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Old 18-10-2013, 06:53 PM
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Default Newburgh Colliery Explosion

This is the text from the Alnwick & C. Gazette regarding the Newburgh explosion on the 16th August 1914.


FATAL ACCIDENT AT NEWBURGH PIT.

A serious accident occurred at Newburgh Colliery on Sunday night whereby one man was killed and two injured.
The accident was supposed to have been caused through an explosion of gas, and the chargeman, Samuel Ainsley, was instantaneously killed, part of his head having been blown away. The other men who were with Ainsley were Stephen Hume, of Radcliffe, and D. Pringle, of Walkworth. The former received injuries about the head and body, and was admitted on Monday to the Royal Infirmary, Newcastle where he died the next morning. He was badly burned and had sustained a broken arm.

On Monday Mr. Chas. Percy, coroner for North Northumberland, opened an inquest on the body of Samuel Ainsley, 52 years of age, but after evidence of identification was taken the inquiry was adjourned.

Pringle’s injuries were not of a serious character, he having received slight wounds about the head. Ainsley was 52 years of age, and leaves a widow. He belonged to Amble.
At the inquest held at Newcastle Infirmary on Wednesday night concerning the death of Stephen Hume (32), evidence of identification was given, after which the inquiry was adjourned until September 2nd.
The adjourned inquest on the body of Samuel Ainsley was held at the Court House, Amble, on Thursday before Mr. Chas. Percy, coroner for North Northumberland.

Ralph Ainsley said that deceased was his brother, a chargeman at Newburgh Colliery, 52 years of age. He died on the 16th August from injuries received the same day while working in Newburgh Colliery.

William Pringle living at Warkworth a stoneman in the Colliery deposed that about 10-40 pm he was down the pit, going in to work with the deceased and Stephen Hume. They met the deceased at the Bank head, and he took them to show them where to start. When they got to the place deceased told them to get his tools. He went for them, and when about 15 yards from them one explosion of gas occurred. He was hurt by it, but not seriously. He could not get back for fumes, so went straight on to the mothergate and then to the bank head. Just as he got to the bank head he met George Hume carrying Stephen Hume away insensible. He saw Ainsley shortly afterwards. He was quite dead, having been killed by the accident. Hume died at Newcastle Infirmary on the 18th inst. He (witness) had worked in the Colliery for about 10 years. The district where the explosion occurred had always been considered safe for gas. He had a safety lamp, Hume an open lamp, and Ainsley a safety lamp. He saw nothing suspicious until just about a second before the accident. The air suddenly seemed to rush past him. There seemed to be plenty of ventilation. There was a fence on the narrow board entry and a door above the wheel on the bank head, which was open.

George Elliott, Chargeman said that at 10-30 about the time of the accident, he was at the bottom of Bailey’s Drift bank. He heard a rush of air and then a loud explosion, but he could not locate the sound. He went straight up the bank with his safety lamp lighted. He met the two Humes bringing their brother out. They were carrying him. After speaking to them he went forward to the place of the accident. The fumes were bad. He heard Ainsley moan. They had three lights; two went out through the bad air. They kept the third light further back and then they got Ainsley out. He died in about a minute. He had never known the district to be dangerous. The explosion of gas was in his opinion evidently loud. Ainsley would have to examine about 18 places that night. Just above the wheel the door, since the accident, had been put on in order to get ventilation to the face of the coal and drive the fumes out quicker. He was up the narrow board about a week before the accident. The place was all right then. There was a fall in the Narrow Board but it was not blocking the air way. There was a good air coming up the Narrow Board directly after the accident. They had safety lamps for examination purposes, not locked. He knew the lamps for examination purposes should be locked. It was against regulations if they were not but he made no protest. He had a new type of lamp unlocked, which it was not possible to open by mistake. He found Ainsley’s lamp about four or five yards inside where the fence had been, and Hume’s lamp was just outside the fence.
Alan Musket Morrison manager for Broomhill Collieries Company Ltd said he examined the place of the accident about one and a half hours after it had occurred. He found the fence was blown off, and Hume’s lamp about two yards from where the fence had been. It had been an open light. He thought Hume’s open lamp had ignited the gas, of which the place must have been full. He did not know the part to be dangerous because of gas. It was not considered to be so. It was permissible for Hume to have his light open. The explosion was quite local, and a radius of 50 yards would cover it. The pit had been intermittent in its working owing to the war.
The jury found that Samuel Ainsley had been accidentally killed on the 16th August through an accidental explosion of gas in Newburgh Pit while he was working there. The Jury impanelled were Messrs. John T. Duncan (foreman), John H. Smith, John Winter, T. Moscrop, Matthew Douglas, Thomas Wade, William Besford, Wm. Dunn, William Coulson, James G. Young, Robert Short.
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Old 18-10-2013, 06:59 PM
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Possibly the intermittent nature of the colliery's operation due to the start of the war had resulted in some inadequate maintenance and inspection?

