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

29th September 1910

Re-Opening Of Wellington Pit

Quick Progress

Finding Of Bodies

Stoppage At William And Ladysmith.

The re-opening of Wellington Pit has succeeded much more rapidly than was generally anticipated, and it now seems likely that before long most if not all of the bodies of the 136 entombed men will be recovered.

The first operation was to open a door in the stopping in the return air-course. By reference to the sketch plan it will be found that the stoppings are near what is called Benks Turn, and that this is about 2¼ miles to the pit shaft. The plan is not to scale, but various distances from point to point indicated by crosses are marked. There are two stoppings in the intake up the haulage road - one 21 yards beyond the other. A heavy door opening outwards was put into the first of these stoppings, hinged by its top instead of its side. It was fully opened and the end of it was held up by a light support, so that in case of an explosion this support would be easily blown out and the door would fall again and would be kept closed by inward pressure of the air. At the same time the fall of the door would make an electric contact and continuously ring an electric bell at the pit top. This was a simple, effective, and ingenious arrangement made by Mr. Henry, the underground manager. In the other stopping, 21 yards beyond, there was an ordinary side-hinged door and this was opened 9 inches. The surface fan was going under 2½ inches of pressure, full working pressure being about 7½ inches. A limited and known quantity of air was thus admitted to the pit. It may be explained that the ventilating fan works in the square castellated tower that is such an unusual feature in the appearance of the headwork's of Wellington Pit. The fan draws the air up the up-cast shaft, from the return air-way, really sucking it, and not forcing, through the haulage way or intake. The gas is discharged into the air above the tower. The fan chamber was soon dense with gas, so that a safety lamp was at once extinguished. The greatest care had to be exercised in the oiling of the bearings of the fan. No naked light nor anything that might conceivably produce fire was permitted. An explosion there would have travelled down the shaft and exploded over 2 miles length of gas in the return air-way. It will be understood that this tentative method of procedure, by limited and measured admission of air was made in view of the uncertainty, as to whether there might yet be some fire in the pit. If there was, then on the admission of air there was bound to be an explosion. There are several proportions of air, from four parts of air to one of fire-damp, to twelve parts of air to one of fire-damp; that are explosive; but they are not of equal violence in their explosive effect. The object was to secure that if there should possibly be fire, the explosion should be least destructive.

On Sunday, Mr. Blair, Mr. Steel, and Mr. Henry, the colliery officials, went down with a few men with them. The gas coming off in the fan chamber was by this time much less dense. A safety lamp wick in it showed a blue cap of about three-quarters of an inch in length. It was expected that the length beyond the stopping up to the first short circuit had been fairly well cleared of gas. On reference to the plan the reader will readily understand what is meant by a short-circuit. Between the haulage road air intake and the return air-way, there are communicating ways in which are separation "doors" marked on the plan. If at any point one of these communicating ways were open, the air would be drawn through there; the air takes the shortest course and there would be very little air going by the longer way round. At the same time, as fire-damp (i.e. the pit gas which is explosive when mixed with air) is very much lighter than air, there would be a certain amount of ventilation going on beyond a short circuit; because the heavier air, by force of gravity, would roll down into the pit and displace and force out the fire-damp. Mr. Blair and his party on Sunday went in beyond the stopping, using the "Meco" areophore apparatus which enables the wearer to breathe artificially renewed air, in a poisonous atmosphere. They went in to the first of the separation doors, some 300 yards in. They closed these. The fan would now pull air further in, to the next short-circuit, or if there were no short-circuit, right round the pit through all the workings. It was expected, however, that if there was another short-circuit before the friction gear was reached, there would be one there almost certainly. The intake and the return air course there meet and cross each other, in order to supply No. 3 level. One course crosses over the head of the other; and it was almost certain that the force of the first explosion would have blown this away and destroyed it. That would short-circuit the ventilation there.

