Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	11th November 1850
Colliery:	Houghton
Cause:	Explosion, firedamp and coal dust, ignition caused by safety lamp
Lives Lost:	27

An explosion at Houghton Pit on Monday, 11 November, left 27 men and boys dead. The first indications that something was seriously amiss came at 6a.m. when clouds of coal dust were thrown up the shaft.

As soon as the accident became known, a most painful scene ensued. The wives and parents of those at work in the pit crowded the pit-heap, and, in an incredible short space of time, an immense assemblage was gathered together — calculated at no less than from 7000 to 8000 men and women, whose groans and lamentations were most heartrending. ... the loss of life is partly attributable to the rush of boys into the after-damp, in their hope to escape the effects of the explosion.

The bodies of the dead, and the survivors were drawn to bank at about 3 p.m. Four or five were severely burnt, and the remainder had been killed by after-damp — the body of one boy only was mutilated.

On 22 November, the Durham Advertiser reported that the Earl of Durham, owner of Newbottle Colliery, was to bear the charge of all necessary relief to the families who had lost relatives in the explosion.

The inquest was held at the White Lion Hotel, Houghton-le-Spring, on Thursday, 21 November. The Government Inspector of Coalmines, Mr. Tremenheere, was required to attend by the Secretary of State. Thomas Crawford Jnr. stated that the mine had been worked since 1828, but had only recommenced work in December 1849 after being laid in since April 1838. The shaft was 116 fathoms deep and 14 feet in diameter. The Houghton Pit was the downcast, and the Margaret Pit the upcast; the two pits were about 2000 yards apart. The Hutton Seam was being worked both ‘in the coal and in the pillars’ ‘The whole coal worked with candles; and the pillars with Davy lamps.’

Resident viewer, John Rutherford said that he went down the pit three times a fortnight. After the explosion, he had been joined by three other miners to search for survivors. They found the Irishman John Kelty alive, but 18 hours after being taken out, he died from severe burns. Kelty was found about 120-130 yards from the shaft, and now, more men were sent down to go further in, but they were stopped by a large fall of stone 130-140 yards beyond the top of the bank. They succeeded in getting over the fall at about 10p.m. and were told that voices had been heard. Having pushed on, they found some men still alive, and then continued heading into the western district, about 150 yards beyond the end of the fall, where they found a dead horse. They also found the air-crossing blown out, and a short distance on came across the bodies of between 10 and 12 victims killed by the afterdamp.

Others joined the search party and travelled westward 200 yards from a second air-crossing. Rutherford then went further in with a number of miners to a branch leading to the north, where they divided and later rejoined 700-800 yards from where they had parted no more dead were found beyond the separation point. He returned to the shaft and gave orders to clear the fall and put the pit in order.

The lengthy inquest finally ended on Friday, 22 November. The Coroner noted that the gas had come from the goaf, and remarked on the negligence of Hunter and Watchman. After an hour’s deliberation, the jury returned at 3p.m. and gave the following verdict :—

Our verdict is, that John Watchman and others came to their deaths by negligence either on the part of Watchman himself or of Thomas Hunter, the overman, in the exposure of the naked light; but which of them there is no evidence to show.

Source:

Text kindly provided by Jim Grainger from his research into early newspapers (primarily the Durham Advertiser and Durham Chronicle).

See also: N1850-02

	Anderson, Henry, aged 11, brother of William and John, residence: Houghton Le Spring, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 12 Nov 1850
	Anderson, James, aged 42, left a wife and 4 children, residence: Philadelphia, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Anderson, John, aged 14, brother of William and Henry, residence: Houghton Le Spring, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 12 Nov 1850
	Anderson, William, aged 18, brother of John and Henry, residence: Houghton Le Spring
	Atkinson, Thomas, aged 16, residence: Newbottle, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Beaney, John, aged 15, residence: Newbottle, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Brown, Abel, aged 19, residence: Houghton Le Spring, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Dixon, John, aged 19, residence: Houghton Le Spring, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Elliott, William, aged 14, residence: Newbottle, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Fairley, Edward, aged 17, brother of William, residence: Newbottle, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Fairley, William, aged 14, brother of Edward, residence: Newbottle, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Fenwick, John, aged 22, residence: Newbottle, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 14 Nov 1850
	Gardiner, George, aged 13, brother of Samuel, residence: Houghton Le Spring, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 12 Nov 1850
	Gardiner, Samuel, aged 15, brother of George, residence: Houghton Le Spring, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 12 Nov 1850
	Hunter, Thomas, aged 43, Overman, left a wife and 4 children, residence: Bunker Hill
	Kaghan, John, aged 15, brother of Thomas, residence: Newbottle
	Kaghan, Thomas, aged 14, brother of John, residence: Newbottle
	Keiley, John, aged 22, residence: Cross Row
	McGuiness, Thomas, aged 13, residence: Newbottle
	Moore, Robert, aged 16, residence: Success Row
	Moorhead, John, aged 17, residence: Houghton Le Spring
	Mossom?, Thomas, aged 14, residence: Success Row, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Riley, Patrick, aged 13, residence: Newbottle
	Rogerson, Robert, aged 15, residence: Del? Pit
	Walker, William, aged 17, residence: Houghton Le Spring, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Watchman, John, aged 25, residence: Houghton Le Spring, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	Watson, George, aged 12, residence: Newbottle, Buried: St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850
	All names found
	Youngest: 11 years old ; Oldest: 43 ; Average: 18
	Those names marked with , have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the symbol next to the name to see the web page.

 

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