A list of those who lost their lives that was included in the official report.

Bodies recovered 22nd April:-

• Charles Beresford Clamp aged 27 years, onsetter,
• Joseph Shaw aged 21years, holer,
• James Davies aged 28 years
• William Davies aged 30 years, dataller,
• John Elliott aged 40 years, dataller,
• Albert Edward Limb aged 20 years, holer,
• Thomas Gresley aged 29 years, stallman,
• Joseph King aged 30 years, stallman,
• John William Platts aged 23 years, holer and
• William Belcher aged 36 years, stallman.

The return air passing through the dams and air pipes was carefully watched and the temperature began to increase. All the bodies had been recovered from the top of No. 47 and it was evident that they had been dead for some time. There was no chance of any of the entombed workmen being alive.

Mr. Stokes stated in his report- “After careful consideration of the matter, it was decided to seal up the old return roadway and completely dam off all access to the workings by the intake and return and hermetically seal the fore.

Under these circumstances it was deemed advisable to re-open two old roads which had been abandoned for many years and leave a considerable distance between the fire and the nearest road for the future entrance of the workings. It is hoped that no unforeseen difficulty might arise to prevent the workings being reached and recovery of the bodies now lying in the mine.”

Bodies not yet recovered:-

• Pat O’Mara aged 45 years, stallman,
• Thomas Timpson aged 30 years, stallman,
• William Bostock aged 47 years, dataller,
• Edward Edwards aged 27 years, dataller,
• John William Tugby aged 16 years, driver,
• Albert Gee aged 15 years, deputy’s boy,
• John Skellington aged 31 years, dataller,
• Henry Springthorpe aged 45 years, dataller,
• John Moore aged 46 years, dataller,
• James Evans aged 57 years, dataller,
• Benjamin Wileman aged 46 years, dataller,
• Samuel Stacey aged 22 years, holer,
• James Wright aged 30 years, stallman,
• Joseph Brooks aged 30 years, stallman,
• Wyatt, Henry, aged 41, Stallman
• James Wyatt aged 35 years, stallman,
• Jacob Wyatt aged 41 years, stallman,
• Thomas Berniston aged 45 years, stallman,
• Joseph Wilson aged 43 years,
• William C. Moore aged 30 years, stallman,
• John Richards aged 29 years, stallman,
• William Percival aged 28 years, stallman,
• William Gresley aged 60 years, stallman,
• Lewis Smith aged 24 years, holer and
• William Bradshaw aged 63 years, stallman.

At the inquest and inquiry into the disaster it emerged that the mine had previous trouble with gob fires. On the 14th December 1893 there was an entry in the Report book that stink was observed in the return airway at the top of Old 94 and men filled the hot stuff out and a brick stopping was put in. On 23rd January 1894 a fire was thought to be in the Old 81 and a brick stopping was put in and there were subsequent reports up to the disaster.

The jury returned the following
written verdict:-
“We agree that the men were suffocated by carbon monoxide gas, from a fire which originated in the main road in No.5 Pit at the Whitwick Colliery, on April 19th 1898 in consequence of the faulty nature of the strata.

The fire travelled to the timber in theroof from the gob.

We agree that we have not had sufficient evidence before us to prove culpable negligence on the part of any one person. We agree to recommend greater precautions to be exercised by the more regular attendance of the head officials upon any site wherever gob fires exist, and that steel girders be used instead of timber wherever practicable. Also that all dangerous places in any main road be encased by brick inverted arches. Also that all return airways be traversed more frequently by men and boys.”