FIVE WAYS. Rowley Regis, Staffordshire. 19th. August, 1844.
The pit was owned by Mr. Darby and an explosion was reported to have killed eleven.
From the Glasgow Herald, 28th September 1844.
The colliery was owned by Joseph Darby and working the Thick Coal.
Confirms 11 dead.
The explosion occurred on Saturday, October 19th, at about 11 am.
Bodies recovered on Saturday:
- Richard Scriven, The Butty, 70
- Thomas Scriven, his son, who has left a wife and family
- William Brookes, who has left a wife and a large family
- Benjamin Hill, who has left a wife and a large family
- Charles Bothfield, who has left a wife and one child
- Joseph Nailor, 22
- Charles Roberts, 18
- Thomas Weaver, 12
Bodies recovered on Sunday:
- John Evans, 30
- John Bennitt, 20
- James Roberts, 20
Thomas Evans, who is much injured, and of whose recovery little hopes are entertained.
At a depth of 16 yards below the working of the coalpit in which the explosion took place, there were at the time several men employed in getting ironstone. On hearing the explosion above the men instantly got into an empty skip, which providentially happened to be at the bottom, and was drawn up to light and life.
REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway. Vol.2, p.93.
Mining Journal. Vol. xix, p.367.
Glasgow Herald, 28th September 1844.
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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