The Colliery Disaster In Durham

The explosion which occurred in the Brockwell seam of Brancepeth Colliery, Durham, on Monday night, has resulted in a greater loss of life than was at first supposed. It appeared yesterday that there were 27 men and boys in the pit when the explosion took place, and only seven were rescued. Five of the dead bodies found yesterday identified as follows :— John Dawson, stoneman, single ; Thomas Nicholson, stoneman, married, no family ; Joseph Forster, shifter, single ; John Rogerson, master shifter, married, with family ; and Ralph Lawson, a deputy, married, with family. From Tuesday morning to yesterday afternoon the explorers failed to reach the men and boys who still remained in the pit. In addition to those whose names were given in The Times yesterday, Michael Turner, shifter, married, with family, Joseph Brigham, shifter, single, and two others were in the mine. No hope is entertained that any of the 14 imprisoned men can be alive. The bodies found on Tuesday were brought to the surface during the night, and it was ascertained that the man whose remains were so dreadfully mutilated was Joseph Forster. The bodies of Rogerson and Nicholson were much burnt, but death in each case appears to have been instantaneous. Much difficulty has been experienced in the compilation of a full list of the entombed men.

Yesterday afternoon the exploring parties had travelled two miles into the workings from the shaft, and two bodies, supposed to be those of Cooke and Hodgson, were seen, but could not be reached at that time. The restoration of the ventilation and the cutting through the wreckage and places where the roof had fallen in occupied all the energies of the explorers, and progress was necessarily slow. Many hours were taken to get 200 yards further towards where most of the missing men were supposed to be, but a continuous obstruction was met with near the stables, which could not be reached. It is believed that the horses and ponies, about 20 in number, perished. There was no lack of volunteers for the work of exploration and a large number of mining experts attended to assist. Mr. John Wilson, M.P., (Mid Durham) again went down into the pit yesterday, and Sir H. Havelock-Allan, M.P., paid a visit of condolence to the bereaved. The immediate cause of the explosion cannot yet be ascertained.

The inquest on the bodies was opened yesterday at the Colliery Institute by Mr. J. T. Proud, coroner. Mr. J. Proud and Mr. R. D. Proud, of Bishop Auckland, attended on behalf of Messrs. Straker and Love, the owners of the pit, and Mr. J. H. Straker himself was also present. The coroner, addressing the jury, referred to the explosion as one of the most appalling colliery disasters that had occurred in that part of the country for many years. He expressed sympathy with the bereaved, and said the accident was one more illustration of the fact that the miner went to work, like a soldier going to war, with his life in his hands. No matter what precautions were taken nor what skill was observed in the management of the mine these accidents still occurred when they were least expected. Mr. J. H. Straker, on behalf of the owners, expressed great sorrow that so dreadful a calamity should have fallen upon them. There was nothing in the past history of the colliery to show that there was any cause to fear anything of the sort, and they could only express their very great regret that it should have happened. Everything possible that it was in human power to do to alleviate the sorrow of the relatives would be done. Evidence of identification was taken, Forster being identified by means of his clothing. The inquest was then adjourned.