Diglake Colliery Inrush – Audley – 1895

AUDLEY. Newcastle, Staffordshire. 14th. January, 1895.

The Colliery was in the Parish of Audley, Staffordshire, and was near Audley Station of the North Staffordshire Railway. It was owned by Messrs. William Rigby and Company with Mr. Frank Rigby as the managing partner. He had mining training and held a First Class Certificate of Competence. Mr James Maddock was the general underground manager of the Audley Colliery and two other collieries worked by the same firm. Mr. John Watts was the certified manager with Mr. William Dodd, the undermanager of the Audley Colliery.

There were two shafts at the colliery, 36 yards apart, and at the time of the accident, both were 217 yards deep. The shafts passed through faulty ground which caused a displacement of the strata of about 80 yards down to the east. From the bottom of the shaft, horizontal cruts or stone drifts were driven to the east and west. About 80 yards west of the shafts, the Eight Foot Banbury Seam was intersected and there were extensive workings in this seam which was approached by an engine plane dipping 1 in 4. One of the cruts which led west from the shafts was connected with another shaft at a higher level, 600 yards further on. this was called the Boyle’s Hall Shaft and it was by this shaft that 160 men and boys escaped after the inundation.

One hundred and fifty-five yards to the east of the Audley shafts, the Seven Foot Banbury Seam was reached. This seam lay about 45 yards above the Eight Foot Banbury Seam and was reached here because a fault crossed in the shaft. The workings in the Seven Foot Seam were also reached by an engine plane dipping 1 in 4.

From the road leading east from the bottom of the downcast shaft and 30 yards from the shaft, a crut which rose at an inclination of 1 in 3 from 260 yards, and continued further on a level course, cut an upper seam called the Ten Foot Seam. This seam was reached in June 1894 and the working in it was of no great extent at the time of the accident. It was from these workings that the interruption of water occurred. There were known to be old workings full of water, in the Ten Foot Seam, but it was believed that the new workings were at a safe distance from them

The water broke in about 11.30 a.m. when there were 240 men and boys in the mine. It rushed in a torrent down the crut from the Ten Foot workings, carrying with it a youth named William Sproston who was the only survivor from those workings. Six others started down the dip before Sproston. The bodies of Henry Holland and Henry Rhodes were recovered at the downcast shaft. At the bottom of the crut from the Ten Foot seam, the water divided, part of it flowing to the east into the East Seven Foot workings and part to the west into the West Eight Foot workings past the shaft and filling or partly filling the roads near the shaft.

The first rush of water was described as forming a stream about two feet deep which increased at the bottom of both shafts to three or four feet in a matter of seconds. half an hour later the roads at the bottom of the shaft were full to the roof and the water continued to rise in both shafts.

At the time of the accident Mr. Watts, the manager, Mr. Dodd the undermanager and William Sproston, the underlooker were in the office at the bottom of the upcast shaft and immediately took steps to warn and rescue the workmen. On the first attempt, which was made immediately after the appearance of the water, it was found impossible to reach the workings in the East Seven Foot and East Ten Foot Seams. The water was already nearly up to the roof of the roads leading east from the shaft.

The first indication at the surface was when the engineman at the Boyle’s shaft received a signal to draw up the cage. This he did at once and when it arrived at the surface he knew that something was wrong for the occupants were drenched with water. When questioned they said that water had entered the mine from the old Diglake workings.

In the mining village of Audley, the news spread quickly and crowds of women and children ran to the pit to enquire about their loved ones. It was soon discovered that there could be no descent of the Diglake shaft but rescue parties were organised to descend the Boyle’s Hall shaft. The men below had found their way to this shaft and had been quickly brought to the pit bank. All afternoon the engines were busy and by 5 p.m. a hundred and fifty men had been rescued but it was estimated that there still about ninety men and boys still in the pit and they were supposed to be cut off by the water in the lower workings with little chance of escape.

