davies, John Fletcher, Richard Edwards, Thomas Waters, Thomas Morgan, 'William Williams, James Nicholas, George Lewis, Alfred Coomb3, Frank Lewis, John Jones, James Davies, David Lewis, Richard Williams, William West, Jonah Watkins, John Sweet, James Dobbs, William Anthony, Benjamiu James, W. H. Jones, Charles Mansfield, Morgan Morgan, James Morgan, William Price, Jonah Jones, Henry Owen, John George, David Davies, William Jenkins, John Williams, William Prosser, Thomas Powell, Thomas Lewis, James Woolley, John Evaus, Bovey Mason, William Mansfield, George Moon, Roger Morgan, Joseph Jordan, Henry Powell, James Wiiliams, Thomas Goodey, George Lewis, Lemuel Charles, William Pickford, Joseph Bassett, William Price, David Davies, John Davies, Thomas Jones, John Jordan, John Beaver, William Davies, John Drew, John Cook, John Baker, John Owen, George Payne, (boy), William Hopper, Morgan Griffiths, James Stead, William Morris, John Partitt, James Haycock, Thomas Waters, Thomas Osborn, and Thomas Edmunds, together with the following who are dead :— Joseph Caines, Abercarn, John Hall, near stables, Abercarn, George Williams, near Chapel of Ease, Edward Jenkins, Chapel of Ease, Alfred Webb, Crumlin, taken home, William Williams, 52, Canal-row, Aberearn, John Regan, Mynyddislwyn Quarry Benjamin Gaines, engineer, died after he was taken home, and William John Williams, a boy. Harry Powell died after being brought out. The number of those considered as lost, is 265, i.e., 256 in addition to those already brought out dead, or who have since died. Mr. Jordan, the overman, lay, as it were, hovering between life and death until Thursday afternoon, when he expired. He had been badly burnt, and a report had been spread through the village several times in the course of Wednesday night and Thursday morning that he bad succumbed to his injuries. The body of the boy, William John Williams, had been taken to the house of his parents, in a small row of white-limed houses facing the pit. and crowds con- tinually came to the door, and even climbed up the window, to view the corpse. There he lay, a lad of only 18 years, dead, with his chin and throat badly burnt, and his forehead scorched, while his face looked like that of a much older person than he really was. Benjamin Games, the engineer, had been married only three months. Two brothers, named Absalom, who were among the first batch of those who were brought out unhurt, state that they knew nothing whatever of the acci- dent until they came to the bottom of the shaft, They had finished their work, and were preparing for home, and when at the bottom they came upon the dead bodies of some of their fellow-workmen. They found one man stunned they brought him to the surface, and he soon afterwards recovered. It was found impossible to get an official list of those who are now left in the pit, but from what we could gather among the crowd of people in the neighbourhood, we believe the following names are some of them Edwin Bethel, married Joseph Gay, overman, wife and three or four children Thomas Phillips, fireman David Rees, overman, single Henry Tyrrell, fireman; John Edwards, collier, married, and one or two chil- dren John Lee, wife and two children Rowland James, Cwmdows, wife and three children William Jones, single Isaac Maddley, single Samuel Powell, boy, 14 years of age Solomon Jones, wife and four children; William Jones, 14 years John Evans, Chapel-of-Ease, wife and son, and Thomas Evans, married George Lloyd, wife and live or six children John Lewis, head haulier, single his brother, Wil- liam, single; William David Williams, old man Griffin England, IS years of age; David Thomas, wife and three children Isaac Sheppard, wife and cne daughter William Snelgrove, a lodger, single Henry Giliingham, wife and two children; George Brooks, wife and one child Fred. Sherlock Wiiliam Evans, wife John Evans, 24, wife and two children Henry Downs, wife and two childreu William Downs, wife and two children Henry Cartwright and son Herbert, no wife, but two children Edmund Jones, 18, single John Games, wife and children; William Games, wife and two children Nathaniel Jones, single Henry Golding, single James Griffiths, wife aud one child James j Hancock, wife and one child Henry Cooksley, wife and two children George Giles, wife and two children John Chapman, wife and one child John Hodgea and two sons, left a large family George Adams, single Thomas Nelmes, wife and one child Charles Nelmes, wife and one child Alfred Wells, wife and family William Ifor Lewis, wife and four or five children Uriah Gover and son, wife