Durham Mining Museum - Local Records Extracts (original) (raw)

1840

January 8. — An explosion of gas occurred in Woodhouse Close colliery, near Bishop Auckland, by which Mr. Michael Robson Elliott, the principal viewer, was killed, and several other persons were much scorched. [_LRL_]

March 5. — Coal, of excellent quality, was obtained at Framwellgate Moor Colliery, and the first cart-load was brought into Durham. The workmen were plentifully regaled on the occasion. [_LRL_]

March 21. — The John Garrow, Cap. J. Wilson, an iron vessel of 800 tons, calculated to carry 40 keels of coals, arrived in the river Tyne; when she entered the narrows she was drawing ten feet water. From the time of her arrival she continued to excite much curiosity; part of her standing rigging was made of wire, and except her top and decks, she was exclusively made of iron. Captain Wilson ordered, that parties visiting her should pay one shilling each, which should be given to the "Shipwreck society." The vessel is named after the principal in the firm in Liverpool, who are her owners. The John Garrow loaded in the Tyne for Bombay, and was the first iron vessel which had entered the port. [_LHTB_]

March 21. — The Thornley Coal company (co. of Durham) completed a sinking to a seam of coal never before worked in the district. It lies at a distance of eighty fathoms below the five-quarter seam, and turned out to be of first-rate quality, closely resembling the Hutton seam, in the neighbourhood, and is four feet in thickness. The discovery of this seam is of great importance, not only to the owners of this colliery, but to all the neighbouring collieries and to the country generally, affording, as there is reason to believe, a supply of excellent fuel for several generations. [_LHTB_]

March 30. — Monday, an explosion occurred in the Old Willington pit, by which three men and five boys were much burnt, one of them so severely that he died within a few hours after he was got out. At the time of the accident there were 130 men and boys in the mine, so that had not the explosion been confined to one place, the consequences might have been very destructive. The accident was caused by blasting the coal. [_LHTB_]

June. — About the middle of this month, a workman connected with the St. Helen's colliery, in the county of Durham, repaired to the bottom of the shaft, after the labour of the day was over. Not finding the rope at the bottom he actually commenced ascending the conductors in the shaft, which is 130 yards deep, and in a very short time gained the bank! The individual who performed this rash and daring act was named Nixon; and although of dwarfish stature, effected what probably not one man in a thousand would dare to attempt. it need hardly be added that he received a severe reprimand for his conduct. Had the engineer arrived at the top of the shaft, he would instantly have sent the cages down, which would have dashed the daring aspirant to the bottom and killed him immediately, as he could not possibly have escaped, there being but enough room for the cages to pass and repass. [_LHTB_]

June 2. — The opening of the West Durham railway which commences at Byer's Green, near Bishop Auckland, and joins the Clarence railway near Black Gate, took place, with an imposing procession, consisting of several wagons of coal from different collieries in the neighbourhood, a number of carriages filled with the proprietors of the railway and other gentlemen, and headed by a band of music from Stockton. Numerous banners and flags, with suitable inscriptions, were displayed on the occasion, and large groups of spectators, at various places on the line of road, enlivened the scene by loud cheers as the procession moved along. [_LHTB_]

June 18. — Thursday, melancholy and fatal accident occurred at Hartley colliery, one of the boilers exploding at the Mill pit, whereby two lives were lost, and one of the workmen slightly scalded. The boiler had been "off" for two or three days, for the customary cleansing and inspection and on Thursday, the usual hands pumped the water into her, and the furnace-man fired her. A strong southerly wind had been blowing all the morning, and caused the fire to burn more briskly than common. The consequence was, the steam "balled off" sooner than the engine-man anticipated. He ascended the ladder for the purpose of opening the steam valve, but ere he reached it, the boiler (weighing from six to seven tons) was forced into the air to a height of from forty to fifty feet, and alighted in an easterly direction, about twenty yards from its former position, completely rent asunder at the bottom. The boiler being thrown to this height and distance, proved satisfactorily the strength of the plate; for had it been weak in any place, the force of the steam would have burst it at once, without moving the boiler from its situation. Showers of bricks, broken pipes, metal, and scalding water fell in all directions; and the furnace-man, John Wilson, was so severely scalded and bruised, that he died in a few hours afterwards. James Taylor, the engine-man, from being so close to the boiler, was thrown amongst the ruins with great violence, and was invisible to the anxious spectators for a few minutes, and when the steam had cleared away, he was seen crawling out from amongst the hot bricks, completely disfigured. It is a matter of surprise that he was not killed on the spot, but, as it was, he was carried home, nearly insensible, by his brother, and lingered in great agony until the Monday following, when he died. Verdict, accidental death. [_LHTB_]

