"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
Hi. I'm researching my family history on my mother's side. Her grandfather was Thomas Lewis of Cwmffrwdoer/Abersychan who died in the Llanerch Pit disaster of Feb 6 1890 age 41. There's another Thomas Lewis (in fact there are several) age about 14 also from Cwmffrwdoer who may have been his son. I have both their death certificates but cannot get any further. If I came to Abersychan to search further where do you suggest I start. There's a huge amount of press coverage of the disaster but I can't find much in the way of references to the actual victims, particularly family connections like name of mother, wife, children.
ReplyDeleteI would greatly appreciate some help. Eileen