and family Thomas Haycock, wife and children Mor- gan Bolton, wife and two children John Everett, wife and one child Henry Quick, wife and five children James Quick, single Joseph Clifford, wife and two children William Clifford, single William Henry Jennings, single James Price, mother and two sisters dependent two brothers named Symons, one a boy Ihomas ^Vafcers, senior, leaves wife Thomas Waters, junior, wife Thomas Rogers and son-in-law, wife and two children John Newbury, and son-in-law, wife and two children James Davies son-in-law, wife aud one child Elihu Gay, a boy; James Harris, fireman, wife and several children • Isaac Watts, wife and family Thomas Phillips, Pontywain, wife and one child Thomas Phillips, a boy, with a widowed mother and ei^ht cttitdren < James Watley, wife and one child also a boy, his brother Henry Watts, Chapel of Etse, wife and three children George Watts, wife and two children; Rees Ho wells, wife and family three sons, young men, of Ephraim Watkins, fireman James and Henry Portrey, single Daniel Davies, wife and three children Thomas, his brother, wife and five or six children Henry Sanders, boy Thomas Lewis, boy William Jones, wife and four children William Watley, single Da\id Thomas, wife and three children John Carter, single; Henry Waters, single; Charles Greenland, his brother-in-law, wife and three children George Pits, Chapel of Ease, single John Davies, Feeder-row, wife and large family Oliver Hibbs, wife Henry Knight, wife and four children Charles Jones, Ramping-row, wife and two children George Eatwell, wife and child Edwin Davies. wife and two children Silas Smith, and son Smith leaves a wife and large family David and Augustus Thomas, single men Thomas Abrahams and his two boys; wife and child Job Webb and boy wife and family David Lees,haulier,single; William C rfcsr,haulier,sin- gle; Edwin Dew, single a man known as "Knocker," single Henry Owen, wife and one child William Howell, a widowed mother Thomas Phillips, collier, single Alfred Wells, wife and six children David Evans, Newbridge, single William Evans, single Michael and John Cregan, single men John M'Carthy, single John Williams, Cwmdous, wife and children John Havard, wife and five children William Hathwell, wife and family William Harlow, wife and family Israel Lewis, wife and three children Thomas Phillips, and lad, Llanarch, wife and large family Sydney Watkins, boy; Charles Nicholas and his brother, both single Charles Moore, single; Joseph Moore, boy Elias Nicholas, single David James, haulier, wife Gilbert Glee George Glee, wife and chdd Samuel Morton, wife and large famiiy Jacob Williams, wife and family Robert Osborne, single George Osborne, single William Stone, wife and three children Richard Richards, wife and children Albert Wilcox, wife Isaac Williams, wife and four children Thomas Walters, Cross Keys, wife and four chil Iren William Tyrell, IS, single William Price John Jenkins, wife and family Samuel Edwards, boy Richard Williams, Cross Keys, married; Thomas Rogers, married Lewis James, married John Cridland, wife and children Charles Cridland David Anthony, Waterloo; Thomas Davies, Newbridge Charles Baker, married James Lovelly, wife and family Silvester Franks, married Edward Williams boy Joseph Lewis, single Thomas Evans, married. The exploring party who descended at Cwmcarn report that they found a large number of the dead, and they had brought eleven of these to the bottom of the pit when the order was received that they should quit the place for fear of a second explosion, and they had to leave their charges there. Now all hope of getting any iof those in the pit out alive has been given up, and a painfully sorrowful feeling pervades the neighbourhood. One can scarcely imagine the extent of the calamity that has overtaken these unfortunate people. Whole rows of houses have their window blinds down, shop windows have their shutters up, &c., as those whose friends and relatives are now in the pit mourn them as dead. In some instances entire families have been swept into eternity by this awful catastrophe, and the weeping women and children, and the grave sad- looking men that stand on the top of the pit or loiter along the road, tell heart-rending tales to those who have heart to listen. One aged woman, almost bereft of her reason by her grief, said her son, Jacob Morgan, 21 years of age, who was her sole support, as her husband was and had been for years in bad health, was now amongst the missing. Another said her husband, father, two uncles, and other relatives were not accounted for. A widowed mother in