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Northern Star (1837-1852), 10th July 1847, Edition 1 of 3, Page 2

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    • J *.Wti ——1—i¦—¦———— —^—. ' ' ' * ComstooitfJewe*. . .
    • -- - ' ——^—¦—¦——m IHB 6BEATSST SALE Of ANY 11EMC1KES IN THE GLOBE.
    • TUE LATE AWFUL COAL-P1T EXPLOSION.
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      Untitled Ad

      HOLLOWAY'S PILLS . A . Yery \ fenderM Onre ef a Disordered liver and Stomach . Retract if a Lttfwfrom Mr Charles Wilson , 30 , Princes Street , &A * gow , dated February IXh , 18 * 7 . Te Professor Holloway . Stt , —Having taken your pills to remove a dis » ase » f Mm Stomach aai Lirar , « nfer which I had long suffered , and hATing followed your printed instraclionB I hare re-¦ fined that heattU . which I h « d tfcoug kt lost for evir . 1 had preriowly had recourse to several m «* cal wen , -wh . ire « eieb « ted ftr their skill , but instead of coring » y Compl « ut , it increased to a most alarming degree . TTnm . nl . nutUnr « i « r nills have saved » y life ! aany

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      OS THE CONCEALED CAUSE OF CONSTITUTION AL « a ACQUIRED EBILITIBS OF THE GENERATIVE SYSTEM . Just Published , i aeir anil mportaat Sditiou of the SUtni Friend on Human f railty . riC 3 2 s . Sd ., and sent free te y part of tae United Kingdom on the receipt of a Post Offise Order for 3 s . 6 d . * 3 BDICAL \ 70 RS on the INFIRMITIES « f tt « OS < 1 S 5 RATIVE SYSTEM , in both saxes ; being an en qulry into the ocmcealed cuase that destroys physica ecisrgy , and the ability of manhood , « rs vigour iias * « stal bllsssd her einpirs : —roth Observations tra the unnsftieffecfc of SOLITARY ISDTJteeSCE and INFECTION 1

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      Dot + gpace of time , without confinement to theleMtex posure . ;• ¦ .,.- ; .- . Tag above awUdaes * r « r * d onto by Measn . S and L . PERM » nd < J « ., Sorteon ., 1 » . Be « ww *« . i , Osfori-itiwt , Lsn&m . H * i . JJWY $ xpee 1 l * tomnuedh , ittttr ttouiual fet tf OMP <** 4 , vMo * tw \ ichn 9 nQtletV !** ta >« r « m he taken ofth teMnvnuaHtm . PatUoft are requested to be ai minutaaspottibltm he detail ef their cues , at totheduratlonofthe oorolaint , fce syraptans , age , habitt of livtog , and general ceupattoo . Medicineg am be forwarded to « oy part of he would ; no difficulty can aceur , u they will be securely atkta , and carefully protected from obimation .

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      GOUT ! GOUT !! GOUT !!! *»« ffew Speeds Patenied Vtdieintfor Gout , Palronfctd ty Ifte Faculty , NoMitv , and Gentry , ice . THE Discoverer of thii Invaluable Speckle has , aft * great study and rcsearo « , proved , by facts , that this Bout SUKtureis the only ffieient remedy yet discovered for that excruciating disorder—tlie eipensire pills and mixtores , daily puffed off ; having proved a complete failure . This medicine claims a twofold superiority ovw « T « rj other yet producad for the p ublic good ; a certainty ofeare , and are-establishment of health , in a few days at a trifling aspense . No particular restriction * a . * e necessary , the principal action of the medicine being confined to the Nerves , Muscles , and Tendons , and promoting a free irctdatlon of the blood ; and it must be consolatory to those afflicted with Gout , to be assured that it possesses the medical powers of preventing the diwase flying to the stomach , brain , or any vital part , and also prevents fits . It is thus recommended to the afflicted with a confidence

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      P M-DOUGALL'S DROPS FOR GOUT , Rheuma-> tisin , Sciatica , Tic Doloreux , Lumbago , and all painful Affections of tho Joints . The unparalleled local reputation attained by these drops , during the time they have been before the pulilic ( now upwards of eight years ) , has induced the proprietor earnestly to recommend them to the attention of those persons who are labouring under the painful effects of the above-mentioned distressing complaints . Authority has been given by upwards of 300 persons , residing , within a mile of the proprietors resideuce , to use their names as vouchers of the extraordinary effects and wonderful efficacy of these drops , which effectually relieve , in the course of a few hours , the most ex . treme cases . About 20 , 000 bottles have been sold , without a single instance of failure having occurred .

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      SPINAL AFFECTIONS . THE DISCOVERER OF THIS INVALUABU SPECIFIC has , after great study and Ions practice , proved by facts that this is the only efficient remedy for all Spinal Diseases ever jet discovered . The following are a few testimonials out of the many hundreds which might be nddnct'd : — I . John Barber , of Arlington , had lost the use of my limbs for the s pace of eighteen months . Bv the use often pots I was enabled to walk well , and by psrsevering in the use often more I was perfectly cured , and am now able to follow tay employment-Signed , John Barber , Adhngton , . near Macclesfield , Cheshire , September 19 th , 1810 , TO MR HAIOn . Dear Sir , —I cannot refrain expressing my gratitude for th « perfect cure I have nceived by tlie use of your Oint . ment . I was afflicted for eighteen months , and had lost the use of my limbs . By using ten pots of your invalable ointment I was perfectly restored , and am now in the full enjoyment of goed health . Richard Jenkiiuon , ^ ew Mill , near Huddersfield , Yorkshire , January 2 Cth

