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On Monday morning, one of those terrible and fatal events which are the scourge of the coal mining districts, took place at Houghton (No. 5) Pit, about half a mile from the town of Houghton-le-Spring, and the property of the young Earl of Durham. Never perhaps did an occurrence of this nature cast a deeper and more appalling gloom over the whole neighbourhood in which it arose, and rarely has so much exaggeration prevailed as to the nature of the accident and the extent of the loss of human life. On the night of the explosion statements were circulated in this town variously reporting the loss at from one hundred and fifty to ninety-six lives, and similar erroneous and unfounded rumours were spread throughout the counties of Durham and Northumberland, and transmitted to more than one London contemporary. During the day thousands lined the approaches to the town from all the district round (Houghton being the capital and centre of Lord Durham's extensive collieries), and to use an expression which we more than once heard employed by the miners themselves, "the roads were live with people." Houghton Feast generally attracts a greater number of visitors than are seen there at any other season, but there were more persons in the town on Monday than at any feast of late years, it being estimated that there were not less than three to four thousand individuals brought together by the sad calamity. Fortunately, the sacrifice of life was not so great as at first reported and believed; but though not so fatal as the calamities at Haswell and Jarrow, the explosion at Houghton is one of the most lamentable and painful description, occasioning, as it has done, the premature deaths of no less than twenty six persons, most of them in the health and vigour of youth.

Houghton Pit has been of late years laid off, but twelve months ago its working was renewed. The coal, we understand, is wrought out of the Hutton seam, and is of excellent quality. There is only one shaft at the mouth of the pit, but a little further off, there is an upcast shaft; and we did not learn that any complaint had been made or grievance felt as to the state of the ventilation. Early on Monday morning about one hundred hands were employed at the colliery, and the explosion happened shortly after six. It look place at the East Way, about 300 feet from the shaft — a new district which John Watchman and others had begun working that morning. The current of air was instantly turned, and the poor fellows at the place, following the instinct of their nature, hurried towards the shaft for escape — but instead of safety, they found death, having perished by the after-damp. An overman, named William Fairley, knowing well the danger of this proceeding, made, we are told, the most praiseworthy efforts to prevent young men from rushing to the shaft, and in some cases he happily succeeded, being thus instrumental in saving the lives of his comrades. As soon as the sufferers, could be reached, it was found that some of them were dreadfully burnt. Joiners were immediately employed in the colliery yard to make shells, and the dead bodies were taken out in these, the dead and the living being all brought to bank before five o'clock in the afternoon. No language can describe the intense grief and horror of those who on the first report being given, rushed to the spot, and remained to witness, at the pit mouth, the corpses of their husbands and children, who had left them only a few hours before in their usual health, brought to bank, many of them so blackened and disfigured by the ravages of the fire, that it was with difficulty they could be identified. Hundreds around sympathised with them in their sorrow, and indeed the whole population appeared to partake, in a measure, In their sufferings. Painful and distressing as is the calamity, however, there is reason for thankfulness that so many escaped. Where the hewers were employed, the air courses were preserved and the fire was limited in its range, so that the persons killed were chiefly young men employed at the inclines in forwarding the rolleys, and who were at or near the spot where the pit fired. Considerable damage was done to the mine by the accident, and some idea of the violence of the fire may be gathered from the fact, that two iron tubs were bent by the force of the blast, as easily as if they had been made of paper. Two horses were also killed.

When our reporter was at Houghton on Tuesday, he was unable to obtain any satisfactory account as to the cause of the accident. The whole matter will, however, undergo a searching investigation before a coroner's jury — and in the presence, we hope, of a government inspector, for it is most important, as promotive of the confidence and security of the coal-miners, that a gentleman of ability and experience should be appointed by the Home Secretary to assist the coroner in the discharge of his duties, and to suggest measures for promoting the future safety of the men employed.

We append a list of the sufferers, and from it the reader will see that only two were married men, with families. No public subscription will probably be necessary, but we trust — indeed we have no doubt — that the agents of the noble earl, who is the proprietor of this colliery, will take care of the widows and children, so that this misfortune may not bring them to want. We need hardly say that those agents were promptly on the spot, particularly Henry Morton, Esq., the head steward, and Mr. Rutherford, the viewer, and gave all the usual assistance and directions.

List of Persons Killed

Samuel Gardner, 15, Houghton.

George Gardner, 13, ditto.

John Watchman, 26, ditto.

William Walker, 17, ditto.

William Anderson, 18,ditto.

John Anderson, 14, ditto.

Henry Anderson, 11,ditto.

John Moorhead, 17, ditto.

John Dixon, 19, ditto.

Abel Brown, 19, ditto.

James Cagham, 14, Newbottle.

John Caghan, 15, ditto.

Patrick Riley, 13, ditto.

Francis McGuiness, 13, ditto.

William Elliott, 14, ditto.

Edward Fairley, 18, ditto.

William Fairley, 15, ditto.

John Bedney, 15, ditto.

George Watson, 12, ditto.

Thomas Atkinson, 16, ditto.

James Anderson, 42, Philadelphia, wife and four children.

Thomas Hunter, 43, Bunker Hill, wife and four children.

Robert Moon, 16, Shiney Row.

John Keelery, 22, Cross Row.

Thomas Mossom, 14, Success Row.

Robert Rogerson, 15, Dee Pit.

Edward Hodgson, Newbottle, (26); John Fenwick, Newbottle, (23); John Collins, Houghton, (16); and Ralph Mackintosh, Houghton (27), were severely burnt.

