The Following Incidents Did Not Result In Death
But Illustrates The Severity Of An Ignition

From the Nottingham Journal Week Ending 12-Aug-1845

Coal pit Accident

Yesterday week an explosion took place in a coal mine, known by the name of Knowles' pit (Portland) near Kirkby; four persons viz. George Peach George Dallison, John Limb, and James Knowles were severely burnt but hopes are entertained of their recovery. A mule and seven asses were dreadfully injured and are expected to die.

A month later at Skegby this event occurred.

Nottingham Journal Week Ending 12-Sep-1845

Foul Air In A Pit

An accident occurred on Tuesday last at a pit belonging to John Dodsley esq, Near Skegby which had been standing for some time. It was just got to work again and on Tuesday two men (Christopher White of Skegby and Henry Smith of Hucknall) were descending when their candle set fire to the foul air, which burnt them very dreadfully.

Pits did not work a regular five days a week only turning enough coal to fill orders ,when trade was slack they did not work, when they did, a working day could be between nine to fourteen hours.

Blackdamp was another noxious mine gas, heavier than air and consisting of several gasses mainly Carbon Dioxide, and found at the floor level and above, death was caused by asphyxiation this gas usually formed in poorly ventilated areas of the workings.

A father and son, Peter and Samuel Smith were overcome from this gas at Skegby Wharf pit in October 1807. Three months later on 17 January 1808 Samuel Kirk suffered the same fate at a pit in Strelley. Another death, that of Joseph Burgess occurred at Wollaton in May 1827.

In August 1840 Thomas Edwards aged 18 descended into a newly sunk shaft in the Strelley area which was 19 feet deep, on reaching the bottom he was overcome by blackdamp and collapsed to the floor and into the deepest concentration of the gas. Another collier named William Weelecker was lowered on the chains to assist him. He too was affected by the gas on reaching the bottom, but he managed to raise Mr Edwards onto the chains, but as they were being raised the effects of the gas caused him to black out and he released his hold on his affected comrade who fell back into the gas accumulation and died. The pit had to be pumped clear of the gas by an air pump and pipes before the body of Mr Edwards was able to be recovered. This type of accident was also responsible for many deaths to people sinking wells.

Wherever the coal or strata was difficult to bring down by picks or wedges, gunpowder was sometimes used to assist in the process. A hole was drilled into the coal or rock using a hand operated drill, packets of gunpowder called “Germans” with a fuse attached were then pushed into the hole and the fuse lit, with the men retiring to a safe place until the shot exploded. Premature explosions were occasionally caused by hitting the powder too hard when ramming the shot. The gunpowder was kept in a box until needed at the working area.

Two men died following explosions whist preparing the shots, Benjamin Wilkinson 21, at a pit in the Kimberley area and 31 year old Joseph Bradley at the Eastwood pit 4 April 1850.

Deaths later than 1855 resulted in individuals dropping lighted candles into open boxes of powder and in one instance by the placing of a lighted candle on the open lid of a powder box, the said candle fell into the powder with a fatal result.

Once the coal was on the surface it was transported usually a barge on a canal for delivery to central unloading point. Gang wagons that ran on wooden rails were pulled by horses being the usual means of transport.

John Hill a married man and the father of five children was run over by wagons at a pit unknown in November 1826.

The Turkey Field pit was the scene of three similar fatalities. 14 year old William Calman was running alongside the horse in December 1839 when he slipped and fell under the wheels of the first wagon. Another boy Samuel Stephenson 12 was standing alongside the rails on 8 March 1845 when three wagons ran down an incline, the third wagon became derailed and turned over, and Samuel was buried under the dislodged coal and killed.

In October 1852, Thomas Webster 17 was crushed between full runaway coal wagons at Turkey Field pit.

Thomas Sharpe 11, had suffered a similar fate in December 1842 at the new Babbington/ Cinderhill pit he when was crushed between two wagons.

Underground roadway heights and widths were kept to a minimum, dependant on the particular seam height many pits had roadways between 3 to 4- 6 inches in height and a width of approximately 3-4 feet, with the introduction of tubs and horses to pull them it became necessary enlarge them but they were still very tight and the cause of many haulage road deaths when people became crushed between the tub and roadside/roof or run over by tubs.

Victims Of This Type Of Accident Were

Tomas Bale 20. August 1834 run over by tubs Turkey Field pit
James Shimmel 9, March 1839 run over by tubs Skegby pit.
Henry Massey 11, Jun 1845 crushed by tubs pit not known.
Jonathan Seven 13, August 1846 crushed by tubs Babbington/Cinderhill pit, another tragedy befell this family a year later at the same pit, when 21 year old Benjamin Seven brother to Jonathan died in September 1847 when he was entangled in the machinery of the underground haulage wheel.

Samuel Carrington 13 crushed by tubs Babbington /Cinderhill pit 14 January 1847.
Stephen Bostock January 1852 crushed by tubs Turkey Field pit.

