Colliery Accidents at Lane End

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Miscellaneous

Researched by John Lumsdon

Colliery Accidents at Lane End

Almost every number of this journal (The Staffordshire Mercury May 11th 1833) contains account of one or more colliery accidents in the neighbourhood Lane-End. This week has been very disastrous. On Monday morning 5th May an explosion took place in the Railway Pit and 4 men, James Daintry, Philip Evans, William Jones and George Starkey were so dreadfully burnt, that on being conveyed to the North Staffordshire Infirmary, only very slight hopes indeed could be entertained of their recovery.

On the following morning (Tuesday) another explosion took place in the same pit, and 4 other men, Paul Ellis, James Bradbury, Nathan Johnson and George Watkin, were burnt to such a degree as to place their lives in imminent danger. They also have been conveyed to the Infirmary.

On Thursday, as 2 men were descending the Millfield Pit, the cogs of a wheel broke and the down-shaft being by this accident disunited from the engine, caused the rope by which men were suspended, suddenly to run out to the bottom of the pit, a considerable depth, and one of the men, George Furbey, was killed on the spot; the other was much hurt by the violence of the shock, but we are happy to learn is likely to recover.

Fatality, Female Banks woman, Hamlington (fell down the shaft) May 1824 Apedale

Explosion Railroad Pit 1839

By John Lumsdon

On Saturday morning 22nd June 1839 an accident of a fearful description occurred at one of Mr. Sparrow’s collieries, Lane End, by an explosion of firedamp, in a coal pit called “Railroad Pit,” whereby three individuals lost their lives and three others were seriously injured. The part of the mine in which the explosion took place was what is called, the Northern section, under the meadows below the iron furnace, and had been worked the previous day, (Friday) where no particular indication of danger was observed.

On the morning of the above mentioned a party of 8 or 9 men descended the shaft about six o’ clock and were proceeding to that part of the mine where they had been working the day before, led by a man named John Bill, who, contrary to the regulations of the colliery, took a lighted candle in his hand, in addition to a safety lamp, with which he in common with the other men, was provided.

On approaching the part where the inflammable gas, had accumulated, the candle which bill had in his hand came in contact with it, and an instantaneous explosion took place.

Some time elapsed before the extent of the calamity was fully known, it being impracticable to proceed in the direction of the accident, until the foul air had disposed; however as soon as practicable, the search was made for the sufferers, where it was found that 5 men, namely, Thomas Beech, Peter Warren, William Williams, James Betton, and William Davenhill, were seriously burnt and as soon as possible they were taken to the North

Staffordshire Infirmary, where death terminated the sufferings of Peter Warren the same day and Thomas Beech on the following day; the other 3 men, it is expected will ultimately recover. The other men were burnt but not seriously.

The body of John Bill, to whose incautious conduct the accident is chiefly attributed, was not found till nearly two hours afterwards, when life was quite extinct. A man name John Kensall was miraculously preserved from sharing the fate of his unfortunate companions, he being near to Warren and Peach at the time of the explosion. He was knocked down and covered by a quantity of earth and rubbish and escaped without the slightest injury excepted by the fright experienced by being place in so perilous a situation. A number of men were at work in another part of the pit, but they escaped without any injury.

An inquest was held before by Mr. Harding Esq. on view of the bodies of John Bill, age, 28 Thomas Beech, age 25, and Peter warren, age 26 and verdicts of “accidental death” returned in each case.

The three unfortunate sufferers were married men, with each one or two children. The bodies were interned in Lane End church yard on Wednesday, amidst a great crowed of spectators.

Death of 5yr old 1853

A 5year old boy fell to his death at an unworked coal pit on Thursday 28th Jan 1853. Abraham Hollings fell down the shaft while playing with about 40 other boys in the Meir Heath fields, part of the Foley colliery belonging to Mr Sparrow. A search was made up to Sunday night for the boy without success, but the search continued on Monday morning, when the lifeless body was found. At an inquest held on Tuesday. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.” Mr Wynne, the Government Inspector of Mines was present and Mr Harding the Coroner during the inquiry and after the verdict, stated that many other accidents of a similar distressing nature had occurred within his jurisdiction and although he was well aware that not only Mr Wynne, the present Government Inspector, but also his predecessor, Mr Dickinson, and had impressed upon the coal proprietors the great necessity of effectually protecting the old unworked coal shafts, to prevent accidents like the present, and not withstanding he the (Coroner) had made strong remarks respecting the same.;

Still he was afraid that there was a great many old unworked pits in the same unprotected state as the one the deceased had unfortunately lost his life in.