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      THE POPULAR MEDICINE . Tiie following important testimony to the efficacy of PARR'S LIFE PILLS has just been receivedL by the Projirieters . TO MESSRS T . ROBERTS AND CO ., LONDON . Athlone , December 7 th , ISjG . Sirs , —You will please to send me six dozen more Parr ' s Life Pills ; I am just out . I can assure you they are doing au immensity of good ; every one who has tried tlum in affections of the Liver and stomach 'jlcriye a great deal of benefit . Yours , ic , WlUIAH GlLCHItlST , Apothecary and Surgeon . The extraordinary properties of this medicine are thus described by an eminent physician , who says , " After particular observation of tho action of Parr ' s Pills 1 am determined in my opinion , that the followiug are their true properties : — Firitly , —They iucreasethc strength , whilstmost other medicines have a weakening effect upon the 8 J' 8 t -III . Let any one taltc from three to four or six pills every twenty , fuur hours , and , instead of having weakened ;* they will be found to have revived the animal spirits , and to have imparted a lasting strength to the body .

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      We gave in our last number what turns out to Lave been a very incorrect account of the dreadful coal-pit explosion near " Wigan . By oversight it was not mentioned that that report was taken from the Jfanclietter Guardian , a paper not too scrupulous as regards the truth when pursuing its natural avocation of sheltering the master-clasB from blame and punishment . We take the following account of this frighftul catastrophe from the Afanchetttr Time * of Friday , July 2 nd . The Manchester Times commences its report by saying : —

      So far as the circumstances nave been elicited they are calculated to excite astonishment as well as horror , at the circumstance that any human beings should have been allowed to proceed with their work hourly exposed to such' an awful catastrophe as that which has now overtaken them . The facts of the case are these . At the colliery in question , called Kirkless Hall Colliery , there are two shafts opening into a considerable vein of coal at about 280 yards depth , called pits Ho . I and No . 2 , and situated at a distance of only about 30 or 40 yards from each other . Tho sinking of the shafts , as we understand , was completed only about nine months or a year ago , and the workings are consequently all of them very recent ones . In pit Ne . 1 , where the accident has

      occurred , the workings are divided into two main sections by a drift may or road of considerable width , right and left from the bottom of the shaft , and extending to the distance of 800 or 900 yards . In thsse workings , at various points , a large number of men were engaged on Tuesday , when a collier named Hurst , employed in getting coal at the farthest working in the right-hand section ( which does not extend near so far as the left-hand section , and who was not above two hundred and fifty yards from the shaft ) , set fire to the mine under the following circumstances . It appears that the colliers in this pit are allowed—or at least if they are not " allowed , " properly speaking , by the masters , the practice has been winked at by the overlookers and undurloulcers—to fire shots , or " blast the coal . " in the manner adopted in

      stone quarries , and by the sinkers of coal-pits when the ; coma in contact with rocks . The process is one of using gunpowder and exploding it , whereby large fragments of roek or coul can be detached from the seam , and brought down wholesale , saving an immense amount of labour and time to the workmen , who would otherwise have to hew it down by means of " pfcks ; " but in coal-mines , so liable to accumulations of explosive gases , it will strike the mind of the most uninformed person in such matters that it is a dangerous practice . And what renders the practice more extraordinary , as brought to light through the present accident is , that in this minn , though a large number of persons were scattered about at great distances from each other , but in places connected by means of open passages , where all were ex .

      Doscdtomore or Iobs common danger , these " shots" or ''blasts" were fired without any intimation hi ing conveyed from party to party , so that they might be prepared in case of explosion to escape . On the contrary , it was no uncommon thing for the miners , after setting fire to tho gas accumulated in their localities by resorting to this system of " blsatiag , " to struggle with it , and attempt to master it , by smothering it up , or walling It in , without even then communicating any alarm to their fellow-workmen . Hitherto they had by such means succeeded in preventing the spread of these fires to' such an extent as to cause what is called an explosion , though they must frequently have run the risk of such a catastrophe . The fire in these workings on Tuesday morning had its commencement exactly in this manner ; and

      Hurst and his companions had set fire to some gas accumulated behind the coal they had dislodged , and they attempted to extinguish it themselves , aB it is supposed ; then they went fur assistance to some of the other hand * , and as a last resource to cut it off from the other part of the mine an attempt was wade to build walls up acrosi the workings or roads , so as to choke it up ; but while these attempts were making , the fire got into communication with a more p werful body of foul air , and a fearful explosion succeeded .- How many were killed by this explosion it is not yet known , but the danger of those who happened to be in the direction it took may be ims eined , when it is stated that their position would be some .

      thing like that of parties placed in the barrelof a cannon during an explosion of gunpowder in it . The result was , that some of the colliers had to wall up a portion of the workings , leaving in them six of their feUow workmen thus imprisoned—whether dead or alive is not known , though it was then thought there could be no possibility of their being alive—and to make their own escape , as they beft could ! These men , upwards of twenty in number , more or lest burnt , escaped to the top of the shaft , or pit , carrying with them the lift-less tody of one of their companions ( that of John Curtwright ) , and John Berry , who was so badly burnt that he died the following day , —the remaining m are still shut up in tho mine !

      The following will be found to be a more complete list of the killed and wounded than previously given , and will serve to correct eomo inaccuracies : — List of Persons still in the Mine — scpfosed to be Dead . —Joshua Penman , John Harding , Robert Salthouse , or Southern , James Hurst ( the man who fired the miue ) , William Daintry , a boy , and James Harding . Li 3 T of Miners Bdbnt , and who iiave Died . —John Gartwright , brought out of the pit dead ; Jjhn Betry , jged 32 , brought out of the pit alive , but who died on , the following day ; John Rhodes , died on Thursday , leaving a widow and five children .

