The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-04 00:00:00

THE FIRE AT THE PAGE BANK PIT.

1'

T The anxiety klibitea'throUgEout tie whole of
the county of Durham with regard to the fate of the
80 pitmen imprisoned in the Page Bank Pit was in-
tense all day of Friday. The scene at the pit-mouth
exceeded anything that had been witnessed in the
north for many years. The following is apicture of
the terrible scene as described by eye-witnesses :
At 4 a.m. on Friday, on the completion of the
bratticing and canvass in the shaft, the flames burst
forth and for some time stayed further progress. At
6 the following engines were working in order be-
tween the pit and the river-Ist, Shildon Works,
under the management of Mr. Wm. Boggart ; 2d,
West of England, from Hartlepool, Mr. It. Merry-
weather ; 3d, West Hartlepool, Mr. P. Baxter ; 4th,
Darlington Board of Health, Mr. G. Sheppard ;
Darlington, Mr. R. R. Mowbray. These were
engaged in pumping from the river, and had 40
yards of hose down the pit shaft, forming one con-
tinuous line. The second communication from the
river was comprised of, 6th, Merrington engine ;
7th, Bishop Auckland; Bth, Durham College; and
9th, Durham City. A tenth engine arrived about
midnight from the Black Boy Colliery., but for want
of hose was useless. During the night the wrts
had been kept in constant requisition carrying
water, and did good service. About 6 o'clock addi-
tional bratticing and canvassing, to the depth of 13
fathoms, had been assembled—the flames being sub-
dued—but in consequence of the heat and density
of the smoke, the men could not descend the pit to
render any assistance to those who were in it, as
the shaft was choked with charred timbers, the
removal of which was very slowly performed—not
for want of energy on the part of the men engaged,
who were unremitting in their efforts, but owing
to difficulties. At this time there appeared very
little hopes of rescuing the men alive, but at all
events it was thought it could not be accomplished
before midnight. Strangers from all parts were
flocking to the place ; anxious relatives were formed
in groups round the pit, and here and there were
to be seen solitary females rocking themselves in
silent grief. The police, under the able superin-
tendence of Mr. Brown, had been upon duty dur-
ing the whole of the night, and their vigilance was
most praiseworthy. At 25 minutes past 8 the men
in the shaft, having reached the depth of 20 fathoms,
heard the first shouts of the men in the bottom of
the pit. The thrilling sensation of joy at the
scarcely-expected sound was such as cannot possibly
be described. Repeated orders were given of
"Down with the gin—down with the gin." John
Nicholson, of Cassop, who had volunteered to go
down, from a conviction that the men could be saved,
attempted the rescue, but, alas, this hope was cut off,
as the man returned from the bottom without any
of his fellows, and preparations were made for
continuing the canvassing. At this juncture
great numbers of men from different collieries,
in their working attire, came to relieve those
who had been toiling all the night and previous
day. At 20 minutes to 9 bread was provided for
the men at the bottom of the shaft, but owing to
the intense heat and smoke, could not be sent down
the pit. At ten minutes to 9 such a strong column
of steam came up as to put a stop for a time to all
efforts for rescuing the men. About 25 minutes
past 10 b. number of men went down. Only two
minutes had elapsed when the signal bell was rung,
and the men were distinctly heard talking at the
bottom of the shaft by Mr. Thomas Hall, the
viewer. At 29 minutes past 10 the signal for the
" gin" to bend up was given past the cradle, and
Dr. Hawkes was immediately sent for. This gen-
tleman, Mr. Hardy, of Byer's-green, and Mr. C.
Allen, surgeon, of Willington, had been on the spot
from Thursday morning at 10 o'clock, in order to
be ready for any emergency. Dr. Cairns was also
present. At 27 minutes past 11, John Nicholson,
of Cassop, had the honour of bringing the first
boy, whose name was Emnterson, to the bank
safely and in good spirits. On this a rivalry en-
sued among the men—who seemed to deem their
own lives as nothing in the effort to save their
fellow-men—as to who should go down the pit.
Mr. Wm. Hall, under-viewer, was the first who
went down to the loops. Nicholson reported on
ascending that all was clear of, fire and water at
the bottom of the pit, and was ready for operations.
Mr. Nicholas Wood, of Hetton, had now arrived at
the sad scene, and gave such orders as his great
experience dictated for the treatment of the men
down the pit, and which ultimately proved to be
,valuable and useful. At five minutes past 11 the
'first man was brought to bank, stimulants and
blankets being in readiness for the occasion and
used: The boys, who were afterwards brought up,
were carried on men's shoulders to the various
houses near the pit, which formed, as it were, so
many hospitals, at which every attention was paidto
those who most needed it. The women on this occasion
as on all others of a like nature, were truly assiduous.
At eight minutes past 11 one boy and an aged fur-
nace-man were brought up. The latter, suffering
and shivering extremely from cold, had to be car-
ried away, and for some time no hope was felt of his
restoration. At 17 minutes past 11 the order was
given by the viewer of the colliery, Mr. Johnson, for
some men to descend the pit to render what succour
they could to those still remaining in it. On this
order being given it was readily responded to by
the men, who rushed forward, resolved to brave all
dangers, and only anxious to be permitted to go
down ; but Mr. Cooke, the under-viewer of Whit-
worth, and Mr. Nelson, two experienced men,
volunteered, and were accepted. At 27 minutes past
11 o'clock a boy and a
am
nwl
rightere, 2 broughtAbtooutbatnhkis,
the latter saying, " I al
-time slight showers of rain fell, and the wind was
piercing cold, yet the people did not move, so great
was the excitement that prevailed. Now that the
men were continuing to come up every:few minutes,
Mr. Greener, agent to Col. Stobbart, of Etherley,
set b. noble example, which was as nobly followed,
in endeavouring by all possible means to restore the
men to animation, as they suffered greatly from the
cold. A few minutes after 12 o'clock the" blower"
(the jet of gas behind the brattice) in the shaft was
reported to be very strong. Shortly after this re-
port a young man was brought up, and on the men
attempting to take hold of him he exclaimed, " I
can do well enough by myself ;" and one man, we are
informed, as soon as he was put into bed called out for
" baccy," as he had not had a pipe for 24 hours. Up to
one o'clock in the afternoon, by great exertions, 17
boys and 19 men were got safely out. A few mi-
nutes after three, Mr. Cooke, who had descended
at six minutes past 12, was brought up in a pros-
trated and enfeebled condition. At two o'clock a

