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

17th October 1910

The Whitehaven Pit Disaster

On Saturday no exploring was done. All the dead bodies found were brought to bank, and all are identified except one. There remain ten bodies yet to find. It is thought that they are lying under heavy falls which it may take months to clear. The inquest on Tuesday will be formally adjourned until November 1.

Yesterday Mr. Blackett and Mr. Merivale for the colliery company, Mr. Richards and Mr. Smith for the federation, and Mr. Samuel Pope, barrister, for the Home Office, were among the explorers. The party went over the same ground between the two brakes, noting features already reported. In the return airway from the workings of No. 1 brake they found that for a distance of about 200 yards the wood had been on fire, and that the coal was coked. This is the third fire that has been discovered. The party found also that a big fall had been blocking the railway from No. 1. When this is levelled down the ventilation will be improved. In the meantime electric lamps have to be used.