another place, wept bitter tears for her only son. Here wives and mothers saying that their husbands and sons were among the lost, and there poor little orphan children wringing their hands in distress. A poor woman named James bad four sons working at this colliery one of them came out with the 23 men who had a dispute at the bottom of the pit on Wednesday morning, and he was, of course, unhurt; another, Benjamin Games was brought out dead, and she has two more, alas, where ? A mau and his two sons, with a nephew and a lodger, are now below the surface. The station-master at Cross Keys, Mr Osborne, has two sons in the pit. Distress in all its worst forms surrounds these people. There are the hundreds who are sorrowing for the dead, and who now dare not hops against hope, whi'e the whole of the workmen hitherto employed in the colliery, will be thrown ont of employment for, probably three months, owing to the flooding of the works, and famine stares them ia the face. To meet the latter, in part, at any rate, a fund has already been started by some benevolent gentlemen in the neigh- bourhood, and subscriptions were eagerly sought and readily given throughout the village on Thursday. The Rev. John Griffiths, vicar of Mynyddislwyn, and the Rev. Mr James, will, we understand, receive any donations sent to them, and hand them over to the fund. A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN. The following was on Thursday posted on the door of the fitting shed Mr Cadman, the Government Inspector, has just received a telegram from the Secretary of State, who is with the Queen in Scotland, expressing the deepest sympathy with the bereaved by the colliery explosion. September 12, 1878. Expressions of sympathy and offers of assistance have come from many quarters. A telegram was received from the firm of Messrs. Merryweather and Sons, engineers, offering the use of steam engines for various purposes. The neighbouring colliery ewners, managers, and other officials were present in large numbers rendering all the aid they possibly could. Mr. Whitebouse (the Gaer) offered his own services and those of his employees, and allowed the company the use of any materials, &c., which they required. Mr. Green, of the Celynen Colliery, was the first on the top of the pit, and he gave material assistance to those engaged on the ground. Mr. Cadman, Govern- ment Inspector of Mines, and his deputy, Mr. Bain, were active in the supervision of operations, and Mr. Wales, the Government Inspector of Mines for the South Wales district, arrived on the scene bv the mid- day train on Thursday. Among those present were Mr. Jordan, Miniing Engineer to the Ebbw Vale Company Mr. Robotham. general manager Mr. Pond, manager of the Abercarn Colliery Mr. James, manager of the South Wales Colliery Company, Risca; Mr. John Johns, of Ahertillery Mr. James Powell, of the Ebbw Vale Company Mr. E. Parry and Mr. Strelley, of Ebbw Vale Mr. James, of Abersychan Mr. Burred, of Pontypool; Mr. Kelly, of Risca Mr. Llewellyn, of Llety-siencyn pit, Aberdare (the former manager of these collieries) Mr. D. Whitehouse and his staff, with other gentlemen. The medical men in attendance, Dr. Davies, Mr. Frank Davies, Dr. Robothan (of Risca) and others, did all in their power while their assistance was of any value, but now their services will not, it is feared be much needed. No suggestion is hazarded as to the cause of the ex- plosion something may turn out at the inquest, but it is feared by many of those acquainted with such mat- ters, that it will remain a -mystery, as it is be- lieved all those who might have thrown any light on the subject, have been killed. The colliery has been worked for a large number of years without any serious accident happening in it, and it is stated that the workings, &c., together with the machinery and appurtenances of the pit, were of the best and most approved description. Eighteen or twenty years ago, we believe, this colliery was flooded by water which made its way from the river, but new and more power- ful machinery, &c., were th"n provided, the works were cleared, and from that time until now everything has gone on well. NARRATIVE OF AX FXPLORER. John Harries, a builder, who was one of the first explorers, said that, much against his will and that of his wife, two of his sons, aged respectively 16 and 12 years, went into the pit to work during the previous ten days, and both, sad to relate, are among those who will never see the light more in this world. He states that he was at his own house when the ex- plosion occurred, and, hearing the dull thud