The rescuers, about forty in number, maintained their efforts. They were led by William Dodd the undermanager of the colliery, who, when he had heard of the disaster went into the workings and told all that he met to make their way to the Boyle’s Hall shaft. He dropped through a trap-door and found himself up to his armpits in water in the main dip. The current was so strong that he was swept forward for about twenty yards and was saved by grabbing hold of a post.

He made his way through the steam in the dark but the water deepened and he was forced to turn back in the company of a miner they made their way to the air shaft but the water was roaring down this. Almost exhausted he sat down and found that the water had gone down a little so he set off up the main dip again. He heard voices at the top of the air shaft and made his way against the water up some ladders. as he neared the top he lost consciousnesses but one of the men at the top grabbed him and prevented him from falling down the shaft. When he had recovered a little, he took a lamp and went back into the mine. He had been in the workings for a few minutes when he heard a voice. He shouted, “Where are you, lads?”. The men recognised his voice and replied, “We are here William and we are glad to see you.” He led them out with his light and they reached the staple pit in safety and were drawn to the surface.

John Bolton tried to get into the flooded workings by swimming and he reached and rescued five boys who had taken refuge on an engine at the lower end of the pit. He had to carry them on his shoulders one after the other through the deep water and he succeeded in rescuing about thirty men that afternoon.

A young man named Sporston was working with his father and his brother and was carried by the force of the water for several hundred yards. He was thrown into the arms of a man who helped him to a place of safety and afterwards to the surface. The lad was the only survivor of a party of twenty-six.

A miner named William Mayer was near the spot where the water first appeared. He said:

I knew very well what had happened and we made the best of our way to the pit shaft. I do not know how long it took us, for the distance was many hundreds of yards and we had to pick out the highest ways to escape the rising water that roared past us.

Mayer added that eleven men and boys were left behind and those who escaped ran a considerable danger in stopping to help one another. The boys cried and needed the most help and Mayer and his companions carried them through the workings. One lad was saved by being whirled along by the current with only his hair above the water. Mayer stayed behind to search for the eleven and spent almost two hours at the task and when he came to the surface he told the wives that they could have gone to the higher workings but the look on his face gave his feeling away. He had a son among the eleven who were missing.

Another miner, Joseph Bateman, escaped before the waters got to him and volunteered for the rescue. He remained at the bottom of the ladder in the upcast shaft and helped many of his comrades to safety.

It was reported that an old collier had given up and sank down exhausted, unable to go any further. A young man refused to leave him and pushed and dragged him to a safe place. The water rose and the old man was swept away to his death.

During Monday night, the pumps were constantly workings and the exploring parties continued their work but no more survivors were found. The men were brought to the surface and the water continued to lower very slowly in the mine.

In the village, lights were seen at windows through the night and anxious wives and relatives stood at the pit head. Showers of rain and sleet added to their misery and several of the wives had brought bundles of dry clothes in the hope that the men would be brought up and not have to walk home wet.

As the new day dawned men from surrounding collieries came to the pit to offer their assistance and about 10 a.m. a new party went down the pit to remove some wagons that were blocking the roads. The cage had been at the bottom for only a few minutes when the signal was given to raise the cage. When the cage reached the surface it contained the body of one of the victims who was placed on a stretcher and taken to one of the outbuildings to await identification.

The body was found near the bottom of the shaft wedged among the wagons. A few hours later another body was found. It was that of Henry Rhodes, a boy, aged 16 years. Through the night and the following day, the water in the pit rose and fell and it became obvious to those at the pit head that there could be no hope of anyone being left alive in the pit.

Large masses of debris blocked the progress of the explorers and they worked to clear this but the progress was very slow and the women at the surface who had spent thirty-six hours of painful vigil were persuaded to go home. On Thursday it became evident that the mine would have to be abandoned for gas was being encountered by the rescue parties and by Friday the engineers decided to suspend the operations as it was realised that behind the debris a large volume of water could break through at any time causing further loss of life.

