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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	John Barker
	Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal
	Date:	03 Apr 1914
	Colliery:	Easington Colliery
	Occupation:	Overman

 

There was one fatality under this heading {Suffocation by Natural Gases}, which occurred at Easington Colliery, Durham, on the 3rd April. About 6 p.m., a hewer, named George Robinson, was working in the Hutton Seam driving a leading headway which had passed through two rise faults of 6 feet and 10 feet respectively, and 15 feet further inbye a 2-feet dip fault. He had driven some 3 feet beyond the dipper, when there was a sudden outburst of coal and gas from the face. The coal buried him, probably at least up to the knees, so that he could not get out; and before he was rescued he became asphyxiated. When the putter named Ernest Moody got to the place, he saw that an electric safety lamp was burning as usual, and after shouting to the hewer, the latter called to him for help; but before Moody got right up to the man the latter had become unconscious. When the putter tried to rescue Robinson he felt himself losing consciousness and rolled back down the hitch. In a minute or two an overman named John Barker appeared carrying an oil safety lamp. As soon as Barker got a few feet up the hitch his light became extinguished. Barker then took an electric lamp and contrived to get hold of Robinson, but he was unable to pull him out, and feeling the effects of the gas rolled back down the hitch. The putter then went for further assistance, and James Milburn, the deputy of the district, arrived and got as far as the top of the hitch when he fell back. Barker then tried to reach Robinson by going up behind the ventilation canvas sheeting, but failed also in this attempt. Other men then arrived, and Barker made another effort. This time he crawled up and got hold of Robinson, and the other men taking hold of each others' legs pulled Barker by the same means until Robinson was got to the top of the hitch. Barker was unable to hold on any longer and had to be pulled out. A miner named Hugh McGorrighan then succeeded in getting Robinson down the hitch into good air. Artificial respiration was tried for some time, then Dr. Grant of Easington descended the mine and continued to endeavour to restore animation, but without effect. The next morning I was able to get to the coal face. There was still a little gas coming off, but the space between the coal face and the 2-feet dip fault was full of coal up to the roof. According to the evidence of the men first at the place, and their opinion was borne out by Dr. Grant, some sulphuretted hydrogen appears to have come away with trickling water at the fault. I have no doubt that the latter gas, which is extremely poisonous, had a large share in causing Robinson's death. All the men forming the rescue party behaved in a very plucky manner, and it was unfortunate that their efforts did not meet with greater success. For the bravery displayed on this occasion the Royal Humane Society awarded the Bronze Medal to John Barker, overman, Hugh McGorrighan and Thomas McManners, miners, and Ernest Moody, putter. They were also each awarded a certificate and a money gratuity from the Carnegie Hero Trust.

Source: Mines Inspectors Report for 1914

Email	Researcher	Date	Interest
	Ronnie Hackworth	21 Dec 2020	My great grandfather was named John Barker DOB 1876. was born Coxhoe Durham lived in Thornley Durham when he was 25,could this be the same John Barker

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