A contemporary yesterday gives the following under the head "Further Particulars:" — Two of those severely burnt have expired since Monday. A statement is said to have been made by one of the workmen who was found insensible on the tramway, in the pit, after the explosion, and who has since died, to the effect that he was going in towards the "way," when he met with Hunter, the overman, who was coming out, but who returned with him to his cabin. On their way they suddenly heard a report like a cannon; Mr. Hunter immediately exclaimed "all is not right," and ran away towards the "new way," where Watchman was working alone. He saw Hunter no more, having himself fallen down insensible. The statement is borne out by the circumstances that the narrator was found in the way approaching the shaft, that the body of Mr. Hunter, the overman, found in the entrance to the "new way," and that the body of Watchman was found further into the works of the "new way." It is supposed that all these parties had lighted candles. It is singular that some of the workmen, who were employed in a distant part of the pit, never heard the explosion, and were quietly working in their places for upwards of two hours after the explosion occurred. It is said that two of the miners — father and son — dreamt on Sunday evening that the pit had fired twice; on getting their clothes on to go to work, they told their dream to their friends, who prevailed on them to delay going to work; they were thus providentially saved.

Coroner's Inquest

On Tuesday, at noon, the inquest commenced as Mr. Binks', the White Lion Inn, Houghton-le-Spring, before T. C. Maynard, Esq., and the following jury :— Messrs George Hopper (foreman), Thomas Hewitson, George Mitcheson, Wilson Laws, Chas. P. Skinner, Robt. Welsh, Jas. L. Outhwaite, William Earle, John Dobson, John Wailes, Robert Morton, William Stokoe, and John Elstob.

The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said they were assembled to investigate the cause of the death of John Watchman and others. These were always matters of painful inquiry, but particularly so when, as in the present case, the loss of life was great. At the same time there was ground for thankfulness that the loss of life, considering the number of persons in the pit at the time of the explosion, was comparatively so small. He did not propose going further that day than merely taking a view of the bodies so that they might be buried, and calling one or two witnesses to give the names and ages of the sufferers, for the purpose of registration, as it was always much better that the evidence should be taken after the excitement, incident to such occasions, had subsided. It sometimes happened that individuals, labouring under excitement, gave evidence which they believed to be true, but which they would not have given, had they had an opportunity of further consideration and reflection. After the jury had viewed such of the bodies as were in Houghton, he proposed to adjourn the inquiry.

The jury then repaired to the houses of mourning. Sad indeed were the scenes they witnessed; in one house three fine young men, "the only sons of their mother," were laid out ready for the tomb, and in other instances two of the same family had perished together — the bodies being, in some cases, but mutilated fragments. The grief of the inmates was intense and inconsolable.

On returning to the inn, the following witness was examined :— John Stoke stated that he lives at Philadelphia, and is a railway inspector in the employ of the Earl of Durham, he produced a list of the persons killed, with their ages, residence, &c, which was verified.

The jury then adjourned to Thursday, the 21st inst., at ten o'clock.

Five of the bodies were interred to-day in Houghton church-yard, in the presence of a large concourse of persons, and on Wednesday morning seven, in the burial ground of the Roman Catholic chapel, near Houghton-le-Spring, the burial service being performed by the Rev. Mr. Watson. In the afternoon the bells of Houghton church rung a muffled peal, and about four o'clock, eleven funerals were seen passing in a slow and solemn procession through the village; each coffin containing the body of a young man was preceded by two maidens, arrayed in white hoods, according to an ancient custom observed in this part of the country.

 

Name	Age	Occupation	Notes
Anderson, Henry	11	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Anderson, James	42	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Anderson, John	14	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Anderson, William	18	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Atkinson, Thomas	16	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Beaney, John	15	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Binks, —		Innkeeper
Brown, Abel	19	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Collins, John	16	Miner	Injured
Dixon, John	19	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Dobson, John		Juror
Durham, Earl of		Mine Owner	Whos Who Page
Earle, William		Juror
Elliott, William	14	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Elstob, John		Juror
Fairley, Edward	17	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Fairley, William		Overman
Fairley, William	14	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Fenwick, John	23	Miner	Injured
Gardiner, George	13	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Gardiner, Samuel	15	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Hewitson, Thomas		Juror
Hodgson, Edward	26	Miner	Injured
Hopper, George		Jury Foreman
Hunter, Thomas	43	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Kaghan, John	15	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Kaghan, Thomas	14	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Kelty, John	22	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Laws, Wilson		Juror
Mackintosh, Ralph	27	Miner	Injured
Maynard, Thomas Christopher		Coroner	Whos Who Page
McGuiness, Thomas	13	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Mitcheson, George		Juror
Moore, Robert	16	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Moorhead, John	17	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Morton, Henry		Head Steward
Morton, Robert		Juror
Mossom?, Thomas	14	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Outhwaite, James L.		Juror
Riley, Patrick	13	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Rogerson, Robert	15	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Rutherford, —		Viewer
Skinner, Charles P.		Juror
Stoke, John		Railway Inspector
Stokoe, William		Juror
Wailes, John		Juror
Walker, William	17	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Watchman, John	25	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Watson, —, Rev.		Vicar
Watson, George	12	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Welsh, Robert		Juror

 

Houghton Colliery

Pub. Date	Article (Newspaper)
11 Nov 1850	Fearful Coal-Pit Explosions (Annual Register for 1850)
13 Nov 1850	Awful Colliery Explosion (The Times)
14 Nov 1850	The Explosion at Houghton Colliery (The Times)
16 Nov 1850	Weekly Retrospect, Colliery Explosions (Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury)
16 Nov 1850	Destructive Explosion At One Of Lord Durham's Collieries, Twenty-Six Lives Lost (Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury)
23 Nov 1850	The Colliery Explosion at Houghton (The Times)
23 Nov 1850	The Late Colliery Explosion At Houghton, Coroner's Inquest (Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury)

 

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