"Dr J W Mulligan of Abersychan said he had been surgeon to the colliery for a number of years. He was called to the pit's mouth on the morning of the explosion about 8.55 am. He saw most of the bodies as they were brought to bank The majority seemed to have been burnt and died by the force of the shock of the explosion. From 26 to 30 men appeared to have been killed by the after damp. About 60 appeared to have died from injuries. Many were considerably mutilated by the force of the explosion. Most of the bodies were covered in coal dust and they must have been in a coal dusty place.
Coroner - "You mean that it was apparent on their faces?"
Witness - "Yes the majority were burnt a brown colour. Their hair was singed and in many cases the clothes were burnt or blown off and the bodies were as brown as the top of that rail (pointing to a brown painted rail in front of the coroner)
All that might take place purely from firedamp without any quantity of coal dust?
Witness - "It would have to be a slow fire to char bodies like that without coal dust but really I am not in a position to form an opinion on the question.
In reply to Mr Greene QC the witness added that the bodies were burnt all over, not on one side more than another. About 26 died from suffocation alone. He went down the pit to see if he could aid any wounded but he did not examine the workings."
Cardiff Times 1 March 1890
Wednesday 25 February 2015
Llanerch - the funerals
The days that followed the Llanerch Colliery disaster were covered in detail by newspapers, the following article was published in the Cambrian on the 14th February 1890.
"Some 65 of the bodies of the unfortunate miners who were killed in the disastrous explosion at Llanerch Colliery near Pontypool were on Monday buried. Thousands of people assembled to witness the solemn ceremony, the whole of the valley from Pontypool to Talywain being a scene of the deepest mourning. The weather was beautifully fine. The most striking procession was that which was organised in Broad Street, Abersychan, opposite the police station, the dead bodies being carried thither from the neighbouring cottages. The funeral was headed by a united choir, more than 100 in number who sang with impressive effect as they paced slowly along the well known Welsh hymn 'In the deep and mighty waters'. Amongst those present were Mr T P Price, M.P. for North Monmouth, Mr Partridge, Head of the Llanerch Colliery Company and Mr E Jones managing director of the colliery. The coffins containing the victims were brought into the procession at various points along the route until the funeral extended to about three quarters of a mile in length. There were at least 50 coffins carried on biers, each followed by its mourners and in most cases by friends of the deceased who gave their arms to the bereaved widows. At Pontnewynydd the roads to the burial grounds parted and the choir joined that portion which went to the Noddfa Baptist Chapel, Talywain, in the cemetery of which 13 were buried. Here the service was conducted partly in English and partly in Welsh. The bulk of the procession walked to Trevethin parish church, about a mile from Pontypool where the service was conducted by the Rev J C Llewellyn, the vicar and his curates. As the mournful gathering entered the church, the organist played the 'Dead March' from Saul. In the graveyard attached to this church 33 bodies were interred. The scenes as the bodies were lowered into the ground were painfully affecting. Seven other bodies were buried at the Penygarn Baptist graveyard and other funerals took place at the Ebenezer and Pisgah Chapels in the neighbourhood of Abersychan. Members of the friendly societies in mourning costume followed a number of the bodies.
The explorations at the colliery were continuing during the day and three more bodies were recovered. It is now supposed that all the dead have been got out of the pit, except one body, that of a boy.
Mr Edwin Grove of Newport, the Chairman of the Monmouthshire County Council, has telegraphed to the Lord Mayor stating that 174 bodies in all have been recovered and that a large number of widows, orphans and dependent relatives will have to be maintained. Consequently a large fund will be needed.
