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

1850

January 10. — Died, at Bishopwearmouth, in Bridge-street, suddenly, aged 73, William Reid Clanny, esq., M.D., F.R.S., &c. The deceased had practised in Sunderland for upwards of forty-five years with great ability and success. In 1812 he turned his attention to the cause of the disastrous calamities in coal mines, and in the course of his studies he conceived the idea of a safety lamp, greatly different, however, from that at present in use. On the 1st October, 1813, his lamp was exhibited before the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle, and in 1815 it was tried in Merrington Pit with some success, but owing to its cumbrous form it never came into use. As, however, it was not until 1815 that either Sir Humphrey Davy or Mr. Stephenson commenced their investigations on explosive mixtures, it is clear that Dr. Clanny is entitled to considerable credit for his invention, and on February 3rd, 1848, he was presented with a testimonial, value £200, by the Marquis of Londonderry and other coal owners. The deceased contributed largely to medical literature, and for his valuable works in that department he received the ribbon of the Legion of Honour and many other badges of distinction. A few days before his death Dr. Clanny presented the Literary Society of Sunderland with portraits of George III, Archdeacon Paley, the Marquis of Londonderry, Baron Cuvier, and the donor himself, the latter being from a painting by Reay, in the Town Hall, presented to the deceased by the medical profession of Sunderland. [_LRF_]

January 30. — Died, at Brancepeth Castle, Durham, aged 51, William Russell, esq. Mr. Russell succeeded his father, the rebuilder of the castle, in 1822, and was elected a representative for the county of Durham in 1828, on the elevation of Mr. Lambton to the peerage. He was again returned in 1830 and 1831, but did not offer himself after the passing of the Reform Bill. His estates devolved on his only sister, Emma Maria, who married the Hon. Gustavus Hamilton, eldest son of Viscount Boyne, and who soon after assumed the name of Russell. [_LRF_]

March 30. — A terrific gale visited the north-east coast of England, and the results were of a most, destructive character. For some weeks previous the colliers bound from London to the Tyne, had been detained in Yarmouth Roads by adverse winds, until the number of vessels there amounted to nearly 600, and on the 28th, the wind having changed, they were all liberated together. On the 29th the wind increased to a violent gale, and in the evening three vessels, the precursors of the fleet, were driven upon the rocks at Tynemouth. This morning these were followed by a Hanoverian galliot, next by a Swedish vessel, then by the Vigilant brig and the Mary Ann, of Shields, &c. By noon the gale was at its height, and the whole of the vessels having now arrived off the coast, a most extraordinary scene was witnessed as they crowded into the river. Happily there was no loss of life, but the spectacle of upwards of thirty stranded barks, some with valuable cargoes, was a most melancholy one. At Sunderland, Hartlepool, Bamburgh, Blyth, Amble, and other places, many casualties occurred, and the total loss of property was enormous: the damage at Sunderland alone being estimated at £26,000. [_LRF_]

June 5. — An explosion took place in the Wellington Pit, at Usworth, the property of Messrs. Jonassohn and Co. Nearly 160 persons were down the pit at the time, but the effects of the explosion were confined to one portion of the mine, where twelve men and a boy were killed. [_LRF_]

June 20. — The northern section of that great commercial undertaking, the south dock at Sunderland, was opened under circumstances of great ceremony and splendour. The dock was estimated to contain 260 vessels, and the half tide basin, 28. Shortly after ten o'clock G. Hudson, esq., M.P., with the directors and shareholders of the company, walked in procession from the dock-office to the ferry-boat landing, where several gaily-decked steamers were in readiness, and the flotilla, which was joined by numberless craft, entered the tidal harbour, and passed into the dock amidst immense cheering from upwards of 30,000 spectators. Two vessels, the Welcome and the Cleadon, elaborately decked with flags, were next towed in, and placed under the coal drops, where they were speedily filled with Haswell and South Hetton coals, and they were immediately succeeded by two other ships, the Don and the Susannah. The directors then landed with their friends, and sat down to an elegant entertainment, laid out in the adjoining staith, the chair being occupied by Mr. Hudson. The chairman, in complimenting the directors on their energy in carrying out the undertaking, stated that the extent of the dock was unequalled by any in the kingdom. Great rejoicings took place amongst the inhabitants generally, and the day was kept as a holiday throughout the neighbourhood. [_LRF_]

November 11. — A dreadful explosion of gas occurred in Houghton Colliery, the property of the Earl of Durham. From the close contiguity of the colliery to the town from which it derives its name, the alarm spread in all directions, and the usual quietude gave place to the greatest consternation by the report that 150 lives were destroyed, that number being down the pit at the time of the accident. A number of brave men volunteered, with the usual magnanimity displayed under such circumstances, to make an attempt to save their relatives and friends, and, after five hours arduous exertions, they succeeded in rescuing one hundred and twenty four men and boys, many of whom were in a state of insensibility, the remainder, twenty six on number, were found dead. The sufferings of the survivors, during the protracted period which elapsed before their deliverance, were of the most intense character, both bodily and mental, and the meeting between them and their disconsolate families, who had given them up as lost, will never be forgotten by those that witnessed it. The sufferers, with two exceptions, were unmarried, and the Earl of Durham ordered that every necessary relief should be afforded them. [_LRF_]

December 18. — A boiler explosion occurred at Crow Trees Colliery, Durham, by which two men lost their lives. [_LRF_]

• LRF — Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by T. Fordyce, published in 1867