Those working in the East Ten Foot Seam were:

• Aaron Johnson aged 21 years, loader.
• Fred Taylor aged 28 years. collier.
• Thomas Cartwright aged 39 years, collier.
• Thomas Atkins Snr., aged 49 years, collier.
• Samuel Cork aged 36 years, collier.
• Enoch Sproston aged 32 years, loader.
• James Mitchell aged 37 years, collier.
• Fred Lowe aged 27 years, loader.
• Henry Webb aged 38 years, collier.
• Charles Vernon aged 28 years, collier.
• Ralph Taylor aged 35 years, collier.
• Henry Riley aged 20 years, loader.
• Thomas Childers aged 27 years, loader.
• John Taylor aged 40 years, crutter.
• Daniel Rowley aged 25 years, crutter.
• Henry Holland aged 26 years, loader.
• John Platt aged 20 years, jigger.
• Henry Rhodes aged 15 years, waggoner.
• William Sproston aged 43 years, fireman.
• Benjamin Knight aged 17 years, taker off.
• Abram Hopwood aged 15 years, waggoner.
• Alfred Rhodes aged 17 years, waggoner.
• Ernest Lightfoot aged 16 years, taker off.

Those who were working in the East Seven Foot Seam were:

• Henry Bailey aged 38 years, crutter.
• John Bailey aged 21 years, crutter.
• Thomas Bowers aged 28 years, crutter.
• Henry Maddock aged 48 years, crutter.
• William Hughes aged 32 years, collier.
• William Roberts aged 36 years, loader.
• John Brough aged 30 years, collier.
• William Butler aged 20 years, loader.
• William Mottram aged 30 years, collier.
• Henry Leach aged 19 years, loader.
• George Carter aged 40 years, collier.
• Ben Mitchell aged 40 years, collier.
• John Riley aged 49 years, collier.
• George aged 24 years, loader.
• Samuel Johnson aged 43 years, loader.
• Henry Clough aged 19 years, loader.
• Peter Taylor aged 37 years, collier.
• John Beckett aged 24 years, loader.
• John Frost aged 20 years, engine driver.
• John Blurton aged 16 years, taker off.
• George Henry Fox aged 14 years, hooker on.
• F. Thomas Sproston aged 14 years, engine driver.
• George Mayer aged 17 years, jigger.
• James Pover aged 16 years, jigger.
• Richard Taylor aged 19 years, loader.
• John Elsby aged 47 years, contractor.
• Thomas Sproston aged 45 years, contractor.
• Fred Johnson aged 35 years, fireman.
• Edward Higgins aged 43 years, roadman.
• Arthur Jackson aged 15 years, jigger.
• Ralph Mayer aged 15 years, jigger.
• James Henry Maddock aged 15 years, driver.
• Henry Lee aged 14 years, driver.
• Thomas Taylor aged 14 years, driver.
• Thomas Tittle aged 15 years, loader.
• William Pugh aged 16 years, driver.
• George Murray aged 14 years, driver.
• Joseph Johnson aged 13 years, driver.
• George Pover aged 14 years, hooker on.
• Alf Hopwood aged 18 years, driver.

Those working in the East Eight Foot Seam:

• Richard William Johnson aged 20 years, loader.
• David Spode aged 61 years, collier.
• George Spode aged 26 years, loader.
• Elijah Billington aged 57 years, collier.
• George Wynne aged 30 years, loader.
• John Guise aged 40 years, collier.
• William Latham aged 18 years, taker off.
• George Thompson aged 17 years, taker off.
• Samuel Crosby aged 18 years, engine driver.
• George Beech aged 27 years, roadman.
• Samuel Mayer aged 16 years, driver.
• Joseph Cooper aged 19 years, taker off.
• Alf Hodgkinson aged 15 years, driver found in the pit gauge.

