TO DAY'S PARTICULARS.

INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MISSING MEN

From the particulars which we have been enabled to glean this morning it would appear that the number of missing men—all of whom are unfortunately, almost certain to be dead is 44 and not 30 as at first supposed. The full list of the missing men is as follows:—

James Parker, married, Clay Cross,

Joseph Dunn, married, Danesmoor,

Henry Beeson, married, Danesmoor,

Philip Scothern, married, Wooley moor,

John Beeston, single, Danesmoor,

Richard Dunn, married, Danesmoor,

Joseph Stone, married, Danesmoor,

Jacob Stone, married, Danesmoor,

William Renshaw, married, Danesmoor,

William Vickers, single, Danesmoor,

George Hewitt, widower, Danesmoor,

Thomas Hewitt, single, Danesmoor,

George Hewitt, jun., single, Danesmoor,

Michael Parkin, married, Danesmoor,

John Holmes, married, Clay Cross,

Geo. Mitchell, single, Clay Cross,

Richard Taylor, married, Danesmoor,

Wm. Briggs, married, Pilsley,

Wm. Martin, boy, Clay Cross,

Tom Goaler, married, Clay Cross,

James Smith, married, Clay Cross,

Tom Chappell, single, Clay Cross,

Aaron Beeson, single, Danesmoor,

Wm. Slinn, single, Alton,

Wm. Squires, single, Clay Cross,

Thos. Berry, or Wheeldon, married, Tupton,

S Barker, a lad, Danesmoor,

Owen Richards, married, Danesmoor,

James Edwards, married, Danesmoor,

John Stanley, married, Clay Cross

John Buckberry, married, Danesmoor,

Joseph Stone, married, Danesmoor,

James Simms, married, Danesmoor,

Emanuel Clark, married, Danesmoor,

Ellias Bowler, married, Danesmoor,

Edward Barker, and his son Edward

Thomas Birkin, married, Clay Cross,

James Smith, married, Clay Cross,

Joseph Walters, Danesmoor,

William Shelton, single, Danesmoor,

Joseph Marlow, married, Danesmoor,

William Clark, single, Danesmoor,

R. Taylor, married, Clay Cross.

At eleven o'clock on Tuesday night an exploring party led by Mr Laverick, of the Riddings colliery, Mr Mills (Messrs Coke and Mills), Chesterfield, and Mr Heaton, of the Staveley Coal and Iron Company, went down the shaft and proceeded along the workings. In many places the archings had given way through the force of the explosion and the roadway was blocked by timber and consequently it was with the greatest difficulty that the party made their way. They, however, discovered fifteen dead bodies and in these cases death had evidently resulted from after-damp, the bodies being but little burnt. At eight o'clock this morning another party headed by Mr Parker, of No 2 Pit and Mr C. Blore and Mr W. Blore, of Tupton, went down and made considerable progress in the workings. Soon after ten o'clock, Mr J. P. Jackson, manager of the Clay Cross Company arrived at No 8 Pit and after a short interview with Superintendent Coupe—who together with several of his men was on the spot during the day—Mr. Jackson proceeded to Park House and there saw Mr. Humble, of Staveley, Mr. Howe, Mr. Clare and other officials of the Company. A consultation took place between these gentlemen, and various suggestions were considered relative to the bringing of the bodies out of the pit. A telegram was received from Mr. T. Evans, Her Majesty's Inspector, stating that he would arrive at Clay Cross about half-past two, and that he would be followed by Mr A. H. Stokes, Her Majesty's Assistant for this district. It was after due consideration, decided that inasmuch as the Parkhouse shaft was so damaged that it would take a very long time to repair it, the bodies should be taken up the No 8 shaft and be removed from thence to the Queen's Head Inn. It was arranged that this work should commence at half-past two o'clock and whilst the plans of the officials are liable to alteration it is probable that such a course would be proceeded with. Mr C. G. Busby the coroner for the district having been informed of the occurrence will decide when he will open the inquest. At the opening, evidence of the formal identification of the bodies will be taken and then, doubtless the inquiry into the cause of this sad catastrophe will be adjourned to a date suitable to all parties, the dead bodies being interred meanwhile. As might naturally be suspected the explosion and its dreadful consequences forms the sole topic of conversation in the district.

The Bank of No 8 pit has been thronged throughout this morning by people anxious to obtain tidings of their missing relatives and the drawn down blinds in many houses in Danesmoor and Clay Cross bear silent testimony to the sorrow and suffering which has been caused in so many houses by the most terrible colliery explosion that has yet occurred in this locality. The Parkhouse shaft is also visited by large numbers of persons.

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