Tweet

	Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	8th January 1840
Colliery:	Woodhouse Close
Company:
Cause:	Explosion
Lives Lost:	1
Category:

In January 1840, Donald Maclean M.P. decided to buy Woodhouse Close Colliery at Bishop Auckland, and on Wednesday the 8th. he sent along his agent for Witton Park Colliery, Michael Robson Elliott, to carry out a valuation. He was accompanied by his apprentice Parker Booth; Theodore Flintoff, the brother of the mineowner; Mr. Batey, the cashier; and overman George Parker. They entered the workings to carry out a survey and had gone about three-quarters of a mile inbye when there was a massive explosion Elliott was killed; Booth and Parker were badly burnt.

At the inquest held on the following day at The Railway Bridge Inn, Etherley, Theodore Flintoff gave a graphic account of the incident. He recalled how they had visited one district, and Elliott wanted to see another

We proceeded towards the face of the north headways, and on coming to some water in a swalley, Mr. Batey and myself stopped, as we thought it unecessary to accompany Mr. Elliott through the water.

The three men continued walking for about another 250 yards into the workings, while Flintoff and Batey sat down to await their return.

We heard a great noise, which I knew to be an explosion of fire-damp. We threw ourselves on our faces on the ground. I was thrown two or three yards by the shock, which bruised my leg and arm. As soon as the noise of the falling of the props had ceased, I called on Mr. Batey, who did not answer for two or three minutes. I heard him groan, and found he had been thrown about 15 yards from where I was.

Despite being burnt, Palmer and Booth managed to walk back to meet the other men, saying that Elliott was dead. Palmer had offerred to help Elliott, who said he "was quite done and could proceed no further." Palmer told him they had to get out or be killed by the after-damp; Elliott responded by telling him to leave as he knew he was dying. The men left the mine and it was another three hours before the dead man' s body was recovered.

Bishop Auckland surgeon John Jobson told the inquiry that Elliott "had been suffocated" and had also taken a blow to the back of the head. The verdict was accidental death; the explosion occuring when the naked candles the men were carrying came into contact with foul air. Elliott, who was an experienced miner and principal viewer for Mr. Stobart of Etherley had made a fatal decision that day by not taking a safety lamp into the mine.

Source:

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

	Elliott, Michael Robson, Principal viewer, suffocated after explosion caused by naked candle
	All names found
	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.

 

 Return    Return to Top