THIRTEEN MINERS AND SIX HORSES IMPRISONED IN THE PIT.

The speed of the pumping engine – the largest in the county - was increased to a considerable extent, going at the rate of nine strokes per minute, and the throw of water being sixty gallons per stroke, the enormous amount of 540 gallons was thus drawn out per minute, at which rate the engine worked for the whole day.

In addition to this, a large water “druggon” capable of holding 35 cwt of water was geared on at the upcast shaft, the engine of which kept drawing and emptying at the rate of thirty tons an hour. The large pumps at the Trough pits, which have only been occasionally used during the last few years, were also called into requisition, and by twelve o’clock the united forces of pumping must have reached nearly 250 tons per hour, which rate was kept up for time.

Such, however, was the immense body of water, that at one o’clock it had only sunk about 16 inches down the shaft. The whole of the mining staff were on the g round, soon after the accident was made known, and amongst them were –

• Mr. Greenway, the agent who had charge of the pit
• Mr. Spruce
• Mr. Matthew Fletcher
• Mr. Latham
• Mr. John Hughes
• Mr. John Skidmore
• Mr. Joshua Mantle
• Mr. Jeremiah Skidmore
• Mr. John Jukes, etc,

who all seemed sanguine that the men were alive, although the horses were considered as lost. These opinions were formed from the fact that the coal “cropped” a great deal, being in many places forty yards nearer the surface of the earth than the bottom of the shaft, and were told to the sorrowing relatives the poor men who were immured, but seemed to afford them little consolation..

Towards the afternoon the “Trough,” pumps, not having been used for some time, required fresh buckets, and a temporary suspension of this engine was consequently unavoidable. As quickly as possible, however, the necessary repairs were made, and the pumps again put into motion, when the advantage gained by the new buckets soon made itself apparent by the increased flow of water.

About three o’clock Mr. Plant went down the shaft accompanied by two of the men, for the purpose of ascertaining as nearly as possible the depth of the water, and found it to be nearly twenty-five feet, or about twelve feet above the top of “inset” or opening from the shaft to the mine.

Mr. J.P. Baker, the Government inspector of mines for the district arrived abut three o’clock, on receiving a special message, and the sinking of the water having been duly registered was known to him, he remained on the ground until nearly three o’clock on Thursday morning.

Great praise can be given to the various officials for the promptitude with which everything that could possibly be suggested or done was carried out. Being thought possible to drive a heading from the Robin Hood (No.28) to join the inundated workings a body of miners were immediately dispatched there who commenced on operations at once, and made tremendous tracks to carry out that object.

The possibility of mining assistance by means of a diving apparatus also fully discussed, and, although the project considered impracticable by nearly all, a messenger was dispatched by the early train to Blackpool, to consult with some of the most experienced divers, and to bring over at once in case they could be of service. However, it was found quite impossible to apply these means to any advantage, as distance which would have to be assessed through the water, even after gaining access to the bottom of the shaft, was far too great to allow a diver to carry with him the requisite quantity of air for his own sustenance.

March 1896 after being imprisoned upwards of 140 hours.