It had been stated added Mr Harding that these pits were private property, that parties in going near them were trespassers and that the fences round the old unworked pits are sufficient protection as against cattle: but neither Mr Sparrow nor any other coal proprietor, would he thought, would say that it was absolutely necessary that the lives of Her Majesty’s subjects should also be protected. He was glad to know from Mr Wynne and other sources that the attention of the legislature had been particularly directed to such cases.

After some remarks from Mr Wynne and a recommendation from the jury, that Mr Sparrow would forthwith cause the old unworked shafts to be properly protected.

Mr Mitchenson, the agent who was present at the inquiry undertook to convey the recommendations to Mr Sparrow.

Foley July 28th Colliery 1855

Researched by John Lumsdon

At 4.30 pm on Friday 28th July another explosion of firedamp occurred in one of the pits of W.H. Sparrow Esq. At the Foley colliery, Longton, and by it one man lost his life and four others sustained more or less serious personal injury. It appears that the deceased, Thomas Edwards, unfortunately a married man with four children, Silas Jones, George Edwards, John Griffiths, and John Radcliff, were engaged in blasting ironstone and coal in one of the Drifts in the pit and there be reason to suspect the presence of sulphur in consequence of what is called a “Fault” near the end of the Drift had instructions to proceed with great caution and consequently, during a portion of that and the proceeding day, had been using safety lamps to work by and firing their shots with touch paper.

Thomas Edwards, the deceased, a butty collier, usually prepared and fired the shots, but the last shot was, by his request fired by John Griffiths, another butty, who was working with him. Griffiths says that before firing the shot he put his lamp almost to the roof, to see if there was any sulphur and there did not appear to be any. He then lighted the fuse and as usual, retired about twenty yards to await the explosion. He saw the flame of the powder distinctly, there being in his judgement at least twice as much powder in the hole as there ought to have been, and immediately afterwards an explosion of firedamp occurred, he was seriously burned and Radcliff and George Edwards still more severely; a portion of the roof was brought down, the deceased Thomas Edwards and a horse were buried in the debris, and of course killed. Silas Jones was blown against some timber and seriously bruised and shaken. Prompt measures were adopted for the recovery of the injured men, and all of them were got out of the pit in the course of a few hours.

On Tuesday morning an inquest was held on the body of Edwards before W. Harding Esq. Coroner, at the Duke of York Inn, Longton at which T. Wynne, Government Inspector of mines was present.

George Bowler was the first witness to be examined. He deposed that he was a miner, working at the Foley colliery and on Thursday last was deputed by Mr. Sheppard, the manager, to examine the pit where the accident occurred. He found it quite free from sulphur and perfectly safe, and so reported it to Mr. Sheppard. He had examined the pit half a dozen times within the last three weeks. The butties examined the pits every morning. He had found a little gas in pit when first the men began to work there but had not seen or heard of any since.

Silas Jones said he was a miner and worked at the Foley colliery. He went to work on Friday morning with Edwards, the deceased. The works were considered safe; they were tried every hour of the day. Mr. Wynne, (Mines Inspector) asked, what was the cause of that great precaution? Did you expect gas was there? Witness replied, yes sir. Mr. Wynne asked had you perceived gas the day before or any time previous. Witness replied, no sir, only a little. They worked until half-past four. Everything was right until that time. John Griffiths fired the shot. As soon as it was fired he felt the wind. The first wind from the explosion knocked his head against the timber and injured his back. He had worked there three weeks. He had never noticed anything wrong in the drift during that time. George Edwards was in the infirmary.

John Griffiths, who had been severely about the right hand and his head and face, and presented a rather sorry spectacle to look at, was next examined. He said he was a butty at the Foley colliery. He examined the works on Thursday morning and found them safe. Thomas Edwards was deputed to fire the shots and fall the coals, and see that everything was safe.

He had the whole care and management because he had worked there previously and knew the place best. I fired the last shot, Thomas Edwards proposed it. The cause of my firing it (the witness continued) was we had no touch paper and I being a smoker and he not, he asked me to go and kindle my pipe and fire it, and I did so. I did not consider there was any danger at the time I fired it, or I should not have done it. Before I fired it I took my lamp, and I could not perceive it draw my lamp in the least. I then fired it and went back about 15 or 20 yards, as we generally did. When the shot exploded the firedamp went.

Mr. Wynne asked, supposed you put a large quantity of powder in and the flame came out, would it not ascend to the roof? Witness replied, oh yes; that is how I account for the accident. We fired some shots with a candle, but we were determined to keep it safe. We had no suspicion there was gas there, but we knew there was further on. There was no discussion between me and Edwards whether it was safe to fire the shot or not. My decided opinion is that there was too much powder by half in the hole. I saw the flame and I saw the gas explode. I never saw such a flame from a shot in my life. Just before the accident Edwards said to Silas Jones “now leave it to me old butty, I will see thee safe.”

