From the Illustrated London News - 2nd, 9th, 16th October 1858

Transcribed by Alan Vickers

Fire at Page Bank Colliery

Dreadful Fire in a Coalpit

A terrible calamity took place on Thursday week, as briefly reported in this Journal last week, in the Page Bank Colliery, about four miles from Durham. At about nine o'clock in the morning the man working outside, according to one account, heard a loud report, and in an instant, flames issued from the mouth of the pit, and the whole woodwork of the shaft was on fire. Another account says there was no explosion, but that the woodwork of the shaft became accidentally fired. At this time there were more than eighty men and boys known to be in the pit. The smoke which poured up the shaft in volumes rendered a descent impossible ; the only way was to pour water down, which was done by means of three fire-engines. In order, also, to try and relieve the unfortunate men in the pit, canvas was procured, and so arranged as to create a downward current of fresh air. This lasted all day, and, the pumping apparatus of the pit being destroyed by the explosion, there was a rush of 450 gallons of water per minute into the workings, without reckoning that poured down by the engines. Between fire and water, therefore, it seemed little short of miraculous if any one could be saved. The fire continued to rage all Thursday night and all day Friday, but towards Friday evening was subdued. It was then, however, found that the shaft was choked with charred timbers, and the removal of these was vigorously commenced.

At twenty-five minutes past eight on Friday evening the workers at the shaft heard shouts from the bottom of the pit. The thrilling sensations of joy at the scarcely-expected sound was such as cannot possibly be described. John Nicholson, of Cassop, who had volunteered to go down, from a conviction that the men could be saved, attempted the rescue, but returned without any of his fellows. At this juncture great numbers of men from many different collieries came to relieve those who had been toiling all the night and previous day. At twenty minutes to nine bread was provided for the men at the bottom of the shaft, but owing to the intense heat and smoke, it could not be sent down the pit. At ten minutes to nine such a strong column of steam came up as to put a stop for a time to all efforts. About twenty-five minutes past ten the first body of men went down. Only two minutes had elapsed when the signal-bell was rang, and the signal to bend up was given. At twenty-seven minutes past eleven John Nicholson, of Cassop, had the honour of bringing the first boy, whose name was Emmerson, to the bank safely and in good spirits. On this a rivalry ensued amongst the men - who seemed to deem their own lives as nothing in their attempts to save their fellow-men - as to who should go down the pit. At five minutes past eleven the first man was brought to bank, stimulants and blankets being in readiness for the occasion. The boys who were afterwards brought up were carried on men's shoulders to the various houses near the pit, which formed, as it were, so many hospitals in which every attention was paid to those who most needed it. The women on this occasion, as in all others of a like nature, were truly assiduous. At eight minutes past eleven, one boy and an aged furnace-man were brought up ; the latter, suffering and shivering extremely from cold, had to be carried away, and for some time no hopes were entertained of his restoration. A young man was brought up, and on the men attempting to take hold of him, he exclaimed, "I can do well enough by myself ;" and one man, we are informed, as soon as put into bed, called out for "baccy," as he had not had a pipe for twenty-four hours. Up to one o'clock in the afternoon, by great exertion, seventeen boys and nineteen men were got safely out. We regret to say that in the midst of so much suffering and anxiety there was great callousness shown by hundreds of able-bodied men, who refused to relieve those who had been at the pumps for twelve hours together, or to render the least assistance in any way, but who ate and drank without compunction of the refreshments provided for those who helped without murmuring! A few minutes after three Mr. Cooke, an under-viewer, who had volunteered to descend at six minutes past twelve, was brought up in a prostrate and feeble condition. Mr. W. Hall, another under-viewer, and a volunteer, was brought up lame, having sprained his ankle. At three o'clock in the afternoon a man was brought up, who stated that the men and boys, who had now endured thirty-six hours of suspense in the pit, were beginning to be "very bad," and requested that some water and stimulants might be sent down to them, and more men to search the workings. This request was immediately responded to. At half past four the two last of the men who came up alive were brought to bank, making a total - men and boys - of seventy-six persons saved. At this time, after the last survivors had been landed, Mackay, the shaftsman, again descended with sheets and a chain : he presently appeared with two dead bodies. Four such ascents were made, each with a man and a boy.

One of the men thus marvellously preserved states that on Thursday night seventeen or eighteen of the imprisoned men and boys gathered round the furnace fire, and remained there for a considerable time until they were afraid that the gas would be drawn to the fire, and so cause an explosion. To prevent this calamity they put out the fire, and remained in darkness until they were rescued, with the exception of a glimmering light or two for a short period. Other men and boys were in other parts of the workings. One man, on being asked how they spent the time, said he laid down to sleep at nine o'clock and slept soundly. Many engaged in prayer, and others joked, in order to keep up their spirits, especially the boys.

