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TERRIBLE COLLIERY ACCIDENT.-Ten Lives Lost.-We
regret to have to announce that between four and five o'clock
on the morning of Wednesday last a distressing catastrophe,
involving the loss of ten lives, occurred in the Garnant Colliery,
near Cwmamman, Carmarthenshire. The Colliery, which is situated
near the Cross Hands, on the London and North Western line,
is a somewhat extensive one, and between four and five o'clock
in the morning the day hands were about commencing their work.
Some thirty or forty had already been lowered by the rope, which
appears to have been carefully examined that morning and found
all right. The rule clearly states that not more than eight
shall descend in the cage at one time ; but some how or other
ten poor fellows appear to have crowded into it on this fatal
trip. They had not gone down many yards when the rope suddenly
snapped, precipating the whole of the men and the heavy iron
bucket to the bottom of the shaft, a depth of 150 yards. Assistance
was obtained as quickly as possible, and it was found that the
whole of the poor fellows had been dreadfully mangled, and were
either dead or died shortly afterwards. The colliery belongs
to the Garnant Colliery Company, but is at present being worked
by Mr. David Pugh, M.P. for Cardiganshire, a gentleman who it
will be remembered was mainly instrumental in passing the Employers'
Liability Act. About 150 men are usually employed in getting
the coal, which is of anthracite quality. The cause of the breakage
of the rope has not been ascertained. It was one of the ordinary
steel wire ropes, and no flaw could be found in it either before
or after the accident. The ropes are examined every day very
carefully, and if flaws are found the men are not allowed to
go down by it. The one in question was a comparatively new one.
It was put in on September 18, 1882, and is calculated to stand
a working strain of 5 tons 12cwt., and a breaking strain of
45 tons. When working coal there is-between the cage, the tram,
and the coal-a pressure of 47 cwt., and this is always considered
very largely within the mark of its capabilities. The names
of the poor fellows who thus lost their lives are David Robert,
married, Brynamman, five children ; Thomas Bevan, married, Cwmamman,
three children ; William Lake, married, Cross Inn, three children
; Thomas Michael, married, Cwmamman ; John Evan Jones, single,
Cwmamman ; John D. James, single, Cwmamman ; Evan Robert (boy),
Brynamman ; Thomas Robert (boy), Brynamman ; Daniel Rees (boy),
Cwmamman ; Edward Morgan (boy), Brynamman. Of course when the
news of the distressing accident became noised abroad the most
intense excitement prevailed, and crowds of most anxious relatives
and friends crowded round the mouth of the pit to ascertain
every detail. A correspondent reminds us that about 37 years
ago a similar accident (but happily not of so great a loss of
life) occurred in the Gwaencaegwiwen pit, Cwmamman, whereby
six lives were lost. An inquest will, of course be held and
a strict Government enquiry instituted as to the cause of this
deplorable event.
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