After the explosion on 13th December 1927, which killed four men, the 800 miners at Wellington Pit returned to work on 3rd January. Haig, however, still lay idle along with 1100 men. Doors were made in some of the Stoppings on the 9th February in preparation for exploration work. Samples of air, taken through pipes in the stoppings earlier in the week had been analysed and showed the fire was probably extinguished. Checks on the far side of the main stopping were made using Canaries, which revealed a satisfactory state of affairs.
Saturday was chosen to resume the search for the body of Harold Horrocks. Permission was gained from the inspectors and a party of 24, consisting of two rescue teams, Mines Inspectors, Officials and Colliery Managers, entered the mine. On reaching the stoppings, the Canaries seemed unaffected by gas, so the first rescue team proceeded into the area of the fire at No.1 Dilly, leaving the others, who had no breathing
Robert Steel (middle), the Works Manager, seen with two men in rescue equipment. As the shaft top supports are made of wood, this photograph was probably taken at Wellington Pit.
appartus, behind. They came back with pieces of coke and charred wood and reported that the fire was out and they could find no heat. At this, the rest of the party entered the area. The Deputies cleared de-railed tubs and Electrical Engineers restored telephonic communication with the surface. At the seat of the fire, it was found that 25 yards of the coal face was a mass of coke and the props had been charred to a depth of two inches.
At 11 pm, with work progressing well, Messrs Johnson, Foster, Durham, Morgan and others returned to the surface, while refreshments were conveyed to the remainder. Shortly before midnight, the rescue team returned to the entrance of Development District to recharge their breathing apparatus. A section of the party headed by Mr Steel, the Works Manager, entered the Engine Dip in search of Mr Horrocks, leaving five deputies to clear up falls in the main road.
Without warning, a series of three explosions occurred within fifteen minutes. The first was described as "a rumble", the second was more serious, enveloping the men in clouds of coal and stone dust, while the third was extremely violent, hurling the men off their feet and filling the workings with foul air. Battered and bruised, eleven survivors groped their way, nearly three miles in the dark, to the shaft bottom by following the rails and telephone wires. Immediately, three rescue parties, numbering about 15, descended the shaft. Battling through foul air, in which the Canaries quickly collapsed, the rescue parties reached the area of the main stopping and discovered the area completely wrecked and further progress barred by huge falls of roof.
The stopping had been totally smashed by the explosion and the debris was flung over 80 yards. According to one of the rescuers, "the whole area was quivering and quaking" with roof falls. It was decided by all present, that no one could have survived further inbye, and as there was evidence of another fire, it was decided to again, seal the area, this time with bags of stone dust which were readily available, and the rescue parties were withdrawn.
One of the survivors, a Deputy named John Graham, explained "We were quite sure when the last explosion took place, no one was alive in there. I shall never forget it as long as I live. I have a brother in there - Bob. His wife and six children live next door".
An Overman Mr Isaac Graham, survived the ordeal and had been involved with every explosion that had occurred in the local district over the previous 20 years. He received the King Edward Medal for his efforts at the Wellington Pit disaster, said it was the worst explosion he had ever seen.
The 14 missing men were :- (including Harold Horrocks from the previous explosion)
Robert Steel
58
Agent & Works Manager
Whelpside
Married
William Loudon
48
HM Inspector of Mines
Earls Road
Married
Peter Burdess
35
HM Inspector of Mines
Newcastle
Married
Robert Fell
48
Under Manager
3, Mountain View, Prospect
Married
Henry C Hanlon
30
Miners Agent
Brayton Road, Bransty
Married
John Tyson
47
Colliery Officials Association
West View, Bransty
Married
Tom Walker
38
Overman
1, Rydal Avenue, Seacliffe
Married
George Hodgson
56
Deputy
37, Solway Road, Kells
Married
James Rothery
41
Deputy
43, Front Row, Newhouses
Married
Frank Wilkinson
32
Deputy
1, Ladypit Cottages
Married
Jesse Cresswell
29
Deputy
Brickworks House, Low Rd
Single
Hugh McKenzie
49
Deputy
Sandhills Lane
Married
William Graham
41
Deputy
24, Church Street
Married
After discussion, it was decided to check on the situation underground on Tuesday 14th February. Over 3000 men lay idle from Ladysmith, Wellington, William and Haig pits. Over 2000 of them met at the Recreation Ground, where telegrams of sympathy were read from the King & Queen and from many other sources. The meeting was informed that work at Wellington would not be resumed at present but the men from Ladysmith and William Pits decided to return to work the following day. The meeting also appointed Mr James Martin JP, temporary Miners Agent following the death of Mr H.C. Hanlon.
In the House of Commons, Commodore King, in answer to Mr R.S. Hudson, Conservative Member for Whitehaven, gave particulars of the disaster and said that he had directed a formal investigation of the accident in pursuance of section 83 of the Coal Mines Act 1911.
The Official Inquiry opened on March 8th with the proceedings covering both of the recent explosions and each set of circumstances were discussed in minute detail. The reason for both the December and February explosions seemed to be a mystery, according to all the witnesses called. Gas had been detected on numerous occasions in the
district, throughout the year, but the source of ignition could not be decided upon, although many suggestions were put forward. If a detailed examination of the area could have taken place as usual, the causes may have become apparent, but as the area was never re-entered, the secrets will remain sealed down the shaft forever.
The bodies of these fourteen miners were never recovered & remain in No.3 (Development) District to this day.
"Robert Steel was a well known personality in West Cumbrian Mining Circles. An official of vast experience, who had been associated with the Whitehaven Colliery Company for 25 years. He became Under Manager at Lowca after leaving
Ayrshire thirty years ago, and rose quickly to Manager of Croft Pit, and subsequently Manager of Wellington, where he was to remain until 1916, when he accepted the important post of Agent and Works Manager. Also a holder of the King Edward Medal for his part in the 1910 Wellington Disaster which took 136 lives. He also took part in the rescue at William Pit where five where killed and seven injured in 1907 and the Haig explosion of 1922 where 39 were killed, when, after being brought to the surface badly gassed, returned to the pit next day against medical advice. Where ever duties involved risk or danger, Mr Steel was in the van". He was survived by a widow, two sons and a daughter.
Mr James Rothery left a widow and five children. Mrs Rothery had lost a brother, an uncle and four cousins in the Wellington Pit disaster, and a cousin in the Haig Pit explosion in December. Mr Hugh McKenzie was survived by his widow, three grown up sons and a girl. Mr Graham left a widow and six children, all under 16 years. Mr Walker, a widow and one child aged two. Mr Wilkinson, a widow and five young children. Mr Hodgeson, a widow and married daughters. Mr Loudon, a widow, three daughters and a son and Mr Burdess, a widow and two children, one only six weeks old. The only single man, Mr Cresswell, was engaged to be married
The Whitehaven News
