BYCARS. Burslem, Staffordshire. 29th. January, 1859.

The colliery was the property of Mr. J. Wedgwood and the explosion took place when a large accumulation of gas in some old workings was ignited by the men using lamps that were defective with loose-fitting rings and the gauze not being of the standard mesh. The furnace was not kept in all the time.

On Saturday morning two men, Isaac Tavern and John Brereton were making a stopping on the north side of the pit to improve the ventilation. There were about five others in the workings and all had gone to the stopping for their dinner when there was an explosion. Daniel Rigby was working 160 yards from the bottom of the shaft which was 33 yards deep and about 70 yards away from the blast. He was blown over but managed to get to the pit eye uninjured. He and others tried to get into the workings but were beaten back by the afterdamp on several occasions. Eventually they succeeded and found Joseph Howls and Ralph Malpas severely burnt and their companions dead.

Those who died were:

  • John Leigh aged 52 years, married with a grown up family,
  • John Brereton aged 21 years, single,
  • Edward Hawthorne aged 14 years,
  • Isaac Tavern aged 40 years, married with a family.
  • Joseph Howls and Ralph Malpas probably died from their injuries.

The inquest into the disaster was held at the Red Lion Inn, Burslem before Coroner Harding. Daniel Rigby told the court that he was a miner at the colliery and when he went down the pit on that Saturday morning, Francis Amos, the butty and Thomas Cooly the hooker-on were the only people he saw in the pit. Amos was supposed to inspect the lamps but there was evidence that he did not do this diligently.

In summing up, the Coroner referred to the highly responsible position in which Amos had been placed and strongly censured him for his gross inattention to his duties. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death” and asked for Amos to be called into the room where they censured him for not ensuring that the lamps were locked which was required by the state of the mine.

 

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1859. Mr. Dickinson
The Staffordshire Advertiser.

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

Return to previous page