Perhaps indirectly one of our first casualties of the war was Samuel Ainsley.



[note. There is a separate inquest for Stephen Hume which I will add later.]
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Old 19-10-2013, 03:29 PM
Alan J. Alan J. is offline
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I believe Newburgh was put onto a care and maintenance basis shortly after this due to shortage of manpower caused by so many of the workforce either being in the TA and being called up or actually "rushing" to volunteer for the great adventure which would be "over by Christmas". The remaining personnel were transferred to Broomhill to bolster their workforce which had suffered similarly.
Alan Musket Morrison was also involved in the war as mentioned in other places on this site, he ended the war as a Major and continued to use the title. He lived at Togston Hall and was manager when nationalisation took place in 1947.
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Old 16-11-2013, 04:33 PM
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Default Stephen Hume

RADCLIFFE.

Inquest on Victim of Explosion-
At Newcastle Infirmary, on Wednesday night, Mr R.E.B. Lisle, deputy coroner, resumed the inquest on Stephen Hume, 26, a miner of Long Row North, Radcliffe Colliery, who died in the institution on August 17th from injuries received while following his employment at Newburgh Colliery on August 16th. George Hume, a brother said that he and his brother went to work on the night of August 16th in Bailey’s drift at Newburgh Colliery. His brother was taken by the Chargeman to do some work, witness being left about 60 yards away. Shortly afterwards witness heard report, followed by a gust of wind, which blew out one of the lamps near him. They were naked lights. Witness heard his brother shout and went to his assistance. His brother was injured about the head and legs. One of his arms was broken. Samuel Aynsley the Chargeman, lost his life. Witness’s brother did not say how the accident happened. John Wardle, deputy Overman, said the accident occurred in the Duke Seam at Newburgh Colliery. The pit had not been working for about a week previous to the accident, and no work had been done at the place in question for about four weeks. On August 14th he examined the place, and did not find any gas. The place was fenced off and a danger board up. It was Aynsley’s duty to examine the place before anyone went to work there. Witness examined the place after the accident and found a safety lamp belonging to Aynsley, as well as Hume’s clothes, and an open lamp which belonged to Hume. He could not say how the accident was caused. Wm, Pringle of Warkworth, a Stoneman, said Aynsley the Chargeman sent witness and Hume to work in the narrow boards. The Chargeman and Hume went into the place, and witness went to another part for his gear. When sixteen yards away he felt a rush which was followed by an explosion in the place where Aynsley and Hume were. Witness was thrown down and injured. He struggled to his feet and could hardly get his breath on account of the fumes. He got to the bottom of the bank by another road, and saw Hume being assisted by his brother. George Elliott, Chargeman said that after the accident he went to the place but could not get to Aynsley’s assistance. A stronger current of air was got on by placing a door on the bank, - A verdict of “accidental death” was returned.
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Old 16-11-2013, 04:36 PM
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The Duke seam is the K seam in the NCB letter system I believe. AKA Brass Thill at Ellington. Although it is split in two often; K1 and K2.
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Old 13-04-2014, 02:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan J. View Post
I believe Newburgh was put onto a care and maintenance basis shortly after this due to shortage of manpower caused by so many of the workforce either being in the TA and being called up or actually "rushing" to volunteer for the great adventure which would be "over by Christmas". The remaining personnel were transferred to Broomhill to bolster their workforce which had suffered similarly.
A different slant on the run down of Newburgh in WW1 appears in the Newcastle Journal on 13 August 1914:
"The Central Hall, Amble, was crowded on the occasion of a public meeting held to consider the alleviation of distress during the war. Mr J H Merivale presided, and Sir Francis Walker, Mr W J Sanderson, jun., of Eastfield Hall, as well as the members of Amble Urban Council, were also present.
Mr Merivale said the Broomhill Collieries had almost entirely an export trade. Last year 88 per cent of their coal was sent abroad. The Government had thought fit to prohibit the exportation of coal. He had no doubt in doing so they had good reasons, and he would not attempt to criticise them. Mr Beckingham had gone to London to try and get this prohibition removed, and as a result the Government had given permission for the exportation of coal to certain countries, viz., Norway and Sweden. So that he hoped they might get some work for their workmen for one or two days a week. But still there would be a great deal of distress, and they were there to see what they could do to alleviate it.
It was decided to join the National Fund, with the Amble UD Council and nine members each from the Newburgh, Broomhill and Chevington lodges as a committee."