      List of Persons mobe oa LES 3 Bdbnt . —some vebt SEVERELY—BDT WHO ABE IET ALIVE . —John Holcroft John Bolton , James Naylui " , a boy , Robert Wilkinson Joseph Wilkinson , George Evans , Samuel Evans , a boy Henry Horsham , John Riely , Ely Monks , William Jackson , Richard Curry , James Bulshaw , John Mills , Thos . Lsvison , Samuel Simpkins , Jolm Webster , and Whittle .

      THE INQUEST . An inquett was held on Thursday on the body of John Berry , who resided a : New Springs , Aspul Moor . Ttic inquisition was taken by Mr W . S . Rutter , county coroner , at the Running Horses public-house . Mr Roberts , solicitor , and commonly known by the title of " the collier * ' attorney-general , " appeared at the inquest as the repres- ntatire , we presume , of the colliers union , The following evidence was Riven : — Edward Hayes , of Sclioks , \ Vii ? nn ( a colliery boy ) . said he was employed in the pit , which was neur to Sprinfrbridge , township of Inco . It was Messrs Lancaster ' s pit . The explosion took place about ten minutes to one o ' clock on Tuesday , just as I had come up out of the pit , and reached the brow . I came up because the pit

      was then on fire at the far end of thu workings , nnd I taw there would be danger . I woiked at the seeonrleyo , not at the far end , but I hadbeuu to take tham two waggon loads of stuff to put out the fire . Could not say how long the fire had been burning at the time . I had been going about a good deal , and whilst doing so tho time would knock on . A y » ung . man ( Hurst ) had been to the pit eye ( where I was , having taken a tub of coal ) , and said he had fired his shot , and the coal had taken fire , and he could not get the fire out . I cannot Bay what o ' clock it was whether twelve o ' clock or earlier / I hart two masters , that I drew for , one was Jno . Harding , and

      the other his cousin . They had been driven to that place by tliefire . I hare seen none of the men since who were with him . When we had been told of the fire Harding and I came to the pit eye , he with a full tub and I with an empty one . " Well , "he » aid pulling off his jacktt , " we must go and help them to get the fire out , " and when we had gotten to the second landing , where I had met with Harding , we foundGeorge Evans , the un . derlooker , who said he wanted two tubs full of briclca as soon as he could get them , ami wo got them for himthe bricks being found between the first and second landing . We then took the bricks to the other landing , further on ( the third ) .

      The Coroner ( to Mr John Lancaster ) : What do yon call a . landing t _ Mr Lancaster : A turn table , where the workings meet at right angles , to turn carriages round upon , 60 as to move them in another direction . Witness : When we got to the third lauding we opened the door , and took one tub into the part of tho workings where the fire was ; the fire was at about thirty yardb' distance , and we emptied the tubs , and there being another tub emptied by another man , George , the underlooker , said he wanted them out of the way to make more room for the current of air ; so I pulled onu outof thepit . He said , "What ' s the use of going out 1 " and that he would not go till the fire was out . 1 wan afraid to remain , and that made me wish to go , seeing thefirosobig . I then went out , and had been in the eabin at the top of the pit about twenty minutts when the explosion took place . There are now several persom in the mine , for anything I know : I have never heard anything of them since . The Coroner : Where is Hurst 1

      Sir Lancaster : He is the man who setfire to the plac « , and is supposed to bo still in the mine . The Coroner : But George , — -where is ho?—Ha i » badly burnt . Mr Roberts : What , were you afraid !—I was afraid of the sulphur . —Was there much sulphur in the pit at tintime ' . —Not that I know of . —Did you work with safety lamps '—Yes . —Why work with safety lamps if there was no sulphuri—Because we thosjjht haply theru might ba some . I never knew of any sulphur tnkinR fifo in that pit before : cannot say whether there has or has not been an explosion there before . The Coroner asked if the man who fired the shot was ih attendance ! Mr Lancaster explained , that he had never been found since , having been left in the mino .

      Peter Britton called : I am a hooker-on nt the furnace-placo of No . 2 pit , and waa there at the time of the txplosiou . Thefiro was not above 200 or 300 yards fiom frere . I heard of the coal taking fire about half-past eleven o ' clock in the mornin g . The man who ha . 1 fired the shot came thtre and said , " Where ' s the fireman V I said , « I don ' t know—what ' s amiss ? " He said " «• , p « ce is on fire . " I went up with him quick , and found all the nlace on fire , but the coal was not on fire . 1 then sent for the fireman , Qao . Evans , and he came and

      brought a number of other men . I went with tlura , and we fogau to build and stop up the place with bricks , that we might smother it out . I went down to get them a few more bricks , and in backing them up , George said , " We sbull want some good clay to fasten up crevices . " Wo had some at the shaft , which onl y wanted softening , and I went for it . It was between the two pits ( 220 yards' distance from the fire ) , and the explosion took place while I wns there . [ The pits aro 30 or 40 yards asunder . ] I had been where the clay was lylnc atout two minute ,, when the explosion took place ! I doa tknow irkmit fired . I knewthe dccwcdJohn

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      Berry , and he was helping me to build op the stopping I . have mentioned . There were about three men , I think , there with the deceased . One was Samuel Evana ( brother to the underlooker ) , and Rober t Southern , who is not found yet , . 1 was not aware of any sulphur be * ing in the mine : I bad seen no signs of any . ' By Mr Roberts : I do not know the time , but I staid to help them get all the hands out . When I say that the coal was not on fire , I suppose it to hare been the sulphur that was burning . The nun'have never complained , that I know of , in consequence of the foul state of the air . They left the pit one day , as sooa as we had opened it nearly , in conssquence foul air . The pit has been open nine months . There was only four men left working then . I cannot tell the distance between the up-cast and the down-cast shaft * . The Coroner : It la said between 80 and 49 yards .

