Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	6th May 1852
Colliery:	Hebburn
Cause:	Explosion of firedamp, caused by naked light
Lives Lost:	22

Hebburn Colliery was owned by Messrs. Easton and Co. of Gateshead. The Durham Chronicle published the following article on the explosion :

The colliery consists of the A, B and C pits. A is at present wrought, B is used for pumping, and C forms the shaft for the upcast.

The explosion took place in the flat known as the Chapter flat, in the Monkton way, between nine and ten o’clock in the forenoon. This is an advanced part of the pit, the way running west, and south-west from the shaft, and is situated nearly under Hebburn Hall. Fortunately the fire was entirely confined to this portion of the pit, although the ignition was so violent that the shock was distinctly felt in the adjoining flats.

After the explosion, the men at the various districts of the mine made their way to the shaft mouth, and were brought to bank; but in the meantime Mr. Scott, the overman, and others, were actively employed in putting up the air-courses, and etc., in order to reach the sufferers. This happily was soon accomplished, when the bodies were safely brought out and conveyed to their respective homes — the scenes at which may be imagined, but cannot be described.

The first body brought to the surface was that of Michael Wardle, a boy about 10 years old. Mr. Maxwell, surgeon to the colliery, who was on the spot, immediately applied the most vigorous means to revive suspended animation, but life was found to be extinct.

The last of the sufferers obtained was at two o’clock in the afternoon, so it is evident that no time had been lost to rescue them if possible. Generally, the bodies were burnt and much disfigured, and few of them had died from the effects of the after-damp.

At the inquest, the master wasteman, John Peel, said he was in the south-west workings when the explosion took place. ‘He was about 300 yards from where it fired. He was knocked down by the force of the air, and his light blown out. He was stunned, but recovered in five minutes.’ He got a fresh lamp and went back to the site of the explosion, where he found a little trapper boy, Michael Wardle, lying dead. Afterwards, he assisted in getting the other bodies out. Government Inspector of Mines, Matthias Dunn, attended the resumed inquest on 28 May at which the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

22 men and boys lost their lives in the blast the youngest was 10, the oldest a man of 66.

Source:

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

See also: N1852-01, and N1852-05

	Barnfather, John, aged 19, single
	Batey, George, aged 30, left a wife and 3 children
	Brooksbank, Allan, aged 26, married a widow 3 months ago, with 3 children. She has been 4 times married and has lost 3 of her husbands to explosions
	Coal, James, aged 36
	Deans, William, aged 37, left a wife and 3 children
	English, James, aged 12
	Gascoigne, John, aged 31, single
	Greenwell, John, aged 39, left a wife and 3 children
	Hall, George, aged 27, left a wife and 3 children
	Johnson, Edward, aged 18, single
	Orr, Joseph, aged 35, left a wife and 3 children
	Parson, James, aged 22, left a wife and 1 child
	Pattison, George, aged 22, single
	Peel, John, aged 66, left a wife
	Phillips, Silas, aged 23, Deputy, left a wife and 2 children
	Piggsford, John, aged 25, single
	Richardson, Thomas, aged 26, left a wife and 2 children
	Scott, William, aged 27, left a wife and 3 children
	Smith, John, aged 33, left a wife and 4 children
	Wardle, Michael, aged 10
	Wardle, Samuel, aged 18, single
	Wear, William, aged 32, left a wife and 4 children
	All names found
	Youngest: 10 years old ; Oldest: 66 ; Average: 28

 

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