Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	19th April 1841
Colliery:	Willington, Bigge's Pit
Cause:	Explosion
Lives Lost:	32

A melancholy explosion attended with an extensive loss of life, occurred about one o'clock in the afternoon of Monday, at Willington colliery, belonging to Matthew Bell, esq. M.P. and partners, situate about midway between Newcastle and North Shields, when thirty-two poor fellows were suddenly hurried out of life, whilst only three out of thirty-five who were down the pit at the time were saved. The first intimation of danger was a tremendous noise accompanied by a dense cloud of smoke issuing from the shaft mouth, and a violent shock in the neighbourhood resembling what might be supposed to proceed from an earthquake. This noise was heard at a great distance and in every direction, and produced alarm throughout the neighbourhood which was but too painfully realized when the melancholy news had spread amongst the friends and relatives of those who were employed in the pit. The accident happened in the “Bigge Pit,” which is one of the new workings, the pit having been for a considerable time closed and the work in it having only been recently resumed. The workings are, therefore, comparatively, not extensive, the east headway running 220 yards, and the west headway 280 yards, while that to the north is even much shorter. The shaft is sunk to the depth of 140 fathoms, the High Main Seam being passed through, and the workings of the Bensham Seam fairly carried on. As soon as the dismal reality was known, relatives, and all in any way connected or sympathising with those engaged in the work, were drawn to the spot, manifesting in every look and action the dismal anxiety, the gloomy foreboding, or the intense sorrow, with which the occurrence had overwhelmed them. Two men — Michael Ranson and Henry Dunn — and George Charlton, a boy, all sinkers, were employed at some distance in the east headway, and were made sensible of their danger by the dust and wind which came upon them. Fortunately, the after-damp was spent, and they reached the shaft without being injured ; there they found that stones and wood-work at the bottom were torn from their places and had fastened the cage, but, after much labour, they were rescued from their perilous position and conveyed to the top in safety. Without loss of time, and with a readiness which, while it bespoke their feeling and displayed their courage, a body of workmen descended and commenced their melancholy work. The labour, exhausting though it was, was continued unremittingly, until the bodies of the thirty-two sufferers were recovered. Amongst the number, obtained in the earlier part of the search, were three, who, though much mangled, were yet alive : they were immediately conveyed to where the most judicious assistance could be afforded, but they shortly afterwards died in excruciating agony. In another part of the west headway lay three men, completely dead, one of whom was dressed, and had his night-cap stuffed in his mouth; the others had a part of their clothes on; and it is accordingly presumed that these unfortunate men, aware of the peril they were in, had ventured on an attempt at escape. Twenty-nine bodies had been obtained on Wednesday the 21st and in the course of Thursday the remaining three were found. Two horses, in the northern division, were also found, quite dead ; and in the same direction where the three survivors were, was found an old pony, which, though nearly starved, was unhurt. The stable was burnt down, and an unknown amount of other injury effected. Many of the bodies were in a sound state indicating that their death had been the result of suffocation. In the majority of cases they were mutilated, and presented a sight truly appalling; in others, the falling of the stones and props which were wrenched from their places by the devastating power, had so completely disfigured them, so broken every bone and muscle, that. the coffins had to be sent down, to prevent limb falling from limb, while being conveyed up the shaft. Part of the sufferers were decently buried on Wednesday and Thursday, but the last sad rite remained to be performed over several after the inquest was concluded. How or where this calamity originated must ever remain matter of speculation. The seam which was being worked was the same as that in which the accident at Wallsend happened, and is generally spoken of as being attended with greater risk than the other seams. Those about the pit, and who, though interested, might be considered the most competent judges in the matter, positively stated that no apprehension of danger existed in the mind of any one — that, on the contrary, perfect confidence prevailed, and was justified by the care and labour which had everywhere been bestowed. The solution put forward as the most probable, and as supported by concurrent testimony, was, that the whole was attributable to the neglect of a poor little boy, a trapper, who left the trap door in the north headway, to which it was his duty to attend, to play with two other boys close by. It is essential that these doors be shut, except at the very moment when the putter is passing, and in the present instance, it was supposed the boy propped open his door, that it remained thus for some time, and that the necessary ventilation was thereby prevented.

Source:

Local Historian's Table Book of Remarkable Occurrences Connected with the Counties of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland and Durham by M.A. Richardson. Published in five volumes in 1844.

	Bainbridge, Thomas, aged 18, Putter, brother of William, Buried: St. Bartholomew, Longbenton on 22 Apr 1841
	Bainbridge, William, aged 11, Trapper, brother of Thomas, Buried: St. Bartholomew, Longbenton on 22 Apr 1841
	Black, Robert, aged 15, Driver, alive when brought out of the pit
	Bolton, Thomas, aged 9, Trapper
	Brown, John, aged 13, Trapper
	Brown, Robert, aged 19, Putter, unmarried
	Campbell, George, aged 18, Putter, nephew of John Campbell
	Campbell, John, aged 34, Hewer, unmarried
	Campbell, Robert, aged 14, Driver
	Cowper, Richard, aged 9, Trapper
	Coxon, William, aged 36, Hewer, widower with one child, Buried: St. Bartholomew, Longbenton on 22 Apr 1841 {NBI}
	Crawford, John, aged 22, Onsetter, unmarried, alive when brought out of the pit, Buried: St. Bartholomew, Longbenton on 21 Apr 1841 {NBI}
	Crosby, Joseph, aged 17, Craneman, Buried: St. Bartholomew, Longbenton on 22 Apr 1841 {NBI}
	Crosier, Jonathan, aged 20, Putter, unmarried
	Dodgson, Thomas, aged 27, Hewer, recently married
	Dodgson, William, aged 25, Hewer, brother of Thomas Dodgson
	Hall, John, aged 16, Driver
	Howey, William, aged 24, Putter, left a wife and 2 children
	Johnson, Joseph, aged 27, Hewer, unmarried, Buried: St. Bartholomew, Longbenton on 22 Apr 1841 {NBI}
	Joyce, John, aged 23, Putter, unmarried
	Liddell, James, aged 14, Putter
	Martin, George, aged 19, Putter, unmarried
	Martin, Michael, aged 36, Hewer, left a wife and 4 children, Buried: St. Bartholomew, Longbenton on 22 Apr 1861 {NBI}
	Martin, William, aged 10, Trapper, son of Michael Martin, Buried: St. Bartholomew, Longbenton on 22 Apr 1861 {NBI}
	Mason, Simpson, aged 10, Trapper
	Pearson, James, aged 18, Putter, alive when brought out of the pit
	Pearson, Robert, aged 9, Trapper, brother of Thomas
	Pearson, Thomas, aged 15, Driver, brother of Robert
	Ranson, Matthew, aged 15, Onsetter
	Reed, John, aged 28, Deputy, unmarried
	Scott, George, aged 9, Trapper
	Wood, Thomas, aged 39, Wood-leader, left a wife a 6 children, Buried: St. Bartholomew, Longbenton on 22 Apr 1841 {NBI}
	All names found
	Youngest: 9 years old ; Oldest: 39 ; Average: 19

23 Apr 1841	Dreadful Explosion At Willington Pit, Thirty-One Lives Lost (The Times)
24 Apr 1841	Colliery explosion at Willington (Gateshead Observer)
27 Apr 1841	The Colliery Explosion At Willington (The Times)

 

 Return    Return to Top