FOUR PERSON’S DROWNED AT PLUMBLEY PIT POND.

A most lamentable affair took place on the Plumbley Colliery premises, belonging to Messrs. J. and G. Wells, Limited, on Saturday evening, whereby four persons lost their lives. About seven o’clock on Saturday night it was rumoured that some children and the engineman at Plumbley Pit had been drowned in one of the engine ponds. The excitement was very great, and hundreds of people, especially from the top end of the town, hastened to the place.

 

The colliery is nearly a mile distant from Eckington and is situated at the foot of the ” High Woods,” in the beautiful valley which extends from the lower part of Eckington to Ridgeway and Norton. Three children residing in Sitwell street, Eckington (two girls and a boy), named Esther Riley, aged 11 years ; Percy Riley, aged eight years (the children of the late Samuel Riley, who died three years ago) ; and Rebecca Godson, aged about nine years, the daughter of William Godson, a labourer, of Caythorpe, near Grantham, who was on a visit lo her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. William Pitchfork, 88, Sitwell street, went for a walk on Saturday afternoon, and after enjoying themselves in the wood came to the reserve engine pond, which was still covered with about three inches of ice.

 

It is supposed that the children, seeing the ice, were tempted to go on to the pond and slide, and that the rotten ice gave way. Their cries attracted the attention of the engine- man, Alfred Williamson, aged 23 years, who was on duty about 20 yards away, who although he knew the pond contained about 6ft. of water and 2ft. or 3ft. of mud below it, bravely entered the pond, and in attempting to rescue the drowning children lost his own life. Two youths named Rowland Taylor and Edward Redfern, aged 14 and 16 respectively, were in the Wood lane, about 400 yards away, and hearing the screams ran to the spot, and found Williamson and the children drowning amongst the broken ice.

 

Prior to entering the water Williamson had hurriedly tied along piece of rope round himself, the end of which was on the bank, this the youths instantly sized, but in attempting to pull him to the side the rope became detached from the unfortunate man’s body, and he went down. Taylor and Redfern then went to the Eckington Police Station, and reported the matter to Superintendent Faulkner, who with other officers, was quickly on the scene.

 

Soon afterwards Mr. W. E. Wells, the director of the collieries; Mr. F. Hardwick, manager; Mr. H. Burgin, under manager • Mr. T. Evans, engineer; Dr. West Jones and other willing helpers arrived and there were soon considerably over 1000 people on the premises. The work of recovering the bodies was one of extreme danger and difficulty. Darkness came on, and fires were lit for light. Williamson’s body was brought to bank by a young miller named Arthur Fairley, after strenuous efforts, lasting over an hour, and great risk.

 

The children could not be found until about 2ft of water had been let out of the pond, when they were brought out by another young miner, named James Silvers. The bodies were removed to the club room at the Prince of Wales’ Hotel, Eckington, late on Saturday night. The inquest will be held this (Monday) morning at 9.30 o’clock. Much sympathy is being expressed with the parent, of the poor children, and the widowed mother of Alf. Williamson, whose sole support he was. Williamson was greatly respected by all who knew him.

 

He was a member of the late Eckington Works Brass Band and for some time past he has been a member of the Mosbro Band. He resided at Mosbro’. The mother of the two Rileys was also a widow until a few months ago, when she was married to George Peat.

 

© BNA – Sheffield Independent – March 16th, 1895