EXPLOSION AT CILFYNYDD.
279 KILLED.
On Saturday afternoon, June 23, 1894, another was added to the terrible list of explosions in the South Wales Coalfield. The Albion Colliery is situated at Cilfynydd, about two miles from Pontypridd. The pit was opened in 1887, and about 1,600 men are employed therein. The repairers had descended to their work in the afternoon, when, about four o'clock, a tremendous report was heard, and a vast column of smoke was seen ascending from the shaft. At first it was believed that an underground boiler had burst, but it was soon known that something more serious had happened. An exploring party descended in about half an hour, and two hours later, signals were given that men were to be brought up. Sixteen men, very badly injured, were brought up—nine of whom died shortly after. It is believed that 279 have succumbed to the effects of the explosion and afterdamp. Considerable damage has been done to the pit, and extensive falls have been observed. Luckily the fan was not injured, so the ventilating arrangements are complete. The bodies raised are mostly very sadly injured, showing the force of the explosion to be very great. No cause for the accident has yet been found, but some authorities ascribe it to either shot- firing or coal dust. 11 bodies were buried unidentified.
Once again the cruel angel
Has descended on our land,
And nearly three hundred victims
Have been vanquished by his hand;
At Cilfynydd there is weering
'Neath this sudden cruel blow,
Wives and children are lamenting
For their loved ones thus laid low
From the Albion Pit the colliers
Had departed on that day,
The repairers had descended,
Each had gone a different way;
Suddenly a sound of terror
Shakes the ground with mighty blow,
Whilst a cloud of smoke to hoaven
From the shaft does slowly go
