Further Explorations
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Glorious Rescues
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Dewsbury And The Disaster

Thornhill Wednesday

Early this morning crowds began to assemble about the colliery and the explorers came and arranged for another descent with Mr Cowey and Mr Murray, of the Yorkshire Miners' Association present. During the night men had been engaged flooding the blocking bed, which is thirty yards below the seam where they were working at the time of the explosion. The object of the flooding was to make the bed more safe for the exploring party. At least five thousand people had assembled by half-past ten, all anxious to know if there was hope of saving any of the poor fellows trapped below.

Rescue attempts had been suspended the night before at half past nine o'clock for few hopes were entertained except by the most sanguine, that any of the poor men and boys were alive. To have gone on after that hour would have been to risk another explosion, the imminence of which was great.  At seven o'clock this morning (Wednesday) a party went down, but were compelled to come up directly, as the state of the air was so bad. Flooding was resorted to, and endeavours to improve the ventilation was never relaxed.

It was not, however, until nearly noon that the next party of explorers went down and found the air courses clearer, and as the day progressed and a further improvement took place, more explorers descended. On one occasion a party of forty went down in parties of four and the relatives and friends of those previously given up for dead, became much agitated and walked about crying bitterly.

Outburst Of Grief

Later, when it transpired that eighty-eight bodies and a number of dead horses had been found, there was a great outburst of grief everywhere. Many of the dead were found in extraordinary positions, one man had died with his arms up, and it was evident that he had been endeavouring to get a portion of his clothing to his mouth to prevent the inhalation of after-damp. Other touching stories of what the rescuers found is related in more detail in another part of this newspaper.

Mr Cowey, President of the Yorkshire Miners' Association told reporters in the afternoon that he felt there was no hope of finding any of the entombed men alive. He said "Not a soul will be found alive, there will not be a mouse alive in that pit. If there should be it will be a miracle. By this time more than a hundred dead bodies had been found in the pit and the possibility of anyone being found alive was almost undreamed of.

Finding Of Living Miners Exciting Scenes

At about four o'clock the intelligence came, and it spread like wildfire among the assembled thousands, that a man had been found alive, though in an exhausted condition. The man was Friend Senior, of Thornhill, who had been entombed for 28 hours and who had lost all hope that he would ever see the light of day again.

When he recognised his rescuer, Charles Moore, he said simply, "Well, Charley," He had not to be carried out of the cage, but walked with support and remarked that he ailed nothing, but was thirsty.

Encouraged by this success the exploring pushed on and went into the banks on each side, and presently came across John Garthwaite, of Thornhill Edge, who was unconscious.  The rescuers rubbed his arms and legs and by this and other means managed to revive him. Further on more living men were found, Henry Wrathmell, of Thornhill Edge, who was in a very weak condition, Joseph Mallison of Middlestown, Squire Fisher and Richard Wood, of Thornhill Edge. On receiving news that men were still alive, Mr Scott, the colliery manager, and Dr Sellars and Dr Woods, descended the shaft immediately for the purpose of rendering medical assistance to them.

First Man Brought Up

Soon after five o'clock, Henry Wrathmell was the first man to be brought to the pit mouth and when it became known that he was alive a wild cheer was raised by the crowd. Another cheer and another followed when he was recognised as he lay upon an ambulance stretcher gazing wistfully and hopefully at the unwonted scene. He was carried to the joiner's shop, the erstwhile receptacle for the dead. The good tidings of his rescue had been borne to his wife, and soon she was seen with tearful but happy face hurrying to the scene with their little son clinging to her skirts.

Almost immediately and unexpectedly the cage came up again, bringing another miner who had been snatched from the tomb, Joseph Mallinson, of Middlestown, who was carried in the arms of four of his comrades. He gazed around enquiringly, and the wildest excitement prevailed, with the vast crowds surging forward. They refused to be kept back, and truth to tell, the police seemed to recognise the tender feelings which prompted their eagerness and were very gentle in repelling them. Mallinson, who was in a sitting posture when hauled up, was also taken to the Joiners' shop, where restoratives were given him. There was a long wait, and then the news came that another man, John Garfitt, had been found — and strange to say, his rescue came at the very moment when his mother was bewailing before the Coroner that she had lost her husband and three sons. The good news was speedily conveyed to her, and while her heart was being gladdened, the hearts of others also beat rapidly in the wild hope that their dear ones too might also be among those alive.

