COLLIERY MAYPOLE (incl.

The coroner concluded that the cause of death had been an explosion of firedamp and coal dust ignited by permitted explosives.

Fundraising postcard issued after the Maypole Colliery disaster.

Here, Joe Mullarkey describes that disaster, and the moves being made to commemorate those who lost their lives.

Shortly after 5 o’clock everything was proceeding as usual at the colliery when, with startling suddenness, the terrific report of an explosion at the pit shaft was heard and dense smoke and dust were seen issuing from the shaft and rising to a height of 200 or 300 ft. above, the headgear. [3], Coordinates: 53°30′35″N 2°35′38″W / 53.5096°N 2.5938°W / 53.5096; -2.5938, Postcard published in 1908 to raise funds for the victims of the disaster, In this part of Lancashire a coal seam is referred to as a mine and the, Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Company Ltd, "Past Forward- 100th Anniversary of the Maypole disaster", "Maypole Colliery Disaster- The King's Sympathy", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maypole_Colliery_disaster&oldid=972870022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 August 2020, at 06:11. They heard the blast and within minutes, hundreds were rushing along Park Lane to the colliery yard. © 2019 Mayo Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Robbed children of fathers. Irish Democrat Archive

Maypole Pit Disaster Aug 18th 1908 1 Comment.

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The last body was not recovered until 1917, nine years after a disaster still talked about by local miners. The Coroner heard many stories that the explosion had been caused by gas, but mine officials argued that Wigan pits were free of gas. The explosion happened in the area known as the Four Feet mine. Here, Joe Mullarkey describes that disaster, and the moves being made to commemorate those who lost their lives. For hours after the fireball had ripped its killing way through the pit, yellow smoke poured from the shaft - a stark aftermath of the horror underground but it was not until November of the following year that most of the victims were brought to the surface. Accidental death verdicts were recorded on all 76 victims. [1] Most of the men below ground at the time were shot-firers and maintenance workers.

Mrs Mary Harrington, Cashel, Charlestown receiving When one shift ended, a small army of shot firers entered the pit to bring down more coal for the next pitmen to shovel.

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This is a list of mining accidents in the historic county of Lancashire at which five or more people were killed. Pathetic scenes were witnessed when some of the women learned that their husbands and sons were down the ill-fated shaft and in peril of their lives. John Lumsdon: Eamonn Connor Commemoration of Maypole Pit Disaster We are hoping to become involved in a commemorative event being planned for August 2008. It was then discovered that, the headgear was damaged; the roof of the fan drift completely blown off; steam pipes broken and the ventilation from the fan house was stopped. Joe Mullarkey The three survivors were: Edward Farrell, W M Doran and Richard Fairhurst.

The Maypole Colliery disaster was a mining accident on 18 August 1908, when an underground explosion occurred at the Maypole Colliery, in Abram, near Wigan, then in the historic county of Lancashire, in North West England. Showing images tagged with Maypole Colliery Disaster tag. On the Sunday following the disaster, Canon Sommer sang a solemn Requiem Mass for the dead, which was attended by people from all the Catholic churches in Wigan. For the men did not earn unless coal was handled.

© 2020, wiganworld.co.uk, All Rights Reserved. [1] Most of the men below ground at the time were shot-firers and maintenance workers.

Maypole Colliery was owned by the Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Company Ltd[1] which had taken over the pit from the Moss Hall Coal Company in 1907. [3], Coordinates: 53°30′35″N 2°35′38″W / 53.5096°N 2.5938°W / 53.5096; -2.5938, Postcard published in 1908 to raise funds for the victims of the disaster, In this part of Lancashire a coal seam is referred to as a mine and the, Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Company Ltd, "Past Forward- 100th Anniversary of the Maypole disaster", "Maypole Colliery Disaster- The King's Sympathy", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maypole_Colliery_disaster&oldid=972870022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 August 2020, at 06:11. Right: - Maypole Memorial, Abram Parish Churchyard. The enormity of the explosion was realised immediately and while some people were utterly distraught, others waited in the rain, stunned and motionless.

These were used as mourning and condolence cards.

The coroner concluded that the cause of death had been an explosion of firedamp and coal dust ignited by permitted explosives.

The pit was flooded to quell the fire. The colliery owners argued that there had been no gas in the pit despite gas having been reported on the day before the explosion.

Ian Winstanley. During a recent visit to Co. Mayo, the current Mayor of Wigan, Wilf Brogan, planted a tree in the parish churchyard in Charlestown to commemorate those from that area of East Mayo who died in 1908 in the Maypole pit disaster. But all too soon, the reporters went off to other stories and the people of Abram and Wigan were left in their grief. Disaster . Alarming rumours, which, unfortunately, were later proved to be correct, immediately gained currency and anxious relatives instinctively paid a visit to the lamp office in order to ascertain whether those they were seeking were engaged in the mine.

An inquest on the seventy-six victims, listed below, was opened on the 21st of August 1908 and concluded on the 8th of July 1909. After two days, attempts to locate survivors and recover bodies were abandoned when fire broke out underground.

Maypole Pit Disaster Aug 18th 1908 No Comments.

It was a disaster that shook the Lancashire coalfield, a tragedy unprecedented in the Wigan area.

It was a disaster that shook the Lancashire coalfield, a tragedy unprecedented in the Wigan area. A specially-adapted room at the hugely-impressive centre in the parish of Killasser will serve as a reminder of that fateful day of August 18, 1908 when 75 people died in what became known as the Maypole Colliery Disaster.