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The Barnsley Colliery Explosion.

CONSIDERABLE time has elapsed since the occurrence of the Explosion at Barnsley. The leading features, however, of that fearful catastrophe, must still be vividly in the minds of all. Among the many acts of devotion and courage which the papers daily brought before the public, no one could fail to have been struck with the conduct of a young engineer who, after the third explosion, ventured down the flaming shaft, in the hopes of being able to save a human life. Many of our readers will no doubt recognise the name of Mr. Mammatt, but we imagine there are few who know that this gentleman was once a member of Cheltenham College.

It is impossible that danger can present itself in a more appalling form than, that which was so readily met by Mr. Mammatt, and met too without any hope of distinction or reward, but simply from affection for the obscure workmen, who, he hoped, might still be alive amidst the ruins below. We give an extract from "The Standard," describing the event.

"At 7.30 p.m. flames and sparks innumerable were perceived coming out of one of the openings. Every light and fire about the place was ordered to be extinguished. Mammatt made frequent visits to the shaft, and finally the wonderful news was sent to Barnsley that a man was alive. No apparatus was at hand for going down-for any idea of descending had been entirely given up since ten o'clock on the previous morning, and the pit was very nearly being closed that night to prevent the sacrifice of any more lives. Mr. W. and other engineers were on the spot in no time, and Mammatt and his friend Embleton, who was watching with him, rushed about arousing all hands, In an incredible short time the steam was got up, a large wooden frame constructed to fit on the shaft, and a bucket and rope found and adjusted, and Mammatt and Embleton prepared for their perilous venture. Mammatt cut a number of thongs three yards long, to make the man secure in the bucket, and they began to descend. The engineers on the top lay on the ground, with their ears over the shaft to hear the words that they would shout, and a string of men was formed to pass the orders on to the engine man. All this was done with the greatest dispatch. Mammatt and the other stood with one leg in the bucket and the other over the side. He put his thumb through his lamp, and clutched the rope with that hand so that the other arm and hand were free to steady himself. They were a whole quarter of an hour going down! About a dozen yards from the top a stream of water came down upon them; as they descended it became a great pour, deluging them both and making such a noise that it was with great difficulty they could hear the orders at the top. They felt quite uncertain what they were descending into-whether there might not be a great abyss of water-for the whole bottom of the pit had, of course, been torn to pieces by the three explosions. They descended very cautiously and at last reached the bottom and got out safely, in spite of a broad well nine yards deep, close to which the bucket landed. They advanced into the pit a little way, shouted to the man, but got no answer. At last they heard a faint reply and found the poor fellow some little distance from

the bottom of the shaft; he said he alone was living in the pit, but could not give coherent answers to Mammatt's questions: he only said Oh, take me out; take me out.' They took him to the bucket and fastened him in securely with the thongs; and then Mammatt shouted again and again through the pit, listening in vain for any answer-it was like shouting through a huge sepulchre. A few yards from them was a terrific fire, tearing and burning everything up with a noise like the blast of a furnace. This glare lighted up the place, but made it still more awful. Well, the man and Embleton were in the bucket and Mammatt putting one leg in as before, when it tilted and threw him into the well. He had the presence of mind to throw out his arms, and saved himself by supporting himself on the sides, and clutched at an iron bar, with which he scrambled out, (he was up to the middle in water) and at last got ready for the ascent. He had to shout nearly twenty times 'bend up' before they heard. This must have been a time of dreadful suspense. There was luckily a man on the top who was used to Mammatt's voice and who recognized the words through the din, and the ascent began. Their lights went out almost immediately but they ascended very steadily, so steadily indeed that Mammatt hardly knew sometimes whether they were not standing still. They reached the top in safety, and were nearly pulled to pieces by the delighted engineers."

Such is the story of the gallant exploit performed by one, who, we must all feel it an honour to say, is an "Old Cheltonian." We hear that his fellow engineers are getting up a testimonial to mark their appreciation of his conduct; is it not possible that we, who are so nearly connected, if we may be allowed to say so, with Mr. Mammatt, by all the ties which bind "Old" Collegians to those that are still at the school, nay more, by all the pride that we feel in the achievements of those once enrolled among our members; is it not possible, we ask, for us to show some sign of our admiration? There are few things, we imagine, that "Old" fellows care more about, than to see their names on the College boards, when they return to the "Old" place after a lapse of some years; there is naturally enough much pleasure in thinking one's actions worthy to be chronicled among the annals of a great Public School. We have boards for our University Honours, for our Woolwich successes, and, moreover, for the Victoria Crosses gained by "Old" Collegians; why should not Mr. Mammatt have a tablet, as a witness of his daring. It cannot be put under the heading of the V.C's., but surely there is no absolute necessity to have any heading whatever. A small tablet might easily be placed on the walls, with an inscription to the following effect. "To commemorate the gallant conduct of W. Mammatt, at the Barnsley Colliery Explosion, December, 1866."

Something of the kind, we think, should be done, and we are sure that the council, with their usual liberality, will not forget to chronicle one of the most 66 plucky" actions that has ever been done

by a Cheltonian.

IT

The Prefects.

T is with some degree of reluctance that we again bring this subject before the notice of our readers. Its importance, however, and the great benefit we feel sure would arise from the effectual working of the Prefect system, compels us once more to make some remarks on this branch of school discipline.

