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

7th October 1910

The Whitehaven Pit Disaster

Inquests were opened yesterday on ten of the 16 bodies found in the Wellington Pit which were unidentified on Thursday. This leaves only six unidentified. The evidence shows that the numbered lamps are not to be relied upon as means of identification, and that even articles of clothing are misleading. The men appear to have seized the lamp nearest them, and the same applies to much of the clothing.

Another exploration of Wellington Pit took place Yesterday, the party consisting of Messrs. Atkinson, Abbott, and Clive, Government inspectors ; Messrs. Blair, Steel, and Henry, colliery officials ; Mr. Richards, M.P., and Mr. Herbert Smith representing the National Federation, and Mr. J. Mathers, Whitehaven miners' delegate. The party penetrated into No. 3 North level, where the explosion occurred, and where the remaining 49 bodies are. In the old cross-cut at the bottom of No. 2 brake five bodies were found. That brings the total number of bodies found to 92. These five bodies were not covered by debris, but they were al charred and burnt.

So far the indications are that the greatest force of the blast from the explosion was between the two brakes and from the east or high side of the engine plane. Between there and the cross-cut drift that was in course of being driven, and where it is possible that the source of ignition may have been — although it was said there had been no blasting for ten hours before — everything appeared to be quiet. The explorers expect to reach this drift to-day. The work of renewing the stoppings is being pushed on, and a squad of men are flattening the falls down and bringing down the hanging roof, which is dangerous. The bodies of other men were located under a heavy fall on the engine plane, not so far in as No. 2 brake.