SWALLOW PIT FIRE – COAL-PIT ON FIRE — FOUR LIVES LOST – Saturday September 10, 1859

Another of those alarming casualties which are so frequent in the coal mining districts occurred on Thursday at the Mosbro’ Moor (Silkstone Main) Colliery, Derbyshire the property of Messrs. Swallow. At about three o’clock in the afternoon a dense volume of smoke was seen by those above issuing from the drawing or up-cast shaft, which is the shaft used for the purpose of letting down the colliers and drawing up the coals and men.

 

Great alarm was immediately excited in the neighbourhood, as it was known that about 30 persons, principally lads, were in the pit, and it was supposed either that there had been an explosion or that the pit was on fire. Hundreds of persons were soon upon the scene of the accident, including many of the relatives and friends of those in the pit. respecting whose fate the utmost anxiety was of course awakened.

 

Measures were taken as quickly as possibly to rescue the unfortunate sufferers, but at the outset very serious difficulties had to be encountered.

 

The up-cast shaft, through which the hands are drawn up, could not be used as a means of exit, as it was full of smoke and probably on fire.  The down-cast or pumping shaft which is used for purposes of drainage, and is much smaller than the other, had therefore to be resorted to in the emergency. In their dilemma the men and lads all made their way through the working of the coal to the bottom of the other shaft. This they found comparatively free from smoke, and here they awaited the assistance to which they confidently expected.

 

 

Friday Afternoon’ Six O’clock

Two corpses have been brought, out of the pit, and two more remain to be recovered. The names of those whose bodies have been recovered are Naboth Kirby, age 19, Hugh Bird, aged 10. Kirby was killed by falling down the pit, and it is supposed that Bird was killed by Kirby falling on him.

The two who remain to be recovered, and who there is in doubt are by this time dead, are Charles Meggitt, aged 12 and Henry Stephenson, aged 12.  Another attempt is to be made this evening to recover their bodies, but the task is very dangerous and difficult, in consequence of the fire still raging in pit.

Shortly before twelve another explosion took place.  Not withstanding this, as soon as the shaft was cleared a little Travis was got up from the stage, where he had been located, and subsequently. Blackburn was also got up.  Blackburn’s report was favourable, be stating that after the second explosion he had heard the men shouting in the pit. It was not, however, considered safe for any persons to descend into the pit, and the “horse” was lowered empty for those to avail themselves of it who were fortunate enough to be at the pit bottom.  In this way all those who were in the pit were got up, except five, who still remain in the pit.

 

Between eight and nine o’clock yesterday morning one of the men thus brought up stated that three of those in the pit were so badly hurt that they could not stir, while the lad Kirby and another named Henry Stephenson were dead.

 

 

 

 

 

The Standard, Saturday September 10, 1859.
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