The men found in the workings were nearly all in a comotose state, and presented the appearance of having been drugged, but were partially restored by a plentiful application of cold water. Those in the workings who retained possession of their senses dared not make towards the mouth of the shaft because, being in total darkness, they were afraid of being lost in the intricacies of the mine. Those who were found dead had evidently died a painless death, having by an insensible gradation passed from sleep into eternity.

The fate of George Robson, deputy-overman, was exceedingly melancholy. He had been at the bottom of the shaft up to the time fifty of the men and boys had been got out, and had manifested the greatest anxiety for those who had been under his control. He afterwards wandered off unperceived into the workings, and the impure air had, it is supposed, affected his senses, for when found, some time subsequently, he was lying in the water, with his clothes off, and his watch under his head, having apparently laid down with the belief that he was going to bed.

The fire continued to burn throughout the whole of the Saturday ; and early on Sunday morning two explosions of gas took place in the shaft. It was then resolved to try and expel the gas by an explosion of gunpowder ; and for this purpose one of the small cannons belonging to Mr. W. L. Wharton, of Durham, was procured. After being rammed with powder to the very muzzle, a fusee was attached, and it was let down the shaft as far as the "blower." Soon afterwards it exploded with a terrible report, which shook all the houses in the neighbourhood. The rebound snapped the heavy chain to which the cannon was attached, and the cannon fell into the water at the bottom of the pit. Several blasts of gunpowder were afterwards tried, and, after some barrels had been exploded, the light of the "blower" was extinguished about four o'clock on Sunday afternoon. In the meantime after it had been discovered that there was so much gas, the most careful precautions were taken to avoid an explosion. Thirteen engines were at work on Sunday pouring their continuous streams of water into the pit ; but they were discontinued on Sunday evening, and the staple was then filled up with rubbish. On Monday morning there was no indications of fire in the drift, and it was believed to be completely extinguished.

The Lord Bishop of Durham visited the scene, and administered spiritual consolation to the bereaved and the sick.

[We intend to illustrate the scene of this terrible calamity next week.]

October 9th, 1858.

The Fire at the Page-Bank Colliery

[An engraving with the caption "The Page Bank Colliery-Pit on Fire."]

The details of this terrible disaster, which took place on Thursday fortnight, have been given in previous numbers of this Journal, and on the preceding page we engrave the scene of the calamity. Page Bank, one of the Byer-Green Collieries, worked by Messrs. Jackson and Co., of West Hartlepool, is situated about four miles from the city of Durham. The shaft of the pit is forty-five fathoms deep and fifteen feet wide. The fire is supposed to have started by a spark from the furnace falling into the shaft, and setting fire to the brattices. Immediately after its discovery, one of the overmen went down and sent orders through the workings for all to repair to the shaft-mouth, but the fire extended so rapidly that he only had time himself to escape before the shaft was one mass of fire, thus stopping all egress. An attempt was made by two of the overmen to descend, but they had not proceeded more than twelve or thirteen yards when they were driven back by a sulphurous vapour rising. Of the eighty-six men and boys who were in the pit seventy-six were on Friday se'nnight drawn up alive.

A reporter of a local paper thus describes the bringing up of the dead :- "At half-past four, when the last of the living had been brought to daylight, a fearful signal was observed to be given by Mackay, the staithesman. It was well understood, and the hopes which had up to that time been kept alive in the relatives of those still in the pit that those dear to them might be saved were destroyed. A chain and sheets were given to the staithesman. With these he descended into the dark abyss on his fearful errand. The excitement and anxiety were now painfully intensified. After a longer interval than usual, the signal was given ; one dead body had been fastened to the staithesman, breast to breast ; the rope was raised a yard or two, another corpse was slung to the rope, and now the dreadful load is being drawn up. The women cluster to the pit-mouth and the bodies arrive. The first is that of a fine boy, about thirteen years of age. There is a beautiful expression upon his countenance, and nothing to indicate that his young life had been taken by a violent death. The body is unstrung, and a stalwart miner carries it with the tenderness and gentleness of a mother nursing her child to the anxious crowd. The child is recognised by its parents and sisters, and cries of agony rend the air. The other brought up is enveloped in a shroud ; it is taken from the ropes, and the announcement that it is poor Kellett is made. Renewed wailings startle the spectators as he is borne to his home. This fearful scene is five times repeated. Each time to rope ascends it brings with it two corpses, one of a boy, another of a man. They are placed on stretchers, and taken to the crowd to be recognised and claimed, and the repetition of the same frightful scene produces the deepest feeling of awe and horror."

The workings have been examined, and, notwithstanding the long suspension of all ventilation, they have been found perfectly free from gas. In every respect the colliery is uninjured, beyond the damage to the shaft itself. Immediate measures were taken for effectually repairing the brattices and the injury done by the fire.

October 16th, 1858.