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Local Records
1847
January. — About this time, the workmen succeeded in reaching the main coal seam at Usworth colliery, after two years' labour. [LRL]
March 20. — This morning, about nine o'clock, a fatal boiler explosion occurred at Burradon Colliery, near Newcastle. A few minutes previous to the occurrence, the engineman, on examining the float, found the water more than a foot above the working mark, but, as the steam was low, he gave directions to the stoker, Robert Thompson, to raise the fires, soon after which the boiler suddenly burst with a tremendous noise, carrying away part of the engine-house and chimney, killing three persons, and injuring, more or less, several of the workmen at the shaft. The engineman escaped, though much scalded and bruised, but the stoker, a female, named Margaret Proctor, and a boy, named James Gordon, were killed on the spot. [LRF]
June. — About the middle of this month, the seam of coal in Wingate colliery became ignited, by some means unknown, and upwards of a month elapsed before the fire could be extinguished. [LRL]
June 22. — A dreadful explosion took place at the Felling Colliery, near Gateshead, the property of Messrs. Carr and Co., by which four men, two boys, eighteen horses, and two ponies were killed. Only four persons in the mine escaped unhurt. [LRF]
September 17. — Two men, named Thomas Dobinson and Walter Murray, descended the pump shaft of Percy Main Colliery, near North Shields, for the purpose of examining the pumping gear which is used or the purpose of drawing the water from the mine. The men who undertake this job are lowered down by means of a gin rope, worked with horses, and, to facilitate the intercourse with the surface a string leads up the shaft to a bell. Having completed their work, they gave the signal to pull up. The horses went to their work and the rope ascended, when suddenly something seemed to check it, the horses put forth their strength, and the rope came up without the men. It was broken, and a frightful calamity had happened, the rope having got entangled in the scaffolding. They were killed on the spot. [LRF]
September 29. — A remarkable case of fraud and imposture was brought before Mr. Commissioner Evans in the Bankruptcy Court. A Mr. Donald Maclean, who had in 1839, purchased the Witton Castle estate of Sir William Chaytor for £100,000, was the bankrupt. Although the money was never paid during his residence at Witton, he took an active part in the affairs and trade of the county, and maintained a splendid establishment. In 1846 Mr. Maclean agreed to pay to Mr. Brett, a picture dealer, £7,000 for Titian's picture called the "Six Caesars," and Murillo's "Abraham and the Angels." An arrangement was made, by which Mr. Maclean was to deliver, in payment of the money, 20,000 tons of coal at 7s. a ton, for a French railway with which Mr. Brett was connected. Fortunately for the latter, he discovered the state of Mr. Maclean's affairs before the pictures were delivered, and consequently retained them. In a case heard in he Bail Court on the 27th April, 1847, in which Mr. Brett was sued for payment of £350, on a promissory note, given as commission to a Mr. Gompertz on account of the above abortive sale, it was stated that Mr. Maclean had become a bankrupt, but had gone abroad, and had never, under any pretence of illness, surrendered to the fiat, but was enjoying himself in Lucca, Naples, or some other part of Italy, and in good health. It was stated that his debts amounted to £180,000, and his assets scarcely to £100. One of the witnesses, Mr. R. Abraham, said — "I am a shareholder of the bank of which Mr. Maclean was a director. It is the Marylebone Bank. I knew after investigating the accounts of the bank in 1842, that he was in embarrassed circumstances. He had never any property of his own at all, but lived on the credulity and property of others. His debts at that time amounted to £78,000, and there was only about £100 assets. The bank was insolvent through Mr. Maclean's misconduct." As the time allowed for Mr. Maclean's surrender had expired on the preceding day, he was outlawed in the usual form. The Witton estate, with the castle, park, and domain, the collieries, advowsons, and tythe rents were advertised for sale, by an order of the High Court of Chancery. On the 20th September 1850, Mrs. Maclean was taking a drive in her carriage, at Castellamore, near Naples, when the horses took fright and ran away. The lady was consequently thrown from the carriage, and sustained such severe injuries that, after lingering a few hours, she expired. She was the daughter of the late General Maitland. [LRF]
October 23. — A fire broke out in the engine-house at North Elswick colliery, in the suburbs of Newcastle, and the flames were not extinguished until the building, as well as the ropes belonging to the shaft, were entirely destroyed. The damage was considerable. [LRL]
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