Dragged From Jaws Of Death

Shortly afterwards someone in the crowd observed that restoratives were being sent down the shaft, and the wildest excitement was again shown by the assembled crowd, who divined correctly that more poor fellows were being draped from the jaws of death. The cage came up again with more miners, Squire Shires and Friend Senior, the latter not having to be carried out of the cage, but walking with support. He remarked that he ailed nothing but was thirsty, and his sister came to him, full of fear and of joy - A touching scene ensued and she covered his face with kisses and left full of joy to get the home ready for him. She was followed and accompanied by loving friends and acquaintances.

In the meantime, he sat sipping some tea, in which a modicum of brandy had been poured, and one of the doctors said to him, "You will do with a smoke soon." But Friend Senior shook his head, and said, "No, I don't smoke, I feel very well, and I thank you. Then his younger brother, who had just come in, came up to him, and there was a touching and silent grasp of the hand.  In a few minutes he was being taken away on a stretcher to his home.

More Survivors Found

A sixth survivor, Richard Wood, of Thornhill Edge, an old and experienced miner, whom everyone had given up for dead, was then carried in to receive the attention of the doctors, who were indefatigable in their efforts. His appearance was also greeted with a shout of recognition and loud cheering. "Heigh-up, it's Dicky Wood," a man cried out, and greetings such as "Howd up, owd lad," and "Glad to see thee once more," were shouted as he was being carried from the pit head to the joiners' shop. His rescue was the theme of conversation in the crowds and it was said he has a family of nine daughters, some of whom are employed at Dewsbury mills.

At five minutes to nine o'clock, the crowd, which had increased to enormous dimensions, was appraised of the fact that the explorers had discovered another poor fellow alive, and a few seconds later, the cage was seen to be ascending. When the crowds saw that the survivor being escorted out by two comrades was a young man, the crowd set a ringing cheer.  The young fellow proved to be Willie Lightowler, of Thornhill Edge, aged eighteen, who was engaged as a "trammer". The fortunate youth, whose miraculous escape thrilled the onlookers, appeared well, despite his prolonged and terrible confinement. The young fellow acknowledged the enthusiasm of the crowd by a smile as he was escorted to an adjoining room.

Prolonged Cheers Of Joy

At about a quarter to ten it was mooted amongst those on the pit head that there were yet two other men alive at the pit bottom, waiting to be drawn to the surface. After the cage appeared again, the crowds discerned a stretcher on which lay a man, aged about thirty-five or forty years old. Again the multitude cheered enthusiastically as the bearers wended their way to the room which had been prepared for such cases. The name of the man was ascertained to be Joshua Ashton, of Smithy Brook. Scarcely had Ashton reached the reception room when another party of rescuers arrived at the top, bringing with them on a stretcher, John Heywood of Middlestown. As in the previous cases, the people present gave vent to their joy by loud and prolonged cheers. Many said it was a remarkable coincidence that both Haywood and Mallinson, who had only started working at the Combs Colliery on Friday last, three days before the catastrophe, should be amongst the few who have been brought to the surface alive.

Prompt Assistance - Insurers Settle Claims

A large proportion of the deceased were insured with the Prudential Assurance Company. Mr Wood, of Leeds, and Mr. Spencer, of Dewsbury, the managers of the company, visited the village, and hiring a room opposite the gates of the colliery, paid during the day, sixty claims amounting to £1,009.  None were disputed. The London, Edinburgh and Glasgow Assurance Company, through Mr Davies, of Dewsbury, also paid claims. This is a prompt and liberal contribution to the movement for the relief of the sufferers.

Miscellaneous Items

Money was collected at Manningham Park, Leeds, on Thursday, for the Relief Fund — £31 was raised.