On Sunday, after the party came up, the speed of the fan was increased a little. The gap in the intake stopping was left at nine inches aperture. On Monday, the party of colliery officials was able to go into the next separation doors, a further distance of about 400 yards. These were found open, and were closed. The first 300 yards and these 400 yards brought Mr. Blair, who went a little further forward than the rest of the party, within some 240 yards of the friction gear. It will be observed on the plan that it is 930 yards from the stoppings to the friction gear. It was at the friction gear that the fire was observed, and it is there also that No. 3 level strikes off. There were some men working at or near the friction gear, and the remainder were working in No. 3, No.5, and No. 6 levels. From No. 3 level, to No. 6 level, along the main haulage way is1,600 yards.

On the return of the exploring party on Monday, the partly open door in the intake was increased from 9 inches to 12 inches aperture; and the pressure of the ventilation fan was again increased, so that it was then 5 inches out of 7½ full pressure. It was known since the first attempted rescue operations, that there was a heavy fall before the friction gear could be reached; and Mr. James, the general manager of the Colliery Company, gave instructions that seeing that the conditions beyond were unknown, and that the fall was so extensive and probably dangerous, nothing should be done with it, and no attempt should be made to go over it until another conference that was to be held on Thursday.

A meeting of the men was held last (Wednesday) night, in the Oddfellows Hall. The proceedings were private, but we understand that among other things that were under discussion was the question of work or no work for the men of William and Ladysmith pits. Opinions were divided. Those who have relatives in Wellington Pit do not want to work; but many other men do. A ballot to decide the matter was talked of, but no decision was come to, the question being left open. It is considered not unlikely that work will shortly be resumed.

Startling Developments.

On Tuesday, however, the three Government Inspectors were present :— Messrs. Atkinson, Abbott, and Clive; Messrs. Blair, Steele, and Henry, the colliery officials; Messrs. R. W. and W. Moore, representing Lord Lonsdale; Dr. Harris, the colliery medical officer; Messrs. Hanlon and Mathers, representing the miners; and Messrs D. Benn and Edward MacKenzie, jun. It was found that the air was so good that no "Meco" apparatus was necessary, and that they could go in with ordinary safety lamps. There is telephonic communication between the pit bottom and the manager's office at the pit top. Dr. Harris and Mr. W. Moore were left this side of the stoppings. The rest of the party went forward. The descent was made shortly after 9 o'clock. Before long there was a rumour in the town that one of the bodies had been found. When the exploring party came up about half-past one, Dr. Harris was busy with the pit top hands preparing for the taking down of disinfectants and other things necessary on the recovery of the bodies. He was reticent as to the grounds on which he formed his opinion, but in answer to inquiries said that he had reason to believe that before the end of the week they would be well forward with the work of recovering the bodies.

First Bodies Discovered.

Mr. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector, made the following statement to the reporters :—

"We went down to the friction gear, and satisfied ourselves that the fire was out, and in the course of our examination we found two dead bodies. Then we went further in-bye on the main road until we were stopped by a fall, upon which we came out, and arranged for men to go in and take down the stoppings, so as to let more air into the pit, and also make good the road so far as we travelled, and secure of falls. We are going back to-morrow to make further exploration."

Asked if the patent breathing apparatus had to be used, the manager (Mr. Steele) replied in the negative. They took the helmets in with them, but the air was so good that they were not required, and they travelled with ordinary safety lamps.

The Inspector added that the party went a distance of 490 yards beyond the friction gear, and then came to a fall which blocked the way. They found both air crossings in No. 3 North blown out, and there were evident signs of a considerable explosion having come out of No. 3 North.

Mr. Blair said :— "We found the bodies one on the north side, and one on the south side, near the friction gear. They were covered with material, and appeared to have been scorched by the fire, but not badly. It was impossible to identify them, and they will not be brought out until to-morrow. I cannot say whether the mine is altogether free of gas, but as far as we went, and we got to No. 4 North before being stopped by the fall, the air was quite good."