July 20. — Monday, the first cargo of coals from the Andrews House colliery were conveyed along the Brandling Junction railway. A number of ladies and gentlemen, with the Whickham band, met by appointment at the company's station in Greene's field, at 10 o'clock, where the Brandling engine, and several passenger carriages, with upwards of 40 wagons of coal from the new colliery, were ready to receive them, the whole decorated with a variety of flags, &c. At about a quarter past ten, the train started, amid the cheers of the spectators, and reached Shields a little before 11 o'clock, where the schooner Lochiel, of Inverness, was stationed under the drop, ready to receive her cargo. Everything being arranged, the first wagon was let down amid the firing of cannon, and her loading (upwards of 4 keels) was completed in about an hour! The captain of the Lochiel proceeded to Newcastle by the two o'clock train, for the custom-house — cleared his vessel — and proceeded to sea by the evening tide. Thus, the coal which had left the pit-mouth in the morning, was conveyed fourteen miles along the railway — shipped — and taken to sea on the same day. At two o'clock, the company returned with perhaps the largest train that ever passed along the line, consisting of upwards of seventy wagons and carriages, extending considerably more than a quarter of a mile. [_LHTB_]

July 28. — Died, at Cowes, Isle of Wight, aged 49, John George, Earl of Durham, Viscount Lambton, &c. From the hour of his lordship�s arrival at Cowes, there appeared no hopes of his recovery, and he had been daily getting weaker, but his medical attendants considered he was not in immediate danger, and that the acute disease with which he was afflicted had been changed into chronic. His lordship had not eaten anything for a week past, excepting a little fruit, and had only taken beef tea. His lady was his sole and constant attendant night and day, no one else even entered the room. On Tuesday morning, he was taken worse, and Mr. Day, of Cowes, was called in; he immediately pronounced him dying — that he could not live five hours. At ten minutes past nine his lordship expired. The noble earl succeeded to the family property when only five years of age, on the death of his father. Soon after attaining his majority, in 1813, he became a candidate for a seat in the house of Commons, a vacancy for his native county having been caused by the death of Sir H. V. Tempest, he was returned without opposition. From that until he was called to the House of Lords, he continued to represent the county. In 1820, Richard Wharton, esq., was brought forward in opposition to him, but, after an exciting contest, Mr. Lambton was returned by an overwhelming majority, the numbers being Lambton, 1,731 ; Powlett, 1,137; Wharton, 874. Previous to this election, Sir Thomas H. Liddell (afterwards Lord Ravensworth) wrote to Mr. Lambton, strongly condemning his political sentiments. The letter concluded with the following: "Your conduct, both in parliament and in the county of Durham, appear to me so dangerous and likely to do such incalculable mischief, that, even were you my own brother, I should oppose you by all the means in my power." Mr. Lambton returned the following answer

Dear Sir Thomas, — In answer to yours, I beg to say I feel gratitude for your frankness, compassion for your fears, little dread of your opposition, and no want of your support.

Yours truly,

J. G. LAMBTON.

In 1821 he propounded a scheme of Parliamentary reform, by which the country was to be divided, for electoral purposes, into districts containing 25,000 inhabitants each, by whom one member was to be chosen. In 1828 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Durham, and in 1833 was created a viscount and earl. Shortly after, he went on a special mission to St. Petersburgh, to attempt to alleviate the sufferings of the people of Poland. In 1835 he was appointed ambassador to Russia. In 1838 he was sent to Canada as Lord High Commissioner, but he returned after a very short sojourn, not feeling satisfied with the support he receivod from the Government. His lordship married, first, on the 1st of January, 1812, Miss Harriet Cholmondeley, who died in 1815; and secondly, Lady Louisa Elizabeth Grey, eldest daughter of the Earl and Countess Grey. He had issue by his first marriage three daughters, all of whom are dead, and by his second five children, two sons and three daughters. His eldest son, Charles William, having died at the age of 13, his second son, George Frederick, succeeded to the family honours. The news of his death created a profound sensation, and, on the arrival of his remains at Sunderland, on the 3rd of August, all business was suspended, and nearly every house exhibited some token of mourning. The 10th of August being fixed for the interment of his lordship�s remains, a deep and melancholy interest was excited. At Chester-le-Street, Durham, Sunderland, and South Shields, the shops were entirely closed, and the bells of Newcastle and Gateshead tolled from eleven to three o�clock. The preparations at the castle for the sad event were on the most ample scale. Refreshments were set out in the grand saloon, and as the company entered through the great hall hatbands and gloves were presented to them. In the great dining room the remains of the noble earl lay in state. This apartment presented a most impressive appearance, and great numbers were admitted to view the solemn scene. The outer coffin was of the richest description, being formed of the finest Genoa crimson velvet, relieved with gold ornaments. At half-past two the procession was formed, 140 of the tenants and agents of the estate preceding the hearse and four mourning coaches, about 300 Freemasons and 175 carriages following the body. The procession was upwards of a mile in length. The pall bearers were the Marquis of Londonderry, Sir Hedworth Williamson, bart., C. W. Bigge, esq., H. T. M. Witham, esq., Lord Ravensworth, W. T. Salvin, esq., Dr. Headlam, and Colonel Tower. The funeral service was read by the Hon. and Rev. F. R. Grey, and made a deep impression on the assemblage. The earl made his will in September, 1837, previous to his leaving this country for Canada, bequeathing the whole of his property, of every description, to the Countess of Durham, leaving her, also, sole executrix, a striking proof of his affectionate esteem and confidence in her. [_LRF_]