The above list contains various errors and the following has been produced from further research:

• ALKINS, Thomas aged 47
• BAILEY, Henry aged 38
• BAILEY, John aged 21
• BECKETT, John Thomas aged 22
• BEECH, George aged 32
• BILLINGTON, Elijah aged 56
• BLURTON, John aged 15
• BOWERS, Thomas Sargeant aged 32
• BROUGH, John aged 33
• BUTLER, William aged 22
• CARTER, George aged 40
• CARTWRIGHT, Thomas aged 45
• CHILDERS, Thomas aged 27
• CLOUGH, Henry aged 19
• COOPER, Joseph aged 20
• CORK, Samuel aged 38
• CROSBY, Samuel aged 18
• DODD, George aged 24
• ELSBY, John aged 48
• FOX, George Henry aged 13
• FROST, John William aged 18
• GUISE, John aged 45
• HIGGINS, Edward aged 42
• HODGKINSON, Alfred aged 14
• HOLLAND, Henry aged 30
• HOPWOOD, Abram aged 16
• HOPWOOD, Alfred aged 18
• HUGHES, William aged 25
• JACKSON, Arthur aged 15
• JOHNSON, Aaron aged 21
• JOHNSON, Fred aged 35
• JOHNSON, Joseph aged 14
• JOHNSON, Richard William aged 22
• JOHNSON, Samuel aged 40
• KNIGHT, Benjamin Albert aged 16
• LATHAM, William aged 19
• LEE, Harry aged 15
• LEECH, Harry aged 20
• LIGHTFOOT, E. aged 15
• LIGHTFOOT, Ernest Daniel aged 17
• LOWE, Fred aged 28
• MADDOCK, Henry aged 45
• MADDOCK, James Henry aged 15
• MAYER, George aged 18
• MAYER, Ralph aged 14
• MAYER, Samuel aged 18
• MITCHELL, Benjamin Sunderland aged 40
• MITCHELL, James aged 33
• MORREY, George aged 14
• MOTTRAM, William aged 33
• PLATT, James aged 18
• PLATT, John Edmund aged 20
• POVER, George aged 14
• POVER, James aged 17
• PUGH, William aged 15
• RHODES, Alfred G. aged 17
• RHODES, H. aged 17
• RHODES, Henry aged 15
• RILEY, Henry aged 21
• RILEY, John aged 46
• ROBERTS, William aged 41
• ROWLEY, Dan aged 25
• SPORD, David aged 62
• SPORD, George Walter aged 23
• SPROSON, Enoch aged 25
• SPROSON, Frank Thomas aged 14
• SPROSON, Thomas aged 64
• SPROSON, William aged 47
• TAYLOR, Frederick Henry aged 30
• TAYLOR, John aged 40
• TAYLOR, Peter aged 40
• TAYLOR, Ralph aged 38
• TAYLOR, Richard aged 18
• TAYLOR, Thomas aged 15
• TITTLE, Thomas aged 19
• VERNON, Charles aged 30
• WEBB, Edwin Henry aged 35
• WYNNE, George Frederick aged 30

The inquest was opened on the 17th. January and adjourned with the hope that more bodies would be recovered. The inquest was conducted by Mr. John Booth, Coroner for North Staffordshire when the jury brought in the following written verdict:

We find the evidence that Henry Holland and Henry Rhodes lost their lives of the 14th. of January by the water from the old workings of the old Diglake Colliery getting into the workings of the Audley Colliery, where the men were at work.

The evidence has failed to show how the water got in, but we are of the opinion that it is an unforeseen accident. The colliery appears to have been carefully managed, and we cannot see that anyone is to blame.

We also wish to express the hope that the bodies still in the pit mat be recovered, although at present the danger in doing so appears to be so great as to be almost impracticable.

We beg to tender our deepest sympathy to the bereaved families, and also the owners of the colliery.

The inquiry into the disaster was held on the 7th to 14th February and the Report by Hon. Mark F. Napier, Barrister-at-Law, and William N. Atkinson, One of H.M. Inspectors of Mines where all interested parties were represented.

While the rescue work was going on in the West Eight Foot Seam, the water had completely filled the roads near the bottom of both the Audley shafts and risen some distance up the shafts. An immense volume of water continued to pour down the engine dip into the West workings for several days and as soon as the water abated sufficiently men were set to work to speed up the flow by cutting a channel over the bank-head.

