POLKA PIT. Murton, Durham. 15th. August, 1848.

The colliery was the property of the South Hetton Coal Company. There were about one hundred men and boys working in the pit at the time of the explosion and fifteen were killed and many others burnt. Candles were used throughout the mine and the death toll would have been much higher but for the presence of mind of one workman who held the survivors to the shaft.

Immediately after the report of the explosion was heard, Henry Pace and another overman descended the shaft to find out what had happened and they found that the explosion had been of a very violent nature though not very extensive. They found the body of Henry Haddock, a boy who was in the habit of carrying compass for the back overman, Edward Noble. The survivors decided that they should try to get out by the return and many were successful.

Those who died were:

  • Edward Noble, backoverman aged 23 years, left a wife and child.
  • George Haddock aged 12 years.
  • Thomas Stubbs aged 27 years; bearer left a wife and child.
  • John Dickenson aged 15 years, putter.
  • Matthew Berson aged 16 years, putter.
  • William Raffle aged 32 years, left a wife and three children.
  • James Hall aged 40 years; deputy overman left a wife and family.
  • Thomas Lawson aged 41 years, hewer, left a wife and eight children.
  • Richard Bloomsfield aged 29 years, hewer.
  • William Baldwin aged 23 years, left a wife and stepson.
  • Joseph Tones aged 66 years, hewer.
  • Ralph Dawson aged 31 years, hewer left a wife and child.

Came out injured and burnt and not expected to live were:

  • David Rumley, putter aged 12 years.
  • Thomas Lawson aged 14 years, putter.
  • William Raffle Jnr.
  • John Robson.

The bodies were buried in South Hetton churchyard.

The inquest was held before Mr. William Burgess at the Murton Inn and the jurors went to the houses of Noble and Haddock to view the bodies which were badly scorched.

 

REFERENCES
Annals of Coal Mining. Galloway. Vol.2, p.52.
Mining Journal. Vol. xviii, p.387.
Latimers’ Local Records. p. 251.
Durham Advertiser.

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

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