In 21 January 1845 a boiler on the surface of Babbington /Cinderhill pit exploded demolishing the whole building in was enclosed in, several men were severely injured by the blast with William Parker 36 losing his life when hit by a brick.

Falls Of Roof

Always the major cause of fatal accidents in mines, when the coal has been extracted adequate supports had to be used to support the coal when being hewed and the exposed roof on the coal face. Likewise the roadways that were created as the face advanced.

In the earliest mines the roads were often the seam height usually between three and four feet in height. This period was when boys dragged the corves behind them to the pit bottom, but as the demand for coal grew and the roadways became hundreds of yards distant from the shaft, tubs were introduced underground, running on rails and pulled by horses or asses. All supports were usually of wood, though roadways could be supported by metal girders with wooden props either side. On the face a girder supported the entrance to the face with wooden bars and props set at three feet intervals holding up the roof, behind the face packs built of stone and waste gave additional support A typical roadway would be between five and six feet in height and six feet wide. The term a fall, could mean a single stone or piece of coal falling or a weight of many tons.

Until the turn of the century a coal face was worked by the pillar and stall method, where usually twenty yards either side of the roadway, the coal was hewn, the stalls ran parallel to each other with a pillar of coal the same distance left between them. After advancing about fifty yards the stalls were connected and this pillar of coal was often extracted on the retreat. As the distance from the shaft side increased, lumps of clay were stuck onto the woods props at set intervals, and candles placed in them this being the only illumination apart from each individuals candle/oil lamp.

As the ground above the workings settled, breaks or slips in the roof caused falls on the face and roadways, additionally a derailed tub striking a roadside prop caused many falls with often the ganger and his horse being buried beneath the debris. An additional hazard due to the poor illumination was that many ponies went blind and a large number of miners suffered from Nystagmus a condition that caused uncontrollable movements of the eyes, this condition occurred usually after working underground for many years.

Apart from fatalities many accidents occurred involving major bone injury, fractured limbs spine and skull, if not fatal this type of injury could lead to impairment for life i.e. paralysis, limb amputation, or disablement. The only protection that men at work wore was a cloth cap which was useless if stuck on the head by falling mineral, likewise ordinary boots or shoes were no protection to foot injuries. There were no first aid facilities underground and apart from Nottingham, there were no hospitals to treat injuries until later in the century. Casualties were usually treated by the local doctor; many of the deaths that occurred were from complications following the original injury.

During the period this book covers there was no compensation for death or injury, families were often made destitute through the loss of the main income earner, widows with large numbers of children were the hardest hit. All were poor and a pauper s funeral for the victims of accidents was the likely result.

Although not a mining accident the following incident makes intriguing reading, this report was printed in the Nottingham Journal Friday 13 June 1840, at that time a weekly issue.

Mysterious Affair At Brinsley

On Tuesday the 2d, Wednesday the 3d, and (by adjournment) on the 9th instant, an Inquisition was taken before C, Swann. Gent. Coroner, at the house of Elizabeth Smeeton, the sign of the Horse and Groom Greasley, on view of the body of William Oates, aged 71.

The deceased who was a labourer, resided at Old Brinsley, and lived alone. On Monday the 1st instant, his body was found lifeless at the bottom of a coal pit, with his limbs broken, and other appearances of personal violence-in short that he had been murdered. The last time he had been seen alive was on the previous Thursday at 5 o’ clock in the evening.

On Friday morning no notice was taken of his non-appearance by the neighbours, as it supposed he had gone out to work; but at ten o’clock that night, as he did not return, his house was entered, when it was discovered that the window had been forced, a pane of glass having been taken out, and the dwelling completely ransacked; the drawers were drawn out, a cupboard door forced and the lid of a box, which he usually kept locked, so far wrenched ,as to enable a person to get his hand in, and take out a pocket book. No property was missing, except, as it is thought, about five or six sovereigns. No evidence could be adduced as to how the deceased got into the pit; but there is strong suspicion, although not sufficient to warrant his committal, against a man named Slack, a journeyman shoe-maker to Hopkinson, residing at the next door. The prevailing idea is, that this fellow forced Oates into the pit, and the strongest indignation and abhorrence is, in consequence, manifested towards him, especially as some sovereigns were seen in his possession after the old man was missing. The deceased is understood to be in possession of a little property, and in what might be termed easy circumstances. The injuries upon the body it is not improbable, might have been occasioned by falling into the pit which is one hundred yards deep. After the most minute and patient investigation (during which Reed, a companion of Slack’s was kept in custody for prevarication), the jury returned the following verdict;-“Found dead in a coal pit, in the hamlet of Moorgreen, but how he came to be in the pit no evidence appears to prove; and the jury is of opinion that the deceased’s dwelling house at Brinsley, has been forcibly broken into by some person or persons unknown, with a felonious intent”.

The pit referred to was either Beggarlee, at 104 yards deep or Newthorpe, at 100 yards both were owned by the Barber Walker Co.

Murder? Suicide? or Accidental? The mystery remains unsolved.