Local Mining Disasters

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SHOCKING FATALITY AT PYE HILL PIT

THREE WORKMEN ENTOMBED

     A serious fatality has occurred in what is known as the Black Shale Colliery at Pye Hill, owned by Messrs. James Oakes & Co.

     Three men, Richard Barton, aged 41, contractor, Wm. Lane, 19, loader both of Main Road, Jacksdale , - and Henry Gelsthorpe, 23 of Bottom Mexbro, Selston - went to work in their stall, which was number 47, on Monday night.

     Everything seemed quite as usual, and the ganger, Ernest Westmoreland, fetched several tubs of coal from them.

     On going at one o'clock on Tuesday morning however, he found that a heavy fall of roof had occurred, and that the three men were underneath.  He lost no time in giving an alarm, and assistance was quickly forthcoming, but when the men were extricated, life was extinct.  The bodies were removed to their homes.

     The colliery has been worked for many years, but it has enjoyed a happy immunity from serious accident, and the disaster has cast quite a gloom over the vicinity.

     Lane and Gelsthorpe were single, but Barton was married, and it said that he leaves a wife and six children.

     An inquest was held at the Portland Hotel, Jacksdale, yesterday afternoon.

The grave of William Thomas Lane in St. Mary's Church Cemetery. Killed at Silkstone Colliery, Pye Hill, November 28th, 1916 aged 18 years. A token of respect from officials and workmates.

     The deputy, William Heathcote, of Somercotes, said on the night in question, about 1a.m., a pony driver told him he could see two lights in 47 stall, but he could not find any men.  The driver also told him he had been up the bank and found a roof fall, shouted, but could not make anyone hear.  Witness at once went to the stall and found it "weighty" a little, and up the bank road he discovered the fall, which extended from the coal face to the gob.  Roughly the fall was ten yards in length and about a yard wide. He procured assistance, and then went to the other end of the fall, thinking there might be a chance of the men seeking refuge and lying in the darkness.  After about three hours work they found the first man, but to recover the other bodies took several more hours.  The operations were attended with great difficulty and considerable danger.  There was a slight indication of a slip, and his opinion was that a sudden bump or weight came on causing pressure and resulting in the fall.  He had had 20 years' experience of work in the pit at various collieries, and in the light of that he could not suggest anything which might have avoided the accident.  More than 20 tons of material fell, and he could not recollect such a quantity coming down in so  narrow  a place. 

     Mr. Abbott, the Mines Inspector, informed the Coroners that his opinion after an inspection was that the timbering was set in accordance with a good mining practice, and that the distance apart was quite acceptable.  The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."  Nov 1916 - Newspaper Cutting (Source Unknown).

 

"Jacksdale's Famous Five"

Miners awarded the King Edward Medal for Bravery.

Extract from the London Gazette 2 October 1917

The Famous Five photographed outside the gates of Buckingham Palace

Left to Right :     D. Foulds ( Pye Hill),  J. Haddon (Pye Hill), W. Heathcote (Somercotes), J. Short (Riddings), A. Smith (Ironville)

....... "Also to Daniel Foulds, James Haddon, William Heathcote, James Short and Alfred Smith, under the following circumstances:-

     On the 28th November, 1916, at about 12.30 a.m., a heavy fall of roof occurred at the Pye Hill Colliery, Nottinghamshire, by which three men were buried.  Foulds, Haddon, Heathcote, Short and Smith quickly arrived, and attempted to rescue the buried men by digging out the fallen roof and setting props as they progressed.  The roof was extremely dangerous and stones were constantly falling.  Three times heavy falls occurred breaking the props which had been set up, but, on each of these occasions, the rescuers were fortunate in having sufficient warning to enable them to  escape.  They remained at work for seven hours until all three buried men were reached and taken out; unfortunately all were found to be dead.

     During the entire period the rescuers were in continuous danger of serious injury or death from a further sudden fall."

The Famous Five were also honoured by having their names inscribed on the Carnegie Hero Trust's Roll of Heroes and received framed certificates and cash rewards.  A public presentation also took place at Jacksdale Council Schools.

 

 

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