As soon as it was practicable, desperate efforts were made to penetrate the districts to the east of the shafts where the majority of the workmen were entombed. Within a few yards of the shafts, the roads were found to be completely blocked with stones, tubs, rails, and debris. As the road from the downcast shaft was waterlogged to within 2 to 3 feet of the roof, an attempt was made to open a passage and this was preserved until the 19th January. It was impossible to go further owing to the dangerous state of the roof and sides.

An attempt was also made to reopen the road leading to the east of the shaft but the rate of progress was very slow and the attempt was abandoned because of the danger of firedamp being driven out of the workings. The pumping engine on the surface was kept working as fast as it could. a large Cameron pump at the bottom of the shaft was out of action for some days. The capacity of both pumps was far below the amount of water that was flowing into the workings. As soon as possible the Cameron pump was started and preparations were, made for winding water and for three weeks the water was wound at a rate of one and three-quarter tons per minute.

The exploration recommenced on the 20th. February when the water was lowered to its normal level and the level could be maintained by the pumps. The rods in the vicinity of the shafts were found to be very much damaged by the water. The road to the east was reopened and repaired to the bottom of the crut leading to the East Ten foot workings. an immense cavity over the road, the limits of which could not be ascertained but it appeared to extend a long way back towards the shaft and it was believed to extend over the intervening rib and into the return airway. the work was carried on at considerable risk until the bottom of the crut leading to the East Ten Feet seam was reached and then conditions became so dangerous that it was decided impracticable to continue. the following statement was issued:

Audley Collieries, Thursday, March 7, 1895.

We, the undersigned, have examined the East Main Crut leading from No.1 shaft to the East 10-feet and 7-feet seams.

The men had been withdrawn in consequence of the dangerous state of the level.

We found that the timber is badly broken and reeled in all directions and that the roof is continually falling. There is considerable risk of further loss of life should the timber reel out, as the men would then have no means of exit, and no possible chance of escape, as the dirt would fall behind them

At the face of the work, the dirt is constantly falling in large quantities from a great height and it is impossible to examine the places from which it falls, consequently, there is a great danger at this point also.

During the last few days, the men engaged at the face have repeatedly had to run out for their own safety.

With these dangerous conditions, and to prevent the risk of further loss of life we are decidedly of the opinion that no further attempt should be made to re-open the crut.

(Signed),

JAMES MADDOCK, JOHN WATTS, WILLIAM, JOHN STRICK, GEORGE A. MITCHENSON, JOEL SETTLE.

 

Having read the above report, we, as workmen, who have been regularly in charge of the exploring parties, fully agree with the decision arrived at.

(Signed),

FREDERICK RHODES, WILMOT TAYLOR. JOHN BOULTON,

The decision was most painful to the widows and many refused to shut their doors in the hope that their loved one would return. The Reverend John Pauli, the Vicar of Audley told of the character of the men:

Most of the entombed miners are my parishioners. I know them all, and a more respectable, steady and industrious lot of colliers I never knew. Among those still in the mine is Cartwright the superintendent of the choir boys at the Audley Church and many others are members of the Bible Class which is held at the Church every Sunday. Cartwright, wife, poor woman, was at the pit mouth from Monday morning until Wednesday, when I persuaded her to go home.

The houses where the miners lived are still as beautifully kept as in happier days, though the wives are worn out with anxiety and grief. One poor woman whose husband is down the mine had completely gone out of her mind. She is under the impression that she is taking a walk, and that her husband is with her.

A Relief Fund was organised for the widows and orphans and the Queen telegraphed a message of sympathy to the bereaved and the admiration of the gallant efforts of the rescue parties.

The inquest was opened on the 7th of February and concluded on the 13th June and was conducted by Mr. John Booth, Coroner for North Staffordshire when all interested parties were represented.

Before the East Ten Feet workings were started at the colliery, it was known by the owners that the coal to the rise of that they proposed to work had been got from an old colliery called Diglake Colliery and that these old working contained a lot of water. as far as could be ascertained the workings at the Diglake Colliery ceased in 1852 or 1853. In order to learn about the position of these old workings, Messrs. Rigby applied to Sir Thomas Boughey, Bart, the lessor of the colliery and was supplied, through his mining agent, the late Mr. Bromley with two plans in 1889.