Other authoritative statements give additional particulars. The party went into the fall near to No. 3 North. The idea of a conference on Thursday was abandoned, and they travelled over and by the side of the fall, which was not so bad as was expected, and they were able to get through the old lock shop into No. 3 North. They found the two air-crossings had been blown out. It was at the first air-crossing that the first body was discovered. It was lying under a heavy baulk of wood. It was in a state of putrefaction. They went to the second air-crossing and there thought that it was not prudent to go any further. Then they came back and they went down the South Dip and afterwards crossed into the main West Dip; and they got below No. 4, but they were stopped by a heavy fall. Another body was observed in going down the Back South Dip, in the old Back Balance. That body was also in a state of advanced decomposition.

These statements show that the condition of the pit beyond the fall at the friction gear is by no means so bad and encumbered as it was expected it might possibly be. Now that beyond any doubt it was known that there was no fire, the pit was at once to be thrown fully open and the fan set on at full pressure, and every effort made to clear the way of falls. The fall that the exploring party discovered 490 yards beyond the friction gear was a very heavy one, and it may take some day to clear a passage through to No's 5 and 6 levels. In those levels there were about 110 men working at the time of the accident. The rest were in No. 3. It is now shown by unmistakable signs that the explosion occurred in No. 3 level. Dr. Harris was of opinion that they would soon recover the whole of the bodies. He had no idea, he said, that they would be found behind a door, where they had cut themselves off from the suffocating fire-products. His idea was that it would be found they had been trying to come out. In that case many of the bodies may be found covered by falls.

We are indebted to the Whitehaven Colliery Co., for the courtesy, through Mr. H. M. James, in supplying the accompanying sketch plan of the pit workings, and we have also to acknowledge the care taken by Mr. R. R. Blair to provide a drawing suitable for newspaper methods of reproduction.

The Inquest.

Mr. E. Atter, coroner for West Cumberland, is for this exceptional occasion having a special summons served by the police upon the gentlemen who will serve on the jury. If there is a reasonable probability that the whole of the bodies will be recovered before long, Mr. Atter will open the inquest on view of the first bodies found and adjourn the inquest from time to time as other bodies are found, until the full number has been recovered. Then the inquiry will be held, proceeding from day to day until it's finished. The inquest is to be opened on Friday in the Magistrates' Court House. It will ultimately be held probably in the Town Hall.

Preparations For Interment.

Months ago, the relatives of the entombed men had graves opened in the cemetery so as to be in readiness for the reception of the bodies which it was hoped at that time might have been recovered before long. These graves in the cemetery have remained open ever since. Coffins and shells have also been lying ready for this grim occasion. Dr. Harris will head the party so far as sanitation and the reception of the bodies are concerned, and his preparations have also been well forward. There will be difficulty, in all cases, if not impossibility, in identifying the remains, so far as the features or the bodies are concerned. It will have to be a peculiarity of clog or of metal button or of waist belt, or something of that kind, that will have to serve for the purpose.

William And Ladysmith Pits Stopped.

On Tuesday, the news of the finding of the bodies was soon known among the mining population as well as among the towns-people generally, and very soon there were signs of evident excitement. No further shifts of men went to work. William Pit and Ladysmith Pit were brought to a standstill. Some of the men wanted to work, but others would not. They began to parade the streets, and King-street and the Market Place were as throng as on a Saturday night. A meeting of the men was held, and it was resolved to stand idle while the bodies are being recovered. There are about 830 hands employed at William Pit, 676 underground; and there are also over 700 at Ladysmith Pit, 494 underground; making over 1,500 hands that will be unemployed while the pits stand idle. There are 116 men now being employed at Wellington Pit. When the three pits were in full work, they employed about 2,300 hands.

Identification Of The Bodies.

The bodies of the two men already recovered are unrecognisable in consequence of advanced decomposition. It is thought probable that they are the bodies of Thomas McCourt and John Dalton Lucas; but this is solely surmise, from the position in which the bodies were found. These men were shiftsmen who were employed at the friction-gear in changing tubs from No. 3 level on to the main haulage road.

It is feared that there will be the same difficulty of identifying all the bodies that are in No. 3 level. They were nearest to any possible air that might be coming in or that might remain unconsumed. Hence their decomposition, which will have been very rapid since the re-opening of the pit.

