Warren Vale Colliery Disaster
The Explosion
From outward appearance, everything went on as usual until a few minutes before 7 o'clock. At that time, not only those
near the pit, but the whole neighbourhood, were astounded and horrified by an explosion like that of a volcano. Smoke and
flames burst from the mouth of the pit in an appalling volume. Two corves which were being drawn out of the pit were
projected upwards with volcanic force, and lodged in the gearing over the shaft. A great quantity of coals, stones, and other matter,
which had been carried high into the air, fell in a dense shower and the persons employed near the pit mouth were
compelled to take shelter under the platform of the tipplers for loading the carts; it was only by this precaution,
that they escaped possible fatal injury.
Between 7 and 8 a.m. the fire-engines from Rotherham proceeded to the pit to pump in water, in order to aid in restoring the ventilation. All the air-gates and other apparatus for directing the currents of air through the pit had been destroyed by the force of the explosion.
The country all round the pit was blackened to a distance of three-quarters of a mile by the descent of the dust and smoke.
A man who was standing at his cottage door two fields lengths from the pit was blackened as if he had been working in the pit itself.
The report of the explosion was heard three miles away. The whole country around was filled with apprehension, and crowds of persons hastened to the pit.
As soon as it was possible the damaged gearing of the shaft was repaired, so as to enable men to descend 127 yards down the pit.
By 9.30 a.m. 14 persons had been got out alive, but all were injured. These had been able to make their way to the bottom of the shaft, ready for the first opportunity of reaching the surface.
Up to 3.30 p.m. 24 people had been rescued alive, and 15 dead bodies were brought to the pit surface. Of the survivors, 15 had happily escaped sufficiently well to be able to give assistance and offer information. Nine were so severely injured, and were not expected to survive. Not only were they burnt, but had sustained fractures and other serious injuries.
Three of the injured men were taken to the Sheffield Infirmary.
A list was provided of those killed and identified:
James Purselove, aged 14, Henry Purselove, aged 12, John Hartley, John Walton, William Froggatt, John Whyke, alias Barstow, Abraham Thompson, George Sellars, John Hartley, - Siddons, and William Barnes.
Among the dangerously hurt were:
Joseph Bownes, ? Bownce, Timothy Tinsley, John Harrison, Jonathan Sellars, Abraham Auty, and James Oates, all of Rawmarsh, George Linley, of Upper Hague, and Eli Barker, of Rosehill.
Those rescued with little injury:
Charles Burgin, John James, William Dodson, Thomas Hague, Mark Hague, Joseph Cooper, John Shaw, Thomas Shaw, Charles King, Samuel Peace, Joseph Hobson, Richard Walker, William Harrison, and William Barraclough.
It was thought those still in the pit, could not have survived.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon measures were being taken under the direction of Mr. Goodison, the viewer of Earl Fitzwilliam, Mr. Sellars, the manager, Mr. Cooper, underground steward of Earl Fitzwilliam, and other experienced persons, to throw into the pit a current of fresh air, so as to make it possible further to explore the workings and search the places where the bodies of the unfortunate miners were believed to be.