A great amount of sympathy has everywhere been shown. In Batley there is to be a public meeting, the Mayor (Councillor Auty) having issued notices calling the public together and there is sure to be a liberal response. The donation by the Batley Co-operative Society has given a noble start.

The amount altogether distributed by the Yorkshire Miners' Association to their sixty-four members in the Thornhill branch is £366.

Dreadful Scenes In The Mine With Bringing Up Of Bodies
Rescuers Weep At What They Find
Messages And Prayers Scribbled By Entombed Miners

Information obtained today (Thursday) from one of the explorers, shows that some awful scenes, as may be imagined, were witnessed in the recesses of the gloomy mine where the trapped miners had run for protection. About 500 yards from the bottom of the pit shaft, the explorers came across a mournful and distressing sight. In front of them, laid almost at their feet, were thirteen men, who, from their appearance, seemed to have been stricken down by the deadly after-damp (gas), the miner's deadliest enemy.

A little further on were seven young boys who appeared to have met the same awful fate as their elders. The poor little fellows were laid face downwards, separated from each other by only a few feet, and the explorers, it need scarcely be added, were extremely affected by the terrible scenes. When they came to the surface of the pit, the waiting crowds observed tears rolling down their cheeks.

The exploring party did not cease operations until half past three o’clock this morning (Thursday) and at that time ninety nine men and boys, including the nine survivors, had been brought to the   surface of the pit. Throughout the night men and women remained on the hill side, many of them weeping, whilst others silently grieved or sought comfort from one another. As early as four o'clock this morning, there were relatives and friends of the entombed men in the vicinity of the colliery.

Those In Distress Treated With Consideration

Mr Ingham, the colliery owner, who had remained until the early hours of the morning, along with the manager, Mr Scott, had been most indefatigable in his effort to make the best of the awful catastrophe. Throughout it has been noticeable that, on all hands, those in distress have been treated with the utmost consideration and sympathy. 

At six o’clock this morning, three deputies, named respectively Messrs, Edwin Lodge, George Armitage and Richard Halstead, descended the mine and on their return, reported that the ventilation and the works generally were distinctly favourable to the progress of exploring operations.

At about nine o'clock, the following men, in the charge of Mr Scott, the manager, and Mr Childe, engineer, went down the shaft to complete the work of bringing up the corpses:-

• Charles Smith
• Sam Blackburn
• Joe Brook
• John Bertley
• G.V. Jackson
• David Bairns
• George Armitage
• Joshua Castle
• George Bradshaw
• Ezra Lodge
• James Arthur Senior
• Walter Brooke
• Henry Parkin
• Wroe Parkin
• Edwin Lodge
• George Almond
• James Peace
• William Wroe
• James Brooke
• A.F. Lodge
• Edward Bedford
• Jesse Jartsone
• John Walshaw
• Arthur Haigh
• Richard Halstead
• Rowland Bastow

A Miner Is Found Dead On His Knees

This morning one of our reporters had an interview with Herbert Clarkson, a miner, of Horbury, who went down at just after eleven o'clock on Wednesday night with Lister Hoyle, Dan Brooke, and the manager, for the purpose of recovering bodies and bringing them to the shaft bottom, where they were afterwards taken in charge by others and handed up to the brink. He states that they went round the south side of the workings and the first body they found was a man on his knees.  There was a little lad dead nearby, and two bodies found across one another.

The explorers had to use the trams and corves to bring the bodies to the pit shaft bottom, and also stretchers. They also found other bodies, mostly huddled up, and there was a young lad, who had been working on the north side, found in the south end. It was believed he had run into the south to avoid the danger. Mr Clarkson said he had been told that Heywood, the man who was last brought up, had written a prayer on his on his tram, and that it said that he had prayed for them all.

Women Wash And Lay Out Dead

At noon on Thursday there were 120 bodies laid out upstairs and downstairs in the Parochial Hall presenting a melancholy sight. In the basement of the building, two large wooden platforms were laid on the floor on which to place the bodies as they were laid out, and a long table was placed between the platforms, at which were a number of women and men engaged in washing and laying out the bodies.