In reply to Mr.Wynne, he said, it has come to my knowledge that men were driven out for two to three hours during the Wednesday night. I heard of that on the Thursday morning when I went to work. My brother said to me, “you need not go down the Drift is full of sulphur,” I told him to shut his mouth, and not make himself so foolish. I did not believe it, and as soon as I went down I took my lamp and went straight across the Drift and could not find a bit of sulphur. We were using lamps because we had been cautioned by Mr. Sparrow and Mr. Sheppard to use every precaution to prevent accidents.

Mr. Sheppard, Mr. Sparrow’s agent; who was present here remarked that it was known there was gas in the pit beyond where the men were working and they were enjoined to be careful least it should advance to where the men were working. The Coroner observed that there appeared to have been two mistakes made; one by using too much powder and the other not examining with sufficient care whether there was sulphur, by putting the lamp to the roof before the shot was fired.

Mr. Wynne said, and then comes the very serious question, whether it had been known that there was a large quantity of gas within a short distance, any shot should have been fired at all.

The pit not yet being in a fit state to be entered, Mr. Sheppard said it was impossible to get into it and the jury wishing to have Mr. Wynne’s opinion of the state of the workings and the cause of the accident before coming to a decision, the inquiry was adjourned sine die, with an understanding that Mr. Wynne would make an examination, as soon as possible and that the jury would be called together as soon as convenient afterwards. Mr. Wynne said he went to the pit on Saturday and Monday and he had visited it again that morning, but it was impossible to get into it.

Ninety Hours without food and Light

4th Aug 1866 BOILER EXPLOSION INSTAFFORDSHIRE. A dreadful boiler explosion occurred at the Scotia colliery, Tunstall, on Saturday morning, and resulted in two men losing their lives, and eight others being injured, several seriously
At the Brookhouse colliery, Bucknall, North Staffs, on Monday morning the 7th November 1859 a number of men were in the pit when water broke in, near where 8 men were employed.
All the men but 3 got to a place of safety and were raised to the surface.
The 3 less fortunate companions, Samuel and Peter Bate, and a boy 14 years of age, named Ash remained. Despite every effort that could be made to recover them, it was not before the following Thursday that the water had subsided sufficiently to allow a rescue party getting to a level in the workings in which these men were known to have been engaged.
The excitement was very keen among the crowd who stood on the bank waiting for news when it was reported that a voice replied to the descending rescuers.

After being prisoners in the mine for ninety hours, both men and boy were brought to the surface and as once more they came into daylight received such a cheer of welcome from the crowd they were never likely to forget.
It appeared that they fled before the rushing water up an incline. They had a candle but the damp put this out, and during the first 24 hours they suffered very considerably from want of food and light.
The 2 men placed the boy between them and the only knowledge they had of time was by passing their fingers gently over the hands of a watch, which one of them carried. As soon as the water began to retire, they had greater freedom of breathing, though at one time they had made up their minds to face death, and write a few parting words to their friends on their food cans.
It is stated that one of the men never slept throughout the period but that the boy had slept a good deal.

Mining Subsidence

In 1903 as Thomas Holland a "candle-maker walked to his place of work in Hanley, the footpath in St. John Street opened up beneath him, and he was swallowed up in the wink of an eye. His grave had been hewn from the earth by miners, probably long dead themselves. An 8ft 6inch wide hole in the footpath now grinned at the attempts made to conceal the old pit shaft, whose rank breath emanated from the chasm below. The noxious gases made rescue impossible, and the shaft was subsequently filled in with a huge quantity of ashes and waste. A funeral service was held on the spot where Thomas had disappeared."
From: 'Potters in Pits, Mervyn Edwards, p.45

Man Engulfed
Terrible accident in Hanley: Pit-shaft opens in St. John Street

"Under these headlines the Sentinel reported, to the extent of two columns, in its issue of December 3rd, 1903, an accident which has probably stuck in the public mind during the subsequent half century more than many local disasters involving the loss of more lives than one. Why?

First, no doubt, because of the bizarre nature of the accident itself. A man walks along a street in what was then regarded as one of Hanley's best residential districts, the ground suddenly yawns before him, and he falls through the gap and is never seen again.Secondly, by the strange coincidence that the man, immediately before he disappeared, was said to have been singing a well-known Salvation Army hymn, in which he had just reached the words: