NEWBOTTLE. Success Pit. Newbottle, Durham. 2nd. June, 1815.
The colliery was the property of Messrs. Nesham and Company. The explosion was very violent and out of the seventy-two people in the pit, fifty-seven were killed and the reaming fifteen severely burned. The flame did not go up the shaft but a large column of dust indicted to those a the surface that there had been an underground explosion but a dense pillar of smoke came up the shaft and despite frantic efforts, only fifteen were brought to the surface alive but they soon died from their injuries. It was supposed to have been caused by breaking into old workings. All the bodies were recovered by the 4th.
The Liverpool Mercury commented:
The frequent occurrence of these awful and tremendous accidents, whereby so many unfortunate individuals are left in a state of distress without any provision except the melancholy pittance of parochial allowance and calls loudly for the establishment of a permanent and respectable fund such as before has been suggested, and it is sincerely hoped that the magnitude of the late losses may promise so desirable and humane an object.
REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway. Vol.1, p.404.
A History of Coal Mining in Great Britain. Galloway, p. 161.
Coal Mines. Holmes, p.100-1.
Sykes’ Local Records.
Great Pit Disasters Great Britain. 1700 to the present day. Helen and Baron Duckham.
The Liverpool Mercury of the 16th June.
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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