which accompanies the explosion of fire-damp, he ran out to see what had happened, and, noticing dense smoke and flame coming from Abercarn pit, he concluded that the boiler of the engine had exploded. Running to the pit in his shirt-sleeves, he found the bauk-men terribly excited, and for the moment unable to act calmly. They feared that an explosion had oc- curred, upon hearing which Harris resolutely offered to go to the bottom of the shaft, ascertain the exact facts, and render what aid he could. Asking one of the banksmen if some brattice-cloth-to turn the air as the phrase goes-was at hand, and being supplied with some, which was cut into three sheets, Harris and the pumps-man of the pit descended. They examined everything carefully as they went down, and found that thirty yards from the pit's bottom, progress was impeded, owing to the force of the explosion having ripped and crossed the timbering near the bottom of the shaft into all manner of shapes. Harris and his neighbour were accordingly forced to return to bank, so as to get a ladder. They secured one, 30 feet in length, and tinding that the kuockawayer or knocker tor signalling was injured, they got a man employed at the pit-head to give signals to the banks, mau. We then went down," said Harris. I toi, the man who was signalling to knock atop withill ten yards of the bottom, and he did so. I then founj -=- from the cries of the men and boys at the bottom, that they thought the shaft had closed in, and that they could not get up. For the last teu yards I went down the wire.guage -or guide to the eage-I then told them at the bottom that the pit was not closed. One person—whose name 1 do not kuow—called out Thank God, John Harris, to see you to liberate us.' Then 1 begged them to stand back and not interfere, but to go by my orders, and they agreed to do so. One cageful was then sent up, when the ladder broke up, and I bad to go to the top once more. I climbed up the guide, so as to fetch another ladder, and having got a second one, Charles Barues and myself went once more to the bottom. The screaming, groaniug, and cries for rescue were at this time painful in the extreme. The cross-timber having been cut, the Messrs. James, Mr. Cadman, and others came down. I helpecl them down the ladder, and the work of rescue thereafter • proceeded steadily. I went into the pit about 20 mi- nutes past 12, and came out at 4.30." THE INQUEST OPENED. At mid-day on Thursday, the coroner, Mr. W. H. Brewer, opened an inquest at the Crown Inn, Aber- earn, on the body of John Hall, aged 35, one of the i poor men who was brought up dead out of the pit. The Chief Constable of the county (Major Herbert) was present at the inquest. Some difficulty had been found in getting together a sufficient number of jurors however, about a quarter past twelve o'clock the following were sworn :—Ben- II jamin Matthews, outfitter. foreman David Matthews, innkeeper George Jones, draper John Thomas, i shoemaker; James Judd, grocer Joseph Workman, butcher; John Coalbrook, fitter David James, grocer Daniel Matthews, butcher; Samuel Robins, shingler William Morgan, grocer; David Russell, sorter; 1 Thomas Williams, fitter; George Gale, butcher; William Jones, jun., grocer, all of them residing at Abercarn. The Coroner then rose and said-Gentlemen of the Jury We meet here on a very melancholy occasion. I think it is one of the worst of the kind we have had -certainly in my district it is the worst according to rumour. I suppose there are more than 200 killed- it is said so, at any rate-but I hope that may be wrong. I am extremely sorry that such a thing should have occurred, but things of the kind will happen. You have, many of yon, I suppose, before been acquainted with accidents of this kind. We will view one bidy-that of John Hall-and then ad. journ. We cannot do much now. I may go on taking certain evidence which may be brought, but I am afraid it will take a long time to get all the bodies out of the pit, owing to its being on fire. The jury then proceeded to view the body, and when they returned, the names were again called over, and the Coroner think it will be advisable to ad- journ for a week, that is, until the 19th inst.; that will give parties time to see into matters underground, whether the fire can be put out and the bodies taken out, &c. the Inspector of Mines and others may then be present. They cannot be present to-day, and I cannot go into the evidence until they are here. It tvas then resolved that the adjourned inquest should commence at nine o'clock on the 19th instant, aud the jury were dismissed.