THE OAKS. Barnsley, Yorkshire 13th December 1866.

Amongst those who went down were Mr. Smith, the mining engineer from Lundhill Colliery, David Tewert, the underground steward, William Sugden, the deputy steward, Charles Siddon, the under deputy and Thomas Madin and William Stevenson, firemen.

The party was accompanied by Mr. Jeffcock, a mining engineer from Sheffield who was 34 years of age. This party worked restoring the ventilation by erecting brattices and temporary stoppings. Jeffcock had remained underground all night and work was sent to him that he should be relieved. He sent a message back that the temperature in the shaft should be watched as he thought the mine was heating up. A warning came from another party of explorers under the command of William Sugden, when, at about 8.30 a.m., when the party were about 750 yards from the pit bottom the ventilation suddenly became disturbed. All the men rushed for the cage and went to the surface but Sugden stayed as he considered it his duty to do so.

There was a party of men waiting to go down. They had lowered a thermometer down the shaft and thought the ventilation all right. It was at this moment that the pit fired again. The men around the shaft were tumbled back over one another. The No.1 cage was blasted into the headgear. The waiting crowds were stunned as this second explosion was heard over a mile away, Dense clouds of smoke poured from the shaft and large pieces of burnt timber were hurled through the air. The other cage was lowered to the bottom of the shaft and raised a few moments later. It was empty. It was realised that everyone in the pit was dead and that little could be done to recover the bodies.

At 7.40 p.m. there was a third explosion and black smoke bellowed out of the No.2 Pit discharging sparks and flames into the air. The ventilation of the pit was hopelessly deranged and the air was now going down the upcast shaft and coming up the downcast.

Smoke and sparks continued to come from the No.2 pit all night and men were appointed to watch for any change in the situation.

According to an account given by Mr. T.W. Embleton an incident occurred in the 14th. December when the signal bell of the No.1 shaft was heard to ring. This prompted men to shout down the shaft and a little bottle of brandy was lowered down. When the rope came up the bottle had gone. It was though that there was someone alive in the mine and immediately steam was raised to drive a sawmill engine. Mr. Embleton and Mr. J.E. Mammatt were lowered down in a tub. Their descent was perilous as the shaft had been badly damaged. The pumps were blocked and there were huge torrents of water descending. They had great difficulty in keeping their lights burning but when they arrived at the bottom they found Samuel Brown, the sole survivor.

Brown had been in the party which descended at 7 a.m. on Thursday and had gone down the incline where two more bodies had been found and brought to the bottom of the shaft. It was just after this that the air reversed which sent the men running for the pit bottom. Jeffcock and his party had been seen to go further into the workings. Brown with his companions, Hoylands, Barker and Young had gone into the ‘lamphole’ and rested there. They were there when the second explosion occurred. He remembered little but the blast killed his companions. He said-

"I remained in the lamp office until I lost my faculties and remained in that position for some time after which I began to recover. I then made my way to the bell wire and received an answer from above. I have to state that the two persons which I felt with my hands were all that I came across during my stay in the pit and I supposed them to be dead."

Nothing more could be done and the colliery was visited by Earl Fitzwilliam who presented the Company with a wagon load of blankets. Major Waterhouse, M.P., also visited the pit. Mr. Charles Morton, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Mines arrived at the colliery and a consultation took place with the engineers and owners at the pithead. Mr. Morton was only too well aware of the reception of the crowd at the Edmunds Main Colliery some years earlier when he had urged the colliery to be flooded. The strain on him was very great and his health gave out. He was replaced by Joseph Dickenson, the Inspector for the Manchester District and he made the report into the disaster.

The estimate of the loss of life in the disaster was 352 and there was a meeting of mining engineers at the Kings Head to see what could be done with the colliery. At the meeting it was agreed that the No.1 shaft should be filled to the Melton Field Seam to a point a little below the drift to the pumping shaft. Smoke and choke damp were still coming from the No.1 shaft at intervals and when engineers were examining the No.2 shaft they heard a rumbling noise. Notices saying ‘Smoking Strictly Prohibited’ and ‘No Lights Whatsoever Allowed’’ were placed around the shafts.

With the death of Charles Warmeley, one who had been brought out of the pit alive, only four of the eighteen that were rescued were still alive and two of them were reported to be dangerously ill. The inquest into the deaths of the men was opened at Hoyle Mill but only evidence of identification was taken and the proceedings adjourned.

From the ‘ Barnsley Chronicle’ 9th. October, 1869- "LIST OF BODIES RECOVERED."

Over two years have now elapsed since the Oaks Colliery shaft was reopened after being closed for more than nine months. Twelve months ago we gave a list of the bodies which had been recovered after the reopening of the shaft and we now repeat with the names of the victims of the explosion whose bodies have been recovered since that date.

The total number of victims was 334 by the first explosion of the 12th,. December 1866 and 26 by the second explosion the following day. Total 360. Seventy five bodies were recovered prior to the shafts being closed, forty five were recovered during the first twelve months after the shaft was reopened and seventy during the past years, making the total 190. This deducted from 360 leaves 17 bodies still in the colliery. It is remarkable that all but two have been identified."

A new shaft was sunk at Stair Foot and an attempt made to get the water out of the pit by means of a pump driven by compressed air. An engine driven by this force was tried some years before to drive a coal cutting machine.

The following is the list that appeared in the ‘ Barnsley Chronicle’ with the dates of their recovery, ‘as far as can be made out.’