      By Mr Roberts : Nave any attempts been made to get the other men out since ? No , and I don ' t knew who would venture to make it . —Have not several men asked leave , and been refused 1 Not that I know of . < The Coroner : How di * you get out deceased ! Why we saw him just as we were leaving , and he was nearly exhausted . We carried him sixty yards about , through the BUlpbur . He vraB a little on this side the place we had walled up . By Mr , Roberts : I have never told any one I could have got more colliers out if I had had proper tackle . Southern was near to Berry when I left him , and I asked him to go with mo , but he would not . I do not know whether he may be alive . I do not know whether any of the others in the pit may be alive ! Tho Coroner : Could they not have walked out , if alive , like the others ! Mr Roberts : They are bricked up ! Witness : They are bricked up .

      Mr Roberts : They are bricked up—they are murdered 1 Mr John Lancaster : The fact ii I was there till we wero nearly all choked , and I knew no one could live were tboso men were , and so we bricked up the place for the safety of the others . Mr Roberts : You ought to have them out by now , either dead or alive . I hope to God that an officer from government will be down here by to-morrow , to investigate tho matter . These men might , or may be alive , and aro cut off from all escape 1 Do you not know that you are liable to indictment for what you hare done ? [ Mr Lancaster here pointed out at the request of the coroner , on apian « f tho mine which he had brought , the position of the passages in the mine which had been blocked up . ]

      George Gough was next called , He snid : I was In the mino oi Tuesday , when this happened , at my place of work , which is about 200 yards from the bottom of the shaft . I was putting my clothes on there , when the explosion occurred . The first notice I had of it was a little stoppage , or sucking of the air , and the next thing 1 felt was a gust » f wind coming , with cobbles of coals and dirt against my head . I then made the best of my way to the pit shaft , and came out . I did not know where the mine had exploded , but I did know it had " fired " some time before , and in consequence of the smoke caused by that fire I had left offwork three quarters of an hour before . I had not seen the fire , an < l there was none where I worked . I worked with a safety lamp . By Mr Roberts : Why did you work with a lamp ? Lamps had been regularly used there , and it was given to me when I went to the mine .

      By the Coroner : I did not search for any of the men . I was too ill and exhausted with walking through the smoke to do so . By Mr Roberts : Is the place on fire new ! I cannot say . —Have you ever known of any fires in that pit before ! Yes , there harn ' een several little flashes up , when firing shots . —Sometimes , I suppose , there is no explosion wheD these " flashes up , " as you call them , occurt No . —And at otter times they catch the sulphur , and then there is 1 YeB . The Coroner : What is the necessity for firing these shots t Mr Lancaster : It is an easier way for the men of get . ting the coal . Mr Roberts : It is easier for the men and « asier for the masters also—no doubt of it , sir . The Coroner : But it is uot common to do it in coal mines *

      Mr Lancaster : It is common to do it here ; but it is not desirable , because it shatters the coal and renders it less marketable . Mr Roberts ( to the witness ) : Do you think the cage soing down the up-cast shaft would render the ventilation less perfect , and make such an accident more likely to occur ? It would interrupt the passage of air to some extent , pfrhaps . —Do you know if any colliers have asked leave to go down this pit since it was closed up te recover these poor men who are buried in it , and have been refused t Not that I know of . Tho Coroner : Durst vou eo down ? I should not like . . * Mr Roberts : Why , what danger is there withyonr safety Umps 1 Tl e tamps , I think , are not always safe when there is a fire . —Do you think there is a sufficient current of air through tho workings to prevent explosions , with care ! I think there has been aforetime but not in such weather as thin

      William Whittle , sworn : I worked In this mine till Tuesday last . In the first drift of the second level . Recollect the explosion . Nearly an hour before it took place the firemen came for our spades that they mL'ht use them in putting out the fire . He said there was a place fired , but he did not say the coal was on fire . It did not alarm me , and I kept at work till I felt the wind . I did not hear it . [ Mr Lancaster explained that the witness was working further up the working than whern tho fire took place , but in another section . ] I and my fellow-workmcn then went out . We found no difficulty ^ nly from the after-damp , or choke-damp , to avoid whieh we lr . id down awhile . We had used gun . powder in our part of the mine last week . I cannot say whut others did .

      By Mr Bobtrts : I do not know that wo ever played more than part of one Saturday in consequence of sulphur . I hava heard the men say the cage being let down the Up-CflSt shah would be a lUtle Injury to ' draft . I do not know that twenty men hare offered to ro down tho shaft sinee the accident , and help those out who are in . I should not like to venture down . Sir Lancaster : I can assuro you , Mr Roberts , we have not had one application . Mr Roberts : Tou may not have hoard of it , but I can assure you that at least a dozen colliers have made the application . I could have them down to-night , if you will allow it . Mr Lancaster : Well , we should b&very glad of any assistance to help our own men . The Coroner asked if any witness ceu ' . d bo had to speak to the explosion . Mr Lancaster said he thought not . The Coroner ; Are you prepared to be txamined ?

      Mr Lancaster said he was willing to give evidence , tut would rather postpone it till he had had an opportunity of going into the pit again , when he could discover the place where the firing took place , and probably give a more corroct account of its cause . George Evans , he Understood , who was gelling better , would also on a futuraday be able , probably , to give evidence , and tell tho exact cause of the Occident . Mr Roberts thought it would be best then to adjourn . The Coroner thought so too . Subsequently , at the request of Mr Lancaster , another co ' . lier , who was working in another part of the mine when the accideut occurred , was briefly examined , the object of the examination being to show , ns he observed , that the fire was onl y local , and confined to one part of the mine ; and his evidence tended to prove that it was so .

