Terrible Colliery Explosion

Carlisle, Thursday night.

A terrible explosion took place at St. Helens Colliery, Workington, to-night, by which about 17 men have lost their lives and several more have been injured, three of them so seriously that at the time of sending this despatch there is little hope entertained of their recovery. The pit took fire this morning, while a shot was being fire. At 9 o'clock a gas blower burst out into flame and created great consternation. During the whole day men have been employed in endeavouring to wall off that section of the pit, and at about 6 o'clock they came to the top for refreshments. The party numbered about 30. They descended the pit again, and at about 8 o'clock, while the managers were in the office consulting the plan of the workings so as to facilitate the work of extinguishing the fire, a loud explosion took place, which shook the whole of the buildings on the pit-top. On looking out of the office the managers saw dense volumes of smoke issuing from the pit mouth. They went to the top, and signalled down the shaft, but could get no response. They therefore proceed to draw up the cage carefully, and when it reached the top they found that it contained the body of one of the workers fearfully burned. The report of the explosion had brought a crowd to the pit mouth, and several men at once volunteered to go down the shaft and explore the pit. Some of the offers were accepted, and at 11 o'clock they sent up the cage containing two dead bodies, and within half an hour the number of dead, dying, or injured sent to the top numbered 11. Three of the number were not very seriously hurt, three others were evidently dying, three others died in a few minutes, and the remaining two were taken to the infirmary. Some of the exploring party were very much exhausted by their labours. One of these was Mr. Johnstone, the manager, and another was his brother, from Aspatria. When they reached the surface they reported that they had been to the far end of the dip and had explored the whole of the place, and had seen 10 or 12 bodies lying dead. The list of dead below, added to the five dead who had been sent up, increased the death roll to about 17.

The following are the names of the dead whose bodies have been brought up:— Joseph Iredale, Flimby ; William McCowan, Maryport ; William Dixon, Seaton ; John Pearson, Flimby ; John Wright, Seaton .

Of the three seriously injured men who were supposed to be dying when this report was dispatched, the only one who could be recognised was Joseph Stephenson, of Flimby ; the names of the two who were sent to the infirmary were Robert Clark, of Flimby, and Joseph Robinson, of Seaton. There is a great crowd at the pit mouth, and the scene is most heartrending.