"Some 65 of the bodies of the unfortunate miners who were killed in the disastrous explosion at Llanerch Colliery near Pontypool were on Monday buried. Thousands of people assembled to witness the solemn ceremony, the whole of the valley from Pontypool to Talywain being a scene of the deepest mourning. The weather was beautifully fine. The most striking procession was that which was organised in Broad Street, Abersychan, opposite the police station, the dead bodies being carried thither from the neighbouring cottages. The funeral was headed by a united choir, more than 100 in number who sang with impressive effect as they paced slowly along the well known Welsh hymn 'In the deep and mighty waters'. Amongst those present were Mr T P Price, M.P. for North Monmouth, Mr Partridge, Head of the Llanerch Colliery Company and Mr E Jones managing director of the colliery. The coffins containing the victims were brought into the procession at various points along the route until the funeral extended to about three quarters of a mile in length. There were at least 50 coffins carried on biers, each followed by its mourners and in most cases by friends of the deceased who gave their arms to the bereaved widows. At Pontnewynydd the roads to the burial grounds parted and the choir joined that portion which went to the Noddfa Baptist Chapel, Talywain, in the cemetery of which 13 were buried. Here the service was conducted partly in English and partly in Welsh. The bulk of the procession walked to Trevethin parish church, about a mile from Pontypool where the service was conducted by the Rev J C Llewellyn, the vicar and his curates. As the mournful gathering entered the church, the organist played the 'Dead March' from Saul. In the graveyard attached to this church 33 bodies were interred. The scenes as the bodies were lowered into the ground were painfully affecting. Seven other bodies were buried at the Penygarn Baptist graveyard and other funerals took place at the Ebenezer and Pisgah Chapels in the neighbourhood of Abersychan. Members of the friendly societies in mourning costume followed a number of the bodies.
The explorations at the colliery were continuing during the day and three more bodies were recovered. It is now supposed that all the dead have been got out of the pit, except one body, that of a boy.
Mr Edwin Grove of Newport, the Chairman of the Monmouthshire County Council, has telegraphed to the Lord Mayor stating that 174 bodies in all have been recovered and that a large number of widows, orphans and dependent relatives will have to be maintained. Consequently a large fund will be needed.
Friday 6 February 2015
Remembering the Llanerch Colliery Disaster 6th February 1890
This poem was written by S Jefferson and was printed in the Weekly Mail on 15th February 1890
Llanerch Pit Disaster
Twas about the time of sunrise
One bright February day
Down the pit three hundred miners
Made their customary way.
Merry jests and happy laughter
Rose upon the morning air
In the cage, the shaft descending
Young lads went, devoid of care.
Underground the hardy workers
Stripped then to their arduous toil
Far more wearying their labours
Than to plough or delve the soil.
Then Llanerch pits at Abersychan
Soon beheld disaster dire
Far away deep in the workings
Burst the sudden fatal fire.
Up the shaft the red flames rushing
Smashed the gearing and the stays
Whilst the sun, then slowly rising
Paled before their angry blaze.
Rolling smoke clouds, sombre, ebony
Darkened the fair sky of morn
And the men upon the pit bank
Thought of friends from life swift torn.
Then in many a miner's cottage
Was the dread explosion heard
Like an earthquake came the tidings
"Some disaster hath occurred"
Miners wives, pallid and trembling
Sped swiftly oer the fields that morn
Well they knew, while terror led there
Many would return forlorn.
Wives and children round the pit head
Gathered in a mournful crowd
Some in anxious grief were silent
Others wildly sobbed aloud.
Soon a sturdy band of heroes
Humble miners, bravely dared
Deadly choke damp might oppose them
They would see how comrades fared.
They would rescue the survivors
Bring them to the upper air
Gladden hearts now filled with sorrow.
Dauntless they will danger share.
Groping mid the gloomy wreckage
Of the passages below
Horrent sight of dead and wounded
Meet them as they onward go.
Naked bodies, burnt and mangled
Shock them as they sadly grope
Brother toilers, killed whilst toiling
On they pass with scarce a hope.
Crowned is their quest for, ere, the night
Snatched from death to light and life
Near half on who that morn descended
Are restored to child and wife.
O ye who scarce know aught of labour
Seated round your household fire
Think of those now filled with sorrow
Brought by this disaster dire!
Let your pity bear a fruitage
Aid the widow and the child
'Reft of all support and comfort
That your fire grate might be piled.
S Jefferson. February 7th 1890
An engraving from the Graphic newspaper 15th February 1890
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