Durham Mining Museum - Newspaper Articles (original) (raw)

10th March 1830, Page: 5, Column: 4

The Burradon Pit Explosion

The working party, consisting of volunteers from neighbouring collieries, together with some of the Burradon men, continue their operations, and have now reached a point betwixt the first and the middle-east ways, which is close to the furthest limit of the workings. At this place the bodies of Wm. Wilkie (48) and Thos. Wilkinson (29) were discovered and the workmen expected shortly to get sight of the remains of Joseph Musgrove (17), whose name will complete the melancholy catalogue. In this part of the pit, however, the fall of stone has been very heavy, and it was believed some time might elapse before the bodies could be extricated. The workmen, in their gradual advance into the more remote passages of the mine, have made good their ground by putting in permanent air-stoppings where these have been blown down. The furnace has been kept burning since Wednesday afternoon, and the result is a sensible improvement in the state of the ventilation, though a good deal remains to be done before the pit can be restored to a workable condition. On the 6th inst. a meeting of the Coal Trade, with special reference to the catastrophe, was held at the office of that association, presided over by Hugh Taylor, Esq., M.P. when it was agreed that the Trade contribute £1,000 for the relief of the sufferers. The owner of Burradon Colliery Joshua Bower, Esq., has subscribed £400. We understand that the London coal factors are also bestirring themselves in the matter, while liberal subscriptions from individuals are daily announced.