NEWBOTTLE. Newbottle, Durham. 31st. July, 1815.
The owners of the colliery had purchased a new boiler to provide steam for an engine which was used to draw full coal waggons up the railway. It was being used for the first time and there were many people standing around watching the operation. The engineer is believed to have overcharged the boiler with steam and it burst with a tremendous explosion.
Over fifty people were wounded or scalded. William Sharp, the manager of the engine was killed instantly; his body being blown over a considerable distance and William Nesbitt, an overman and John Holmes, a pit boy were also killed. It was reported that five others died from their injuries.
REFERENCES
Select Committee on Accidents in Coal Mines 1852-3.
The Walls’ End Miner or the Brief Memoir of the Life of William Crister, by James Everett, 1868.
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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