| Disasters - Names |
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Disasters - Names | ||
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| Date: | 9th April 1906 |
| Colliery: | New Lambton |
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| Cause: | Burnt on pit heap |
| Lives Lost: | 1 |
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| Description | |
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On 9th April, two children, Alice and Jenny Stovers, had gone out to play, and wandered onto the pit heap at New Lambton Colliery. The ground under the younger girl suddenly gave way and she fell into a burning hole. Alice tried to save her, but she also fell in. Their screems attracted the attention of their mother and neighbours, who quickly got them out. Jenny had severe burns all over her body and died two hours later ; Alice was also badly burned on her arms and legs, and in a serious condition.
It had been thought the heap was perfectly safe as no deposits had been made for a quarter of a century, and, according to manager Jacob Sharp, 2,000 tons of sand had been put on the heap 12 years earlier to try and stop the combustion. Hen houses and pig crees had actually been built on the ehap, and it had been a favourite playground for the children for many years.
Baron Joicey, the chaiman of Lambton Collieries, sent £10 to the parents and an expression of sympathy. Alice was 5 years old ; Jenny only 21 months.
| Source: | Text kindly provided by Jim Grainger from his research into early newspapers (primarily the Durham Advertiser and Durham Chronicle). |
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