Explosion at Cortonwood Colliery
Six men were killed and three others were seriously injured in an explosion at the Cortonwood Colliery, near Barnsley, on 9th December, 1932.
Those who Died
- Walter Nutter, 28, a filler, married, of Barnsley Road, Wombwell
- Roy Outram, 45, miner, married, of Victoria Road, West Melton
- William Landles, 31, miner, married, of Carnelley Street, West Melton
- Alphonso Allen, 51, deputy, married, of Cliff Road, Brampton Bierlow
- Albert Edwin Windle, 19, haulage hand, of Firth road, West Melton
- Fred Humphries, 21, of Pearson's Field, Wombwell
The two last named died of their injuries after admission to hospital, but all the others were killed outright.
Injured
The others, all haulage hands, were admitted to hospital, all of whom were stated to be in a serious condition:
- James Moore, 17, of Prospect Street, Wombwell
- John Eccles, 22, of 38, Stokewell Road, West Melton
- Norman Scargill,17, of 6, Goodyear Crescent, Wombwell.
The explosion occurred in the silkstone seam on the night shift shortly after midnight, when a sheet of flame swept across the coal face. The four men who were instantly killed suffered the full force of it, the others received severe injuries.
Fortunately the explosion was not followed by a fire, and comparatively little difficulty was experienced in reaching the men and hurrying them out of the pit into waiting ambulances.
A message was at once sent to Alderman Herbert Smith, the miners' leader, and Mayor of Barnsley, and he, accompanied by Mr. Joseph Jones, General Secretary of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, reached the pit about 4 a.m. and immediately descended. They were joined by Mr. E. H. Frazer, Divisional Inspector of Mines, and other Mines Department Officials.
Managers Statement
Mr. R. Graham, General Manager of the Cortonwood Collieries, Limited, in a statement (before the death of the two men in hospital) said :
The explosion occurred in the silkstone seam about midnight, and as a result four men have died and three men and two boys are in hospital suffering from burns. We sent for rescue parties, which were on the scene almost immediately, but they were not needed. The men died as a result of the burns, and although we are not sure what caused the explosion, we believe that some gas may have come out of the old waste, with tragic consequences. About 20 men were in the seam at the time on night work. The seam is about 500ft. deep.
Mr, Herbert Smith, President of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, arrived as soon as he heard of the tragedy, along with the Divisional Inspector and two other Inspectors. In a statement they said:
We are doing everything we can to lessen the grief which this sad occurrence has caused in the hearts of all connected with the colliery.
Mr. Joseph Hall, Financial Secretary of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, who also visited the pit, said it was very fortunate that the coal face at that part was comparatively narrow, otherwise the flames would have claimed many more victims. There were only about 60 yards to face there, and the flame shot right across it.