      The inquest was then adjourned till Thursday . July 8 th . Here ends the report from tho Manchester Times . Should the report of the adjourned inquest reach us in 'ime to appear In our second edition of this day ' s i . "; - ' , ] ' ? S iven : if not , we shall continue this frightful narrative in our next . We subjoin a copy of an important PETITION FROM THE COLLIERS AT WIGAN , LANCASHIRE , RESPECTING THE EXPLOSION AT KIRKLESS HALL COLLIERY To tlie Houourabl * the House of Commons of Great - Britain and Ireland iu Parliament assembled , The Humble Petition of Hie undersigned Colliers , working in the collieries , near Wigan , in Lancashire ; and other places in the neighbourhood of the Kirkleas Hall Colliery , ( Signed . July 3 rd , 1847 ) Humbly Sheweth , — ¦

      That jour petitioners have heard with sorrow and dismay that your Honourable House has postponed till the next Session ef Parliament the appointment of inspielers for the preventing deaths and accidents in collieries , Your petitioners respectfull y crave leave to t « H your Honourable House , that as the collieries are now managed , it is almost a certainty that many lives may be sacrificed before the next Session of Parliament , which might be saved if your Honourable Houso would interfere in behalf of your petitioners .

      Your petitioners iuform your Honourable nouse , that ( he cause of the lato explosion at Kirkless Hall Colliery was , that the colliers , with the knowledge of the master and tho underlooker , were in the habit of using gun . powder for getting the coal , although it was known that tho pit continually made sulphur , and the men were therefore obliged to use lamps instead of candles . On tho blast being fired , it set fire to the sulphur , and then tho coals were 6 et on fire , and a quantity of gas that hud been accumulated In another part of the pit , was blown upon the fire , and there was an explosion .

      And further , your , petitioners inform your Honourable House , that the Kirkless Hall Colliery " was not properly ventilated , and that if it had been the sulphur would tuive been carried away as fast a * it wns made and that there was butono downcast shaft and one upcast , and that tho air from the downcast was divided into six parts , to ventilate different parts of the mine , instead of ill going together , as il ought todo , through tho whole of the workings and that therefor * the part where the ex poilon was had but one . sixth part or thereabout o the sisfsss

      \ hIZZ T , arC " * " aff « ro lh < " it will be said by e ma stew , and those who wish to prevent inquiry , that 1 ° ?"'" n ^ « ° t use gunpowder , and that it istheit < " \ u fault If they do ; an . 4 ttutthej havo been , told not

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      to use it , aud that their masters cannot prevent their usineit "; but then , unfortunately for your petitioners , so it Is that coal isgotten more cheaply by using junpowder , anfl all par ties ; men , masters , and underlookeM , have an interist Jn getting as much coal as they enn to bank . And If one master were toenfowe the prohibition ofgunpowder , he would be at a disadvantage with other master * , who did not enforce the prohibition ; and the same argument holds good with the men . And . therefore . it is that , whatever is said against using gunpowder , it is « UU continued to be u . 8 « d , and with the knowledge of their matters and their agents . -

      Your petitioners inform your Honourable House that at the inquest on Thursday , on six or seven of the bodies , the master of the pit , Mr Lancaster , said , that he could do no more than he had" done to prevent the using of gunpowder , for that the men would use it , and he could not hinder them jfer that , if he did hinder them , they would all give over working . And your petitioners , therefore , fear that , though gunpowder msy not be used for a time , jet it will be resumed again before very long . And , moreover , that in other pits in the neighbourhood , where there is sulphur , gunpowder is constantly used .

      And with regard to what was said in your Honourable Houie about the power of the magistrates- to interfere , your petitioners inform your Honourable House that whether they have power or not , it will be of very little use to your petitioners ; for that in acais of wages on Friday last ( yesterday ) at Wigan , it transpired that gunpowder was in use in the pit , and that there was sulphur there , and when the attention of the magistrates was directed to this , they said that they could do nothing , and that the men had been repeatedly cautioned . Your petitioners pledge themselves to your Honourable House that if they are allowed the opportunity , they will prove ( and they undertake to pay all the expeniei by a subscription among themselves ) , that all the recent deaths and ascidents would havo been prevented , if there had been inspectors to make general rules for thegoverament of collieries . The exp losion at Barnsley , in York .

      shire , in March last , by which more than seventy lives were lost , was in consequence of the men working with candles , instead of lamps , close to old workings which were well known to be fall of sulphur ; and your Honour , able House will see that this was so , by referring to the report on the accident and inquest , published by the desire of your Honourable House . At Saint Helen ' s , in tho neighbourhood of your petitioners , there was an explosion nnd several deaths , from the men breaking , in the course of their work , into old workings , from whence there was a rush of sulphur to a candle , which caused an explosion . And since the lastexploslon at Kirkless Hnll Colliery , there have been three other explosions close by , and two colliers are now lying like to die from them . Your Honourable House has no knowledge how constant theie explosions are , for the newspapers do not speak of them , unless there are a great many colliers killed at

      once Your petitioners submit most respectfully that , to say that some of them are carelesB , Is no answer to the case of this , their petition ; for it is not only the careless who suffer , but all who happen to be in the pit at the time . Labouring men , not brought up as colliers , are frequently employed , and young boys ; and , besides , some men are naturally reckless . But all in the pit are alike subject to the danger , although only one may have been guilty of neglect or ignorance . Your petitioners humbly implore your Honourable Housv to grant them some protection . It has been said that your petitioners do not care about these things—but the truth is not so . And this petition , signed in less than an hour , is » proof that they feel the necessity for appealing to your Honourable House .