.great quantity of water had to be thrown upon
some smouldering brattices lying at the bottom of
the pit, fears being entertained that the flames
would burst out again, and so cut off all chance of
saving the men and boys—about 30 in number—
who were still in a perilous position in the pit. At
12 minutes past two o'clock 'an aged collier in a
pitiable condition, was brought to bank, when he
was immediately recognised by. one of his sons, wh o
exekimed in the ecstasy of joy, with his hands
uplifted to Heaven Oh, father !" It may easily be
conceived that suchaffecting ineidatts as these, and
they were frequent, caused many a tear to flow
from eyes unused to weakness. At this time Mr.
Wm. Hall, under-viewer, was brought up lame,
having by falling off a bunting sprained his ancle.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon a man was brought
up, who stated that the men and boys, who had
now endured 36 long hours of suspense in the pit,
were beginning to be " very bad,' and requested
some water and stimulants to be sent down to
them, and more men to search the workings. Of
course this request was immediately responded to
by a large quantity of weak brandy and water being
sent down. At half-past four the last two of the
men who came up alive were brought to bank, mak-
ing a total, men and boys, of 76 persons saved.
Mackay, the staithesman, rendered essential service
by his unremitting exertions in riding in the loops
for several hours at a time. At this time, after the
last survivors had been landed, he again descended
with sheets and a chain.

A reporter of a local paper thus describes the
bringing up of the dead :
"At half-past four, when the last of the living
had been brought to daylight, a fearful signal was
observed to be given by Mackay, the staithesman.
It was well understood, and the hopes which bad
up to that time been kept alive in the relatives of
those still in the pit, that those dear to them might
be saved, were destroyed. A chain and sheets were
given to the staithesman. With these he descended
into the dark abyss on his fearful errand. The ex-
citement and anxiety were now painfully inten-
sified. After a longer interval than usual, the sig-
nal was given ; one dead body had been fastened to
the staithesman, breast to breast ; the rope was
raised a yard or two ; another corpse was slung to
the rope ; and now the dreadful load is being drawn
up. The women cluster to the pit-mouth, and the
bodies arrive. The first is that of a fine boy about
13 years of age. There is a beautiful expression
upon his countenance, and nothing to indicate
that his young life had been taken by a violent
death. The body is unstrung, and a stal-
wart miner carrier it with the tenderness
and gentleness of a mother nursing her
child to the anxious crowd. The child is recog-
nised by its parents and sisters, and cries of agony
rend the air. The other brought up is enveloped
in a shroud ; it is taken from the ropes, and the
announcement that it is poor Kellett is made. Re-
newed wailings startle the spectators as he is borne
to his house. This fearful scene is five times re-
peated. Each time the rope ascends it brings with
it two corpses, one of a boy, another of a man. They
are placed on stretchers and taken to the crowd to
be recognised and claimed, and the repetition of the