One of these plans was entitled “Plan of Diglake Farm belonging to Sir T.E.F. Boughey, Bart., 1855”  In addition to the surface marks indicating the boundaries and internal divisions of the farm, the plan showed “workings in the 10-feet coal by sir T.E.F. Boughey, Bart., coloured thus (yellow), by Mr. Wood coloured thus (pink)”.  The workings coloured pink were all on the west side of the plan, or the side furthest from Messrs. Rigby’s new workings and could have had nothing to do with the disaster.

The workings that were yellow on the plan consisted of a large yellow block that showed no roads or details of the workings. To the extreme south of the yellow block was written, “Old workings in the 10 feet coal.” a note on the plan referred to a point on the north-east of the yellow block stated, “The bass on the 10-feet coal in very open with fissures in like rabbit burrows.”

Other workings were indicated on the plan in detail and a neutral tint with no indication as to what these meant. One of the galleries shown on the workings was leading out from the shaft to the old workings in the direction of Mr. Rigby’s workings. the shaft was known by Mr. Rigby to be full of water. This plan and Mr. Rigby’s were on a different scale and when Mr Atkinson, the Inspector, adjusted the scales the fact was revealed that the end of the workings shown in the neutral tint approached within a few feet of the point where Mr. Rigby’s workings in the Audley mine had reached on the morning of the 14th. January. At that time Mr. Rigby and his surveyor calculated that the nearest working was between 60 and 70 yards away and on this information no boreholes were required under the regulations.

Mr. Atkinson, the Inspector commented in his report:

The accident has resulted in a very large pecuniary loss to the owners at the Audley Colliery and whilst I believe both the owners and their managers were properly solicitous for the safety of the workmen and believed that there was a sufficient barrier between the new and the old workings, the serious pecuniary loss which would result from an accidental holing into the old workings was obvious so that from a monetary point of view alone it was of vital importance that it should not occur. at the same time, however improbable it might appear that “the unknown place” was in the Ten Foot Seam, yet in the absence of positive indications or knowledge of its actual position, I think it would have been a very prudent course to have regarded it as a possible source of danger.

The accident should be regarded as a warning in other cases where new workings are being carried out or in the vicinity of ponds of water, and in North Staffordshire that is a very serious question as there may be many such ponds in the district.

The jury deliberated for about half an hour and they returned with the following verdict:

We find from the evidence that Henry Holland and Henry Rhodes lost their lives on the 14th of January last by the water from the old workings of the old Diglake colliery getting into the workings of the Audley Colliery where the men were at work. The evidence failed to show how the water got in but we are of the opinion that is was an unforeseen accident. The colliery appears to have been carefully managed and we cannot see that anyone is to blame.

We also wish to express the hope that the bodies still in the pit might be recovered although for the present the danger in doing so appears to be so great as to be almost impracticable.

We beg to tender our deepest sympathy to the bereaved families and also to the owners of the colliery.

Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, confirmed the Albert Medal on William Dodd, the under-manager and at a meeting of the High Court of Foresters at Windsor Castle on 19th March 1896. A few months later it was decided to present “Brother William”  with an illuminated address in recognition of his heroic conduct in saving fifty-seven members of the Order in the Diglake Colliery disaster. Of the other rescuers, John Boulton, John Carter,  John Watts, Joseph Bateman, John Johnson & Amos Hinkley received medals and certificates from the Royal Humane Society and the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

 

REFERENCES
The Mines Inspectors Report.
Reports to the Right Honourable The Secretary of State for the Home Department by The Honourable Mark F. Napier, Barrister-at-Law and William N. Atkinson Esq., One of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Mines on the circumstances attending the inundation of the Audley Colliery, Staffordshire, on January 14th. 1895.
The Colliery Guardian, 25th January 1895, p.168, p.169. 8th March 1895, p.453, 15th March, p.501, 14th June, p.1134, 3rd January 1896, p.27.

Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.

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