      Your petitioners take leave to remind your Honourable House that the explosion at Haswell ' s colliery ob the 28 th of September , 1844 , bj which nearly 100 colliers were killed ; was brought under your notice at the time , and commissioners appointed , and a report made ; and that then it was s 4 id that the government had taken the matter into their serious consideration , and that some general measure would be passed ; and since then in reply to letters , and whenever a large number of colliers have been killed during the sitting of parliament , tho same promise has bten repeated . But still nothing has been done ; the old plant have been continued , and many scores of lives have been lost . Your petitionera humbly submit that the usual observation , that no harm will occur from a delay of a few weeks , does not apply to their case , for almost every day some accident is occurring .

      Your petitioners are anxious not to appear intrusive te your Honourable House , and they admit with sorrow that the time ot the present session may be too short to allow of the passing of any large measure of protection . But still they venture to implore your Honourable House not to separate without passing some short act to last for a limited time ; or , until a more complete law could be passed , rendering it highly penal to suffer the use of candles or gunpowder in collieries , where it was known or suspected that there is sulphur . Your petitioners humbly submit that there could be no fair objection to a law , that the Secretary of State might require the owners of collieries to send him an

      account of the state of such collieries with regard to sulphur , and the mode iu which they were worked , and therefore to direct the same to be inspected and reported upon , and afterwards to give orders for the alteration of an ; mode of working or circumstances that appeared to endanger Hie . And your petitioners , vtitli even more confidence , submit that there could not be any fair objection to a law doing away with the use of candles or gunpowder where there was sulphur either known or suspected ; and inflicting high penalties , and making it an infamous crime in the owners and agents where such use was allowed , and an infamous crime also in the men who used candles or gunpowder at any time when warned not to do so .

      Your petitioners have no desire to screen the working colliers from punishment , but they venture to submit that the guilt of permitting the continuance of any practice dangerous to life is much greater in the masters than in the men . Your petitioners firmly beliere that auch a law , howover imperfect as a government measure , would save more than 100 lives in six months . Had such a law been in existencejeix { moutk 6 ago , at least 15 ft lives would have been saved . Such a law would not take long to prepare and pass , and it would claim and obtain the lasting ' gratitude of your petitioners . Aud your petitioners , as in duty bouud , will ever pray , July 3 rd 1817 .

      ANOTHER COAL PIT EXPLOSION . On Thursday , July 1 st , an explosion took place in a pit belonging' to A . T . Ilaliburton , Esq ., adjoining the North Union Railway , in Wigan , known as the No . 2 pit . At the time of tho explosion taking place , four men were in the pit , engaged in sinking lower down to a bed of coal called tlie Alley Mine . It appears the men , on account of the quantity ot damp in the pit , carried on their works without the use of lights ; and , in blasting , came to the top of tho shaft and fired the train , by a process called " ringing it , " each explosion of which caused the damp also to be tired . A shot was laid on Tuesday last ; and it would seem , from some part of the train

      being imperfect , the mam body of powder was not ignited , the damp alone being fired with part of tho train . The men , on Thursday morning , were ac work with tho boring-rods again , and , at the explosion , it is supposed they were boring through the powder laid on Tuesday , from the friction of which tho powder waa fired , - nnd the explosion produced . It is also supposed , in the blowing up of the rocks the damp would also be fired . Two men , named Winstanley and Morgan , were taken out verv senously injured , with , it is feared , very little hopes of their recovery ; but the other two , who were at the timo behind a tub of water , escaped apparently unhurt .

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      Dboradiko Exposure op rHisoNjms before Trial . —We cannot refrain from an expression of our feelings which were indignantly excited on Tuesday morning last , by the utter want of all moral feeling and such comon decency as all ranks of society , in the improved ago in which we live , most properly indulge in and cherish . As Englishmen , we blushed for eur country , to see , in tho streets of Winchester six countrymen of exceedingly decent appearance hand-cuffed and heavily chained together , aud sur ' rounded by policemen enough to ent them , if the ? had been fricaseed in the last New Zealand fashion . We concluded , ot course , they were all murderers , ° L ft ^ T' ° . urglara . » nd ou their vray to ffn « im ? ' if . r C 9 Imctlon J instead of which , we tound they had not even been tried , but were on h !! i /? £ . uch ? rdeal from the gaol to the County Hall , and their oftences . nirinw a h »» iW . n » in »

      partridges eggs , neglecting to provide for an illegitimate child , and rebellion in a workhouse , or such otner minor offences as the magnates of the land ( county magistrates ) adjudicate upon . Wo denounce this improper and disgraceful exposure of men , who

      may in a tew minutes after be found to be innocent , and insist that the Visiting Justices ought to have had them conveyed in a covered vehicle . The George Inn would havo found a buss gladly at sixpence per head ; and the county-rate is not yet bo ruined but that it might havo borne the expense . — Hampshire Telegraph . Watkrloo . —A drive of about two hours on the higk road to Namur and Liege will bring the excursionist to this field of slaughter . The distance is ten I miles . A carriage with two horses , to go and return will cost about 20 fr . A vigilante ( cab ) may be hired or about one-half , there and back . About two miles trom Brussels the road passes through tho forest of fcoipes , a gloomy tiack of woodland , nine miles lone and seven and a half broad . On the ' oufskirts offi o est , belittle vil age of Waterloo , whence the 1 of the will be

      ZTS , *' . ^ plain found about two nuln distant . May no " citizen of the world " set toot on this sadly memorable plain without solemnly reflecting that " seventy thousand men were slaughtered on the field of Waterloo 1 " And may no one return from it without a lirm resolve to ] do something towards the prevention of war , and the promotion of that feeling which recognises the pertect brotherhood of tho great family of nations !—/ tract / ami ' s Genlinmtial Guide . Sir William Burnett's process for the preservation of timber from dry rot has been extended to surgical purposes , ennabling dissecting operations to be carried on in the hottest weather without injury to health or danger of losing lite . The fluid , chloride of zinc , consulting hia process , hua no effect upon tho koivesi