With regard to the greater number of men in No. 5 and 6 levels, these would be at the lowest parts of the pit, where the heavy carbon dioxide or "black damp," would roll down by gravitation and displace lighter air or marsh gas. This being so, unless the men cut themselves off by making a short-circuit to prevent the fire products from coming down upon them, their bodies will have been in "black damp" to the exclusion of air and will have been preserved from decomposition. In that case they may be recognisable for a time after the air reaches them, which will not be long before the search parties will have reached them also.

The difficulty about identification presents a very tangled appearance when it is remembered that relatives have purchased and prepared separate open grave spaces, and there are differences of creed and consequently of burial service, and it may be impossible to say who is Catholic and who is Protestant, or who shall be the chief mourners.

Yesterday's Developments.

No Further Bodies.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the exploring party consisted of the same gentlemen as on Tuesday, with the addition of Mr. W. Leck, Government Inspector. They went down soon after nine o'clock, and remained down until getting on to three o'clock. They had refreshments sent down to them in the meantime, and refreshments were provided for them as usual, in the manager's office, when they came up. They were able to ride in and out from the pit shaft to the place where the stopping's were, about 2¼ miles. Then they walked in with safety lamps.

The party went down the main dip, but they did not get any further than they got yesterday. They were stopped by gas, and they cannot go any further until that gas is removed, which will be done by restoration of the ventilation. All the stopping's in which are the separation doors between the two air-courses have been blown out by the first explosion - blown clean out. These will have to be renewed. Temporarily stopping's of brattice cloth will be put in, but the stopping's will have to be ultimately re-built of brick, and it will take a day or two to build them. Having explored as on the previous day to some 500 yards beyond the friction gear on the main haulage way, the party returned and were able to go for a distance of about 700 yards long No. 3 North level. The total length of No. 3 is about 1,300 yards. They found that a lot of coal had fallen from the sides and that there were one or two heavy falls up to that point. But there again they were stopped by gas. All the stopping's, both on the right side and on the left side of No. 3 North had been blown out by the explosion. Therefore there could be nothing further done in that direction until ventilation was restored. But the present idea is to bar off No. 3 for the present and push on to get the greater number of bodies in No. 5 and 6 levels.

No further bodies were discovered, but in No. 3 level the smell was such that it is probable that a number of bodies will be found under the falls that have there taken place.

The Extent Of The Fire.

It has been found that about 100 yards in length out by the friction gear was burnt out, the coal being coked for two or three feet into the solid.

Bodies Brought Out.

After all the exploring party had reached the surface, last of all, about half-past three o'clock came one and then the other of the two bodies that have been recovered. They were brought up in "shells," or rough coffins, wholly closed, and were respectfully deposited in the space provided for that purpose at the pit head.

The approaches to the pit are kept by the police, only persons having business being admitted. But at these approaches women and men are beginning to gather when it is known that the search party is due to ascend, and anxiously wait for news. The men's representatives, however, are daily of the party, and thus the mining population has a ready and reliable means of information.

Representation Of The Men.

Some time ago the Whitehaven Miners' Union resolved that their agent and delegate should be instructed to arrange to have three representatives of the men to accompany each shift of exploring and working men in search of the bodies. These men were to be paid by the Union 7s a shift. This arrangement did not appear to have been carried out on Tuesday; and the subject was one of some discussion. It appears that the Colliery Company have no objection to the men sending their representatives along with the parties. These additional shifts have been put to work in the main roads. But as the men are already represented by Messrs. Hanlon and Mathers, who are at liberty to go with the party at any time; and as these other men would not be engaged in actual exploration work it was not thought necessary to have these additional representatives of the men. However, Mr. Hanlon yesterday informed our representative that he was endeavouring to arrange the matter if it could be arranged.

The News At Kells.

Great excitement was caused in the Kells district on Tuesday afternoon, when it became known that some of the bodies of the entombed miners had been found in the Wellington Pit. There was a great rush of the villagers to the pit top only to be disappointed, as no bodies up to the time of writing had been brought to the surface. Yesterday (Wednesday) most of Kells residents drew their blinds, and a great gloom seems to be cast over the village. There are sixteen men and boys entombed belonging to the Kells district.

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.