Wigan Album
Mining
6 Comments
Photo: Ron Hunt
Item #: 13647
Perhaps some mining expert will be able to identify the pit, from the date?
There was an explosion at the King Pit in Goldborne in 1877...
http://www.wiganman.co.uk/Content/history/two_explosions.html
More than likely it was the King Pit Pemberton, about 36 dead.
Account here: http://www.wiganman.co.uk/Content/history/Richard_Cook.html
Illustrated London News story of the 1877 explosion in the Wigan 9ft mine. These artist's used to travel up and down the country depicting newsworthy scenes of Railway accidents Mining disaters etc. They were highly skilled at their job.
Best site for pit accidents is Ian Winstanley's. The King Pit Explosion of October 11th 1877 was followed by one in Scotland in which 209 died. 'The True Price of Coal', indeed.
My great grandfather John Bradshaw was killed in this explosion. It started in George Rutter's stall when they were using black powder to fire the shots.After the explosion, Blundell stopped using powder and the coal was hand got with pick and wedge. I have extracted the piece from the Observer of 1877 and if anyone wants a copy, email me and I will give one to you