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      WHAT IS AN VEQUrv ^ LENTTT * " ^ I TO THE EDITOB OF THE NOBTHEBH STAl I Diab Sib , — At leBgth , and at last , " « , » problem it solved as to what really is an " ennt f * - * j '"It i » , " Bays Lord Holland , "in acts not ^ ' - ' t rob the public of the right of way ; and to re « I them one of which they have been robbod ton , ' * I ago : that is an equivalent ; " ay , and a preitv t * 3 I lent it is too , about as pretty a one as the ' < eaul ^ i of the pedlar in the Winter ! Tale , who makei " ! . •* present of his own money . How would Lord n 1 V * like to be robbed , this year , . of one-half of Hoii § Park ! and next year , to be told by thoge who had . 51 « uch half , that they had taken a fancy to the other k , ^ but weuld gise ^ im an " equivalent" for the aam 'P the shape of the half already itolen ! Would he en ^ it an " equivalent ! " and if he did not , ( and h , fl not ) how , in the name of common tense and oni > I S *» l ! n » a nan ti * frtilnli- Ilini » h * . « .. kl !^ til "tfrW 1 uiubkuab

      ICVUIQ ., u » u uw »*| . uc fUVJIU mil ever CQI 1 ' JC hii " New . (?) Footway" through Holland Cfc 1 " equivalent , " when it is nothing more than « m way of which they had been robbed , and it intend * a substitute for one of which they are to bs rotoulil Giving to the public their own is no ** equivalen t " i ^ nothing more than an act of Justice , and I real ' h vt surprised that the son of so distinguished an ad ? * % of public rights as the late Lord Holland waa allow j ^ be , should prove himself so ignorant of firit «„ »! . | as , in this ca » e , he has done . The late Lord HaH f would not shut up the public footway before no « i House , though it was suggested ( as in aid to the * f podrome scheme , ) that he should do so : and » il

      because , as he said , the public valued it . Such rei 1 ® for public feeling is above all praise ; but the resnecli no more , and we are now to be robbed of one of M moBt convenient thoroughfares in Kensingtoa 1 \ M feeling being no more considered than public ' L < 1 nience . It is not of the aristocracy that the people en ^ plaint but their acts—their most oppressive acts H let bat the preieut Lord Holland respect public fwrfl in this case as his father did , and he will fiDd ill those who honour his father for such conduct vi honour him . " All men have their feelings , broth ! 'I as the lato George Colman observed , and altho % Englishmen ( from tbe wrong they have suffered ) mat !! quick to fsensure , they are uot slow to praise . $ Trusting that y .. u will give publicity to the akM I remain , Dear Sir , %

      Yours , for respect for Public Rights P The Secbstabt o ? tbe West Londok Ctmfp Ann EHC&O 817 BI Association . —Marylebone , July Gtb 'l

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      Misplaced Lbsibnct . —A man named Lesouri -: ' who was sentenced to eight months * hnprisorinwi ' tor theft , appealed against the judgment Tbe Ptf * sident represented to him that he had been Ted leniently dealt with , since he had confessed till offOBCe . ' That leniency , " said" the man , ( ' is thv very thing I complain of ; for as I am to ba irapri v aoned from May 29 , 1 shall get out on Jan . 29 , wi * : ' is an inclement season of the year that I do not liliH Could you not , therefore , givo me a few months more ? to bring me into the spring ? " Tlie Court reject ^ this prayer , and confirmed the former judgment ; W ? the prisoner gains something by his appeal in the «! i that he desired , as it caused a delay of nearly t « i | months , which will not count in the imprisonment m the first sentence . —Galignani . I

      Pension to Mr Leigh ilrai .-We last week d verted to the terms of tbe letter in which Lord Jot : Russell had conveyed to Mr Hunt her Majesty !* cent favour towards him . The following is the let ? itself . There are few who will not read it with it terest and admiration : — " Downing-straet , June' 22 , Wti . bir , —I have much pleasure in informing you tb ' the Queen has been pleased to direct , that in consider ' tion of your distinguished literary talents , a pensiouf two hundred pounds yearly should be settled upon j * from the funds of the Civil List . " Allow me to add that the severe treatment you 6 * merly received , in times of unjust persecution of Libf writers , enhances the satisfaction with which I mil

      this announcement . 11 1 have the honour to be , Sir , yourfaithful servant , " Leigh Hunt , Esq . - "J . RuasELi . Unjust persecutions of Liberal writers has now , it ' to be hoped , taken its place with other unjust pertf cutions ; and in such a letter aa this we have an el cellent guarantee against its possible return . A ' writers , no matter what their opinion may be , w know how to value suoh expressions from the fort most statesman of the time . — £ . vam » ier . [ We ar not quite so sure as the Examiner seems ' to be , tH there will be no more unjust persecution of " Liber > writers ! " Such persecution has , before now W countenanced by Lord Job * Russell himself As tb » may happen again , we think it well to place "S lordship s' letter on record ; it may be useful torrf to m days to come . —Ed . N . S 1

      ROTAL POLTTECnSIC ISSTIXUTION .-At ft WC * visit to this excellent establishment we observed splendid engraving , " Head of Christ , " from a psW ing by Etty . This engraving , which appears it original m atylo and execution , is engraved w great vigour and freedom of hand , and is highly cf ditable to the talents of Mr Nass . There is no su ' Berviency of copy , nor any preconception from ' {¦ heads ot the Messiah , 60 repeatedly produced by' »• Italian and Spanish masters . It partakes ot p . human attributes , and is not idealized , or renW , effeminate by an attempt to refine 1 It is enp tf \ in a manner that preserves solidity , and bring ^ nearer to the style of the painter and ' to the touWA of painting than heretofore has been met ff'jjj There is something original in the manner in *"' the engraver has produced this effect—it being f * tainly quite a novelty in art , and also a great ^ provement in portraits engraved from oil paintmS

