(From the Newcastle Chronicle.)

It is our melancholy duty this week to record another of those awful visitations which have already been so frequent amongst the collieries in this district ; and though not so fearful in extent as some of its predecessors in the district, it is almost as disastrous in its consequences, from the number of helpless children thus thrown upon the world, as the worst of those which have gone before it. On this occasion no fewer than 34 individuals have met an untimely death, ten of whom have left wives and families totally unprotected and unprovided for. On Tuesday the 17th instant, the men were at work in the Bensham pit as usual, when about 8 o'clock the northern part of the workings suddenly fired, and a few of the miners succeeded in reaching the bank alive. The inhabitants having caught the alarm, the utmost confusion and distress ensued ; wives and mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters sharing one common interval of the most heart-sickening suspense and agitation. On Wednesday, when the bodies were brought up and claimed, the scene if possible was more distressing than before, the worst fears in come cases being realised, and in others the slender hopes entertained utterly destroyed. The village resounded with the cries and lamentations of the survivors. On Thursday, Michael Hall, Esq. the coroner, proceeded to hold an inquest on the bodies at Mrs. Clark's, sign of Hylton Castle, in Jarrow, and having ascertained that they all lost their lives by the same unfortunate cause, the body of Richard Bell was selected to be viewed by the jury. This melancholy duty having been performed, the following evidence was adduced :—

Robert Rankin. — I am an overman. On Tuesday last I went down the Bensham pit, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I went about two-thirds round it, and found nothing but was perfectly correct. The air at that time was extremely good. I saw the deceased Bell there. I then went to another part to begin a job which our master had left to us. This was about 2 o'clock. I was sitting down lighting a candle when I became aware of the accident. I immediately threw myself on my face, when I felt a second explosion. There were some persons near me, and we made for the bottom of the east-pit shaft. In the road we found some boys whom we took with us. I had to run about 90 yards in the after-damp. There was eight of us got to the pit mouth. I waited there about half an hour. I then got a light, and attempted to throw some fresh air into the pit. I cannot form any idea of the immediate cause of the accident.

Robert Fairley. — I am master wasteman ; I saw the pit last at ten in the forenoon of Tuesday the 17th. I was there with two men, George Hope and Thomas Jefferson, opening out air courses. I did not see any thing particular. We examined all the boards with a candle, and found nothing foul.

Wm. Burn, a deputy overman, spoke to the general good state of the pit, but was not in the workings where the fire is supposed to have originated.

Ralph Caxon. — I am an under-viewer. On he 10th inst. I inspected all the workings right through, and I receive daily reports of them from the wastemen. I saw Bell brought to bank about one o'clock on Wednesday ; he was very much burnt. I have no doubt the explosion was the cause of his death.

[It appearing that the boards mentioned by Robt. Fairley had excited the suspicions of some of the miners (then in the room), it was deemed proper that particular attention should be directed to them in the examination of the witnesses, and Rankin and Fairley were recalled ; but they were unable to state any thing more conclusive than what is given above].

George Hope. — I am a wasteman. On Tuesday I examined the part where the accident is supposed to have happened. I saw nothing to be complained of in the boards in question.

George Golding. — I am a pitman. I was down the pit about one o'clock in the afternoon. I was working very near where the accident is thought to have happened. I was afterwards all round the workings, speaking to my friends. (His work was done, and we was about to ascend). I saw nothing. When I came to the board where the accident happened, I said to my partner, "This place is very warm." It did not fire at my candle then, which, if it had been foul, it would have done.

George Shaw was with the last witness, and heard him say the place was warm, but he saw nothing amiss.

Thomas Scott. — I am a pitman. I was sitting on the first crane handle when the accident happened. I never saw nor heard any thing till I was thrown down ; I then heard the blast. When I got up, I made away towards the shaft. I saw a boy named Iley, he came out with me ; there were then two boys left ; they are both dead. [This witness was considerably burnt.]

Mr. Ralph Brignall Fenwick. — I am a colliery viewer. I examined the pit on the 3rd of January. I observed to Mr. Dunn that she was well ventilated, and in a very pleasant state.

The evidence was then read over by Mr. Hall, with several suitable remarks, and the jury immediately and unanimously returned a verdict of "Accidental death." Mr. Hall then issued his warrant for the interment of the sufferers, and the jury was discharged.

The following are the names of the sufferers, with the families they have left :—

George Willis (deputy overman), a wife and seven children ; John Gibson, a wife a three children ; John Lowton, a wife and three children ; Thomas Clark, and wife and five children ; Joseph Boomer, sen., a wife and three children ; Robert Clasper, a wife and two children ; John Stewart, a wife and one child ; John Norman, a wife and one child ; Robert Fletcher, a wife and three children ; John Willis, a wife and family ; John Brown, a wife, George Ledger, Snowden Brown, William Arnot, George Summerson, William Smith, Stephen Scott, John Watson, Richard Bell and John Bell (brothers), Thomas Summerside, John Johnson, William Tate, Thomas Holland, Joseph Willis, Andrew Scott and Isaac Scott (brothers), James Boomer and Joseph Boomer, jun. (brothers), Robert Norman, William Fletcher, Thomas Miller, John Thompson, and John Clark, young men.

It is rather remarkable that in the above list there were three strangers or borrowed men, and one of them, from Fatfield, was in the pit for the first time — the other two had only been in once before. Forty-six horses and two asses are ascertained to have fallen victims to the fire and after-damp. It is supposed, however, that there are more not yet come at. The colliery is the property of Messrs. Brown, of London.