August. — During this month a seam of coal, 4 feet 2 inches thick, was won at Greencroft colliery. [_LRL_]

September 29. — As William Patterson, engineman of Cramlington colliery, was examining the safety valve of one of the boilers at that place, he felt a peculiar pricking in the fingers. On October 2nd, he again felt the same sensation, and again on the 3rd, when he perceived that the feeling was accompanied by the issue of a spark from the metal. The phenomenon was soon noised abroad, and on October 11th, Mr. H. Lee Pattinson, a well-known practical chemist, examined the apparatus, and found that the whole boiler was an immense electrical machine, and that a powerful current of positive electricity was evolved at certain points. The facts having been published, much attention was drawn to the matter, and Mr. W. G. Armstrong, of Newcastle, who was the first to experimentise with a locomotive engine, obtained exactly similar results, and he subsequently constructed a "hydro-electric generator" in the form of a small boiler, by which extraordinarily powerful effects were produced. [_LRL_]

October 23. — A fatal accident occurred at Farnacres colliery, adjoining the Ravensworth estate, and within a short distance of Gateshead. The banksman, shortly before one o'clock in the morning, hearing a loud noise in the pit, threw a stone down the shaft, and found that it fell amongst water, he then shouted, but received no answer, and in a few seconds, the shaft — which is twenty fathoms deep — was completely filled. Five men were in the pit, all of whom perished. A powerful steam-engine was almost immediately put into operation, but so great was the flow of water, that notwithstanding the engine being worked continually, and capable of pumping 740 gallons in a minute, it did not prove effectual in clearing the mine so as to lead to the recovery of the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers for nearly a month afterwards. The first body — that of William Wilkinson — was found on the 20th November, and an inquest was held upon it on the following day. It appeared from the evidence, that, at the time of the accident, the pit was never considered in a better state, and there was not the least apprehension of danger by any one, the men considering themselves as safe as in their own houses. About two hours before the accident occurred, there was a shift of men, and the pit was reported at bank to be in a much drier state than usual. There were only two witnesses examined, the jury being satisfied that the deceased met his death by the sudden inundation of the pit with water. Verdict — Accidental death. Mr. Forster, colliery viewer of Bishopwearmouth, explained the mode in which the pit had been worked, and showed that every proper precaution had been used to prevent the loss of life ; but since the accident, he had come to the conclusion, that as the Farnacres flats had been worked some eighty years previous, and as there were neither plans nor memoranda preserved to ascertain the nature of the workings, the present shaft had been sunk on a pillar of coal, and in consequence the water had suddenly rushed from the old workings and overwhelmed the unfortunate men. The bodies of the other sufferers, — James Rankin, James Heslop, William Wetherby, and Andrew Evans, were not recovered till some months after the accident, when (an inquest having been held upon Wilkinson) it was not considered necessary that any further inquiry should be made. [_LHTB_]

December. — An event, displaying the extreme point to which certain impressions can be carried, took place within a few miles of Haydon Bridge. Ann Laing, housekeeper with Thomas Errington, an agent to the lessees of Stublick Colliery, retired to rest, nothing being perceived in her appearance, denoting that she was labouring under any mental infirmity. Errington awoke about two o�clock in the morning, by his housekeeper shaking him violently, and telling him that she could not succeed in cutting her legs off with the axe, so that he must get up and take them off with the saw. On examination, it was found that the unfortunate woman had inflicted on one of her legs no fewer than thirteen cuts, the bone being splintered in several places. Her other leg was likewise severely injured. On enquiring into the cause of her so injuring herself, the only reason which she assigned was, that she could not enter heaven with her feet on. [_LRF_]

December 7. — The new dock at Hartlepool was opened with great rejoicing. The dock was commenced in March, 1839, under the auspices of the Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, Mr. S. Robinson, engineer, and the undertaking comprised a tidal harbour, twenty acres in extent, and two wet docks, each upwards of seven acres. The works, both of the harbour and docks, were executed with great vigour, and nine coal drops were finished at the time of opening. The first vessel which entered the dock was the brig Thomas Rowell, and her entrance was effected with flying colours and numerous salutes of cannon, accompanied with immense cheering from the assembled spectators. Boat racing took place during the afternoon, and four hundred workmen, in the employ of the company, were regaled with a substantial dinner. In the evening, the shareholders dined together at Southern's Hotel, G. H. Wilkinson, Esq., of Harperley, and R. H. Allan, Esq., of Blackwell, performing the duties of chairman and vice-chairman. [_LRL_]

• LHTB — Local Historian's Table Book of Remarkable Occurrences Connected with the Counties of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland and Durham by M.A. Richardson. Published in five volumes in 1844.
• LRF — Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by T. Fordyce, published in 1867
• LRL — Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by John Latimer, published in 1857