In accordance with the vast progress that civilization is ever making, conformable to those ideas of comfort and regularity which are springing up year by year, the social condition of Colleges and Schools, the accommodation to be found in boarding houses, &c., have been vastly improved and multiplied. Perhaps in no School has this been more fully and practically seen than in our own, especially during the last four or five years. With these additional luxuries and conveniencies there has naturally enough been a considerable change in the tone of the School itself. We do not mean the moral tone, we do not wish to compare the morality of the present with that of former generations, but we mean that such institutions as fagging, &c, once necessary accessories to the routine of a public School, are now no longer heard of. We will give a few instances. Some five or six years ago members of the first class, or the Eleven were looked up to with a degree of reverence akin to awe. No small boy ever thought of even speaking to so important a personage, there was some degree of presumption in looking at him, attributable to a kind of fascination, and as to “cheeking," good gracious! such a flagrant breach of discipline was treated, as it should be, by a summary box on the ears or the application of a wicket or bat, or any other handy implement. If a juvenile was ordered to go and fetch a ball he never thought of refusing, and if you wanted your books taken home there were boys enough at your disposal to carry off a library. Let us turn to our own times. We may safely state that with the exception of to some half a dozen, at the most, of the very senior fellows, the boys have no idea whatever of the respect due to those that are above them in the school. Imagine any ordinary Prefect endeavouring to administer corporal punishment to a member even of the lower school. That valiant gentleman would immediately begin to kick, and scratch. and bite, and would very soon have a troop of sympathisers round him who would call out "bully," "shame," and so on, until the discomfited Prefect was obliged to retire. If such an event had occurred before the estab

lishment of our present system, some half a dozen senior boys would immediately have come to the succour of their comfrère and have dispelled the rebellious little individuals with sundry blows and knocks.

In this consists one of the chief mistakes committed by our senior boys at the present day. They have no idea whatever of acting together. A Prefect endeavours to stop a fight-there may be two or three more Prefects present-they look on quite unconcernedly, never thinking of going to the assistance of the other. How is it possible that any respect can be felt for a body which contains members so utterly indifferent to the most ordinary duties of their office. Here are young men, we may say, of eighteen, nineteen, verging on twenty, who employ themselves during their leisure hours in nothing but chaffing one another, calling one another all the nicknames they can possibly think of, and all this before an admiring circle of juveniles: these same juveniles, when at a safe distance from the object of ridicule, apply these same opprobrious epithets—they may be standing by some other Prefect. He never thinks of chastising them for insults applied to one of the body-oh! dear no-far from it. He thinks it rather a joke than otherwise, and probably connives at the escape of the insolent little urchin. We ask again, how, are such things in any way compatible with exercising authority or keeping order?

If there are three or four Prefects at a house, and some “big” fellows, that house will be in very good discipline. Supposing even there are only two Prefects, and the rest very young, we may find some obedience there. But take the case of a single Prefect in a house containing a number of boys in the third and fourth classes, who can not keep order themselves, and do not like being kept in order. Do not our readers pity such an individual? If he tries to do his duty, he is abused and talked of as a sneak and bully-if he is lenient all goes to wrack and ruin.

Whatever authority a Prefect may have at home it all vanishes when he reaches the College. He would be thought extremely forward and obtrusive if he found fault with any one not at his own house; this certainly ought not to be, and would not be, if there was mutual support given by the "youths in authority" one to another, and a little less of that foolish trifling in public, and holding up to ridicule which is but too often seen. What Prefect does not feel considerable awkwardness in passing a gang of members of the Lower School? Don't they all begin, on the instant, to call out Stiggins or Snodgrass, or whatever may be the approved nickname? He does not like to touch them. It is better to put up with

these insults than to have the multitude abusing him, which would be the certain result of kicking one of the party.

The same thing is seen in matters of still graver importance. A couple of Prefects march down town; one of them sees a boy without his College riband; he stops him, and gives him an imposition. In nine cases out of ten the other Prefect will be profitably employing his time in laughing and making faces at the delinquent. That boy does not profit one whit by the example of the one, though his ideas of Prefectal discipline are considerably damaged by that of the other. Another boy is had up before the body of Prefects for some flagrant misdemeanour. He is to be made an example of; to receive some severe punishment. We are sorry to have to say that some Prefects, even in cases of such importance as this, have been seen smiling and laughing. Suppose the boy sees any one so grossly misbehaving, what can he think of the Prefects? What possible good can any punishment do him? An extremely uncomfortable situation for those who do know what is expected of them, and one which we hope may never again fall to their share.

We often hear of the good example set by Prefects, and we think it no small praise when we say, that the majority of the Prefects themselves pay attention to the College Rules. But, is this enough? Was not this the case in former times when there were no Prefects? Senior boys then set good examples, and often by judicious castigation prevented younger ones from running into mischief. It is not sufficient that the system should only have a negative influence. With the additional powers granted we should have positive fruits. Now, that the Prefects are authorised to send boys into Imposition School, when, as a body, they have the power of inflicting corporal punishment, we certainly ought to have better results than formerly, when no one was allowed such ample means for restricting youthful pranks and misdemeanours.

The fact of the matter is, that individually the Prefects seem afraid of admonishing any one, even the smallest. Why they should be we can not conceive-but such is the case.

It is often said that some of the Prefects are too small, and that it can not possibly be expected that they should be obeyed. We would refer such objectors to other Public Schools; where the sixth form boys, be they big or small; prominent among their school fellows in games; or never seen in the play ground; are all alike monitors. The office confers dignity, and no boy has any more idea of refusing to do what one tells him than what another does. The same would be the result here if the Prefects would only take the trouble of enforcing their rights.