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      Debility ajid cosfibmed Asthma . — Extraonlij *; Cure by Ilollowaj ' s Pills . —Extract of a letter iff , Thompson , Esq ., proprietor of the " Armagh GuanlP , April 17 , \ W : — « To rrofe 8 sor Holloway . - ? % Serjeant llvitig iu this city , lately returned frointW ^ Indies , caught a severe cold by the change from atm . to a moist climate ; be became very ill , weal" ^ aslhmatical . I am happy to say that he is « ° Vii quite cured of the asthma , but is also now so strong vigorous that he cau run round the mall with any F , j . in the city . This cure has been effected entirely b J *" youruuuieincB .-Signcil , j , Iuouipsou , "

      J *.Wti ——1—I¦—¦———— —^—. ' ' ' * Comstooitfjewe*. . .

      J * . Wti ——1—i ¦—¦———— —^— . ' ' ' * ComstooitfJewe * . . .

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      THE LEEDS ELECTION . I TO TOE EDITOBS or THE NOBTI 1 EBN STAR , | l Gentlekek , —From the announcement at the 1 $ of the leading articles in this day ' s Star , I anticipated rich repast being laid before us in the forthcoming mil ber ; I am therefore glad that " A sincere ChartisV ¦ % Holbeck has not imposed upon mo a task requiring - ' ¦' ? multitude of words . - His letter is no reply to what I advanced , yet it mi'i require a remark or two : ; :

      He alludes to my motive—that is on the head aili front of my communication . I wish te see tbe iaa i ! spirit evinced by the Chartists throughout the proving as was manifested by the mea of Westminster . I sp deem it an « ct of consummate foll y , on the part of t $ Chartists of Leeds , to sacrifice their en ? rgies in aid I * the forlorn hope of a disjointed and almost defunct 0 tion . The tumult at the Black Bull , Woedhouse , ftl other evening , was the outpouring of 'Whi ggery ' s tjj piring agony , which I would rather increase thjfj assuage . We nre quite strong enough to fight out <> M battles ; but we should beware lest faction shears ami our strength while we loll in its lap . Tie writer nJ thinks I am wrong . I allow him to think so . Hower * : ! I think if we the Chartists abide by the principles whi-i distinguish ui from faction , we shall not find ourseln f long wrong .

      Next , he " thinks" I have " abused" Joseph Sturgeil alluding to the " Complete" humbug . I allow him to thii 1 ao too , I recollect the Bainei' olique gulling the pecJI with unmeaning jargon about" full , free , and fair refft fe itntation . " Many nibbled at the bait . At length « & got their definition of the "full free , and fair , rep «« J | tation , " in the shape of " the bill , the whole bill at ® NOTHING but the bill . " The " full representation , " atl the " complete suffrage , " are synonymous ttn&M gilded pills prescribed for gulls . W

      " A sincere Chartist" says he heard J . Sturga lajbil would " vote for the Ballot . " Who are we to believe !! Our reporter in the Star of the 12 th ult . gives U 3 thes $ words : — «¦ He was not friendly to vote by ballot , " w& page 2 , coli 6 , Perhaps Joseph can harp on two stri ^ S We are told that it is the government scheme of eAilj cation that has driven Edward Baines to the support t'l Joseph Sturge . If that be the only reason , I musum . l few that my mind is too obtuse to foresee any migk : ; ' effect result from suoh a tiny cause . " $ There is nothing more in the letter calling for mmiiM save the exertions spoken of , as being made by Joseph , ?! and lauded to the skies by tlse Editor of the Aortfrva Star . §

      The Editor of the JVbrthern "Star and I may differs our opinions of Joseph Sturge aa a politician , er ne ais agree in opinion . I don ' t ask that question . Hoi ever , I find the following' crumbs of comfort 1 : the Sturgeites in the Northern Star : — Dr . W . ide to ' . us at Birmingham , that it was our principles , and v our name , that the Sturpeites dreaded . This U the he and gloss their deeds over as they may , that belief v . nerer be disturbed from the minds of the Chartist bod ; . '

      See leader in Northern Star , Aug 19 , 1813 . Another crumb . - — "There needs no other argumal than tbis one alone , to satisfy the mind of any unpei judieedman , who is not a fool , that the object oftt ; Sturgemen has always been to perpetuate diTisk ' when tiey found them among the Universal Suffrwranks , while many other portions of their conduct shoequally their determined purpose , and the deep ditt schemes resorted to for the creation of divisions , wfc they found union in those ranks "

      Again , in the same leader , ( Jan . U , 1843 ) the Edits speaking of unity on the principle of Universal Suffwfl says : ~ - " This was the very thing the Sturgeites never wants —the very thing they always dreaded ; hence the cct stant doctrine of Friend "NO . " that he did not wish ( b Cbartists to join him . " This is" lauding to the skies . " aint it 1—Yours ltd ! July 3 , 1817 . Wuiiam Hidii

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      * THE NORTHERN STAR , , ..,., ¦ -,... ,.,-, ^ ¦¦ - - Jply M » isM

      -- - ' ——^—¦—¦——M Ihb 6beatsst Sale Of Any 11emc1kes In The Globe.

      -- - ' ——^—¦—¦——m IHB 6 BEATSST SALE Of ANY 11 EMC 1 KES IN THE GLOBE .

      Tue Late Awful Coal-P1t Explosion.

      TUE LATE AWFUL COAL-P 1 T EXPLOSION .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 10, 1847, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1426/page/2/