No wonder a lot of miners volunteered.
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Old 13-04-2014, 02:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coquet View Post
Possibly the intermittent nature of the colliery's operation due to the start of the war had resulted in some inadequate maintenance and inspection?

Perhaps indirectly one of our first casualties of the war was Samuel Ainsley.
The deaths of Ainsley and Hume seems to have presented an opportunity for the colliery owners, Newcastle Journal, 19 October 1914:
"On Saturday, a meeting of the workmen at the Newburgh Colliery was held to consider the position which had arisen owing to the men having received notice that the pit was to be closed down. Mr Alex Wallace presided.
Mr C Harmer explained that owing to the recent accident at the pit, by which two men had lost their lives, the Home Office had intimated that in the future locked safety lamps must be used, and no more gunpowder utilised. The various regulations would have the effect of adding 6d per ton to the cost of coal production, and this, considering the fact that the colliery paid no dividend, had caused the directors to decide to close down the pit.
It was decided to ask the Northumberland Miners' Association to send agents down to advise the men in the matter."
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Old 13-04-2014, 02:56 PM
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And there you have it: Newcastle Journal, 14 November 1914:

"A large number of the men and boys who were thrown out of work by the closing of Newburgh Pit have since found employment elsewhere, and a considerable proportion have enlisted in Kitchener's Army. The older men are finding it rather difficult to get work, but the local branch secretary in a communication to the Miners' Association, Burt Hall, Newcastle, says he does not think there will be many come on to the funds of the union in respect of stoppage relief pay."
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Old 13-04-2014, 06:04 PM
Alan J. Alan J. is offline
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Well done Janwhin, this fills in a few gaps. So Newburgh was actually closed at this point for a variety of reasons it seems. Rather strange to virtually give up on a pit which was only 20 years old at the time. Do you think politics were somehow involved here ?
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Old 13-04-2014, 09:28 PM
janwhin janwhin is offline
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Interesting isn't it. It looks like Newburgh was the most dispensable of the pits in the Broomhill group and as they say, they hadn't been paying a dividend to directors.
From what I've been looking at in relation to Newburgh, it seems it was a difficult pit.....they had a lot of fatalities in a relatively short lifespan, mostly roof falls, and they were probably a bit lax on compliance with the latest Regulations.
Given the Government had slapped on this prohibition on exports it didn't look good. I don't know what proportion of the sort of coal Newburgh produced would have been what Scandinavia was looking for. I did come across another newspaper report that suggested quite a few men had headed to Elswick for work!
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Old 14-04-2014, 09:57 AM
Alan J. Alan J. is offline
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The threat of closure seemed to be rather final. This obviously didn't happen as it must have been put on care and maintenance basis of some sort to allow it to be opened after the war. Usually if a colliery is "closed" thats it, no going back due to the deterioration etc. Even when it restarted there would have been a considerable outlay to get up to speed again.
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Old 15-04-2014, 10:05 AM
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From what I've picked up, it seems the Government took over the pits during the war and then handed them back. Northumberland had record outputs during the war years. Newburgh seems to have restarted in 1921?
Things weren't good for miners after the war as Germany was producing war reparation coal so they were undercutting everybody else on price. The coal owners in this country would have had a whip hand on wages as a result.
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Old 21-05-2014, 01:42 PM
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Here's another little bit of the history of Newburgh Pit from 1912.
The Morpeth Herald of 29 March was reporting snippets about the 1912 strike but for Newburgh it had the following:
"At the present time some 40 hewers are engaged at Newburgh Pit fighting the flames which have raged in the workings for over three years and have defied all the scientific efforts of mining engineers. The men, whose duties are very difficult, are paid at the rate of 6/8 per shift."
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Old 21-05-2014, 03:03 PM
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Wow. that's an interesting one, didn't know they had a fire. It was a killer for Lynemouth Colliery. I guess the Newburgh guys faired a bit better.
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