The Ven. Archdeacon Brooke, busied himself during the whole time In superintending the work, and running about in search of linen and other necessaries. A few of the corpses of the men were blackened and some were disfigured. But others looked quite calm and peaceful, as if sleeping and one poor boy had had his fingers placed on his lips. One of the dead men had a piece of board in his hand on which he had written "look for my watch". The rows of bodies laid out were all numbered. Their clothing, which had been bundled up and had also been numbered, was fetched away at intervals by relatives, many of whom on recognising their beloved ones, broke into uncontrollable grief.

The last body was brought to the surface shortly before two o'clock In the afternoon, and the head banksman announced to all those assembled around the pit that the whole of  the men and boys were accounted for.

Royal Celebration Committee Abandon Rejoicings
Only Aged Poor To Have Treat

A hastily convened meeting of the subscribers to the fund for celebrating the Royal marriage of the Duke of York and Princess Mary was held on Wednesday forenoon in the Mayor's Reception Room, Dewsbury Town Hall, for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of giving up all rejoicing because of the appalling disaster that has befallen the district through the explosion at Combs Colliery.

The Mayor, Alderman Pyrah, in opening the proceedings, said he was sure they all regretted the reason for their being called together and was sure, too, that all their hearts and sympathies went out to those who had lost their husbands and children. The thought struck him yesterday, and it had several times been suggested to him, that they ought to take steps at once to reconsider the question of the rejoicing that had been arranged for Thursday in honour of the Royal Marriage. He for one failed to see how they could carry out the festivities under the cloud that had been cast over them. (Hear, Hear). They could not rejoice under such circumstances. He had received many letters and telegrams which conveyed the same sympathies and the opinion that the celebrations should be abandoned and the money they had in hand be donated towards the relief of the poor widows and those bereft of their loved ones.

The Mayor read a telegram from the Vicar of  Mirfield which read: "Deepest sympathies with the widows and orphans. If you start relief fund will promise offertory collection from Mirfield Parish Church.

A Scandal If Celebrations Were Allowed To Go On
Cooking Of Buns Stopped
500 Pounds Of Beef Already Cooked

Mr S G Hepworth, secretary of the Royal Wedding Celebration's Committee, said he thought if the Amusement Committee was turned into a Consoling Committee they would indeed be acting loyally. The previous night, on hearing the news of the disaster, and in anticipation of the feelings of Dewsbury people, he had stopped any cooking of buns and everything else towards the proposed festivities. He felt certain that it would be out of order after such an appalling disaster, indeed it would be a scandal, he was sorry the children should be deprived of the treat, but there were other lessons for children to learn in this world other than losing a treat. (Hear, Hear).

But Mr Machell said that as far as the treat for the aged poor was concerned, his committee had already bought and cooked the meat and all preparations were made. There were 500 pounds of meat purchased and tickets had already been given out to the poor people. He did not see why the aged poor should be deprived of their meat.

Mr F Lyles, however considered it hardly the thing that the old folk should have their treat and the children be deprived of theirs. He moved that the meat be sent to Thornhill to be distributed amongst those left in distress.

Mr W W Yates said when he entered the room, that afternoon his feeling was that the entire treat in celebration of the Royal Wedding should be given up. But on further consideration he had come to the conclusion that the treat for the aged poor should go ahead, especially seeing that the arrangements were so far advanced. He said there were many old people to whom even one good meal was a matter of great importance, and the committee would still be doing their duty if they allowed it to go on for the aged poor and then send the balance of money subscribed to the Thornhill Colliery Relief Fund. He suggested the following resolution: -

"That the meeting hereby expresses its most sincere sympathies and condolences with those who have lost their lives in the awful disaster and thereby resolve to appropriate such amount of the funds in the hands of the treasurer as remains, after providing for the dinner for the aged poor of Dewsbury, the arrangements of which have proceeded too far to allow of any postponement, this meeting also agrees to an abandonment of the treat to the children."

Mr Yates' resolution to abandon the celebrations but to allow the treat for the aged poor to continue, was carried with practical unanimity.