Accidents and Disasters
by Ron Ellis
Mining has always been one of the more dangerous trades. The families of the miners live at all times under the shadow of calamity great or small.
The total number killed annually in the mines in the period from 1880 to 1910 was for most years between 1,000 and 1,500. On average four miners were killed every day in the British coalfields. But though the total figure of deaths remained very high during these years - and actually increased in the decade up to 1920 - there had been a fall in the rate of fatal accidents.
From 1890, when the number of persons killed per 100,000 employed underground was 206, there was a gradual fall until 1910, when the fatal accidents were 191.7 per 100,000 employed underground, and until 1913 when the rate was 173.6 per 100,000 employed underground.
The non-fatal accidents also run to a high figure. For every man killed, a hundred and more were injured. The number of persons injured by non-fatal accidents at mines reported under the notice of accidents act of 1906 was
143,258 in 1908 154,740 in 1909 160,160 in 1910 168,360 in 1911 152,302 in 1912 178,962 in 1913
These figures, applying to injuries which caused disablement for more than seven days, amounted to from 14 per cent to 15 per cent of the total number employed, and of course to a considerably higher percentage of those employed underground. Every few years an explosion occurs of such magnitude as to bring home to the public the risks run by miners.
The list of colliery disasters caused by explosion is melancholy reading, but it was these disasters rather than the daily tale of killed and injured which resulted in parliament taking steps to introduce safety measures in the mines. Great stories are told, and high honour paid in battle to those who risk their lives to aid comrades in distress, but never in the history of war was there heroism that called for greater courage, a more iron resolution and more complete unselfish service than has been shown by the ordinary rank and file in the coal fields when their mates were in danger deep in the bowels of the earth.
Before 1800 there were acts of parliament dealing with miners, but not with their conditions of work. Between l800 and 1842 saw a rapid growth of the mining industry, which increased the risk to the miners.
Working became deeper and colliery disasters happened more often and took a terrible toll of the mining community.
A royal commission of (1840-42) stated instances occur in which children are taken into the mine to work as early as four years of age and five, six, and seven. The commission showed a state of affairs not only disgraceful but also perilous to the country. A different view was taken by the Marquis of Londonderry who fought the bill tooth and nail. He said this might be regarded as the commencement of a series of grievances which would be got up for the purpose of working upon that hypocritical humanity which reigned so much. He continued his opposition to the last.
However the bill did become law on August 10 1842. This act prohibited the employment of females underground and males under the age of ten.
The north east was expressed in rough verses by a local poet
THINK ON US HINNIES, IF YOU PLEASE, AN’IT WAR BUT TO SHOW YOR PITY; FOR A’THE TOILS AND TEARS IT GI’ES TO WARM THE SHINS O’LUNNUN CITY.
THE FIERY “BLAST” CUTS SHORT WOR LIVES, AND STEEPS WOR HYEMS IN DEEP DISTRESS; MYEKS WIDOWS O’WOR CANNY WIVES AND A’WOR BAIRNS LEAVES FAITHERLESS.
THE WAIT’RY WYEST, MAIR DREADFUL STILL ALIVE OFT BARRIES HUZ BELAW; OH DEAR IT MYKES WOR BLOOD RUN CHILL MAY WE SIC MIS’RY NIVVER KNAW
TO BE CUT OFF FRAE KITH AND KIN THE LEET O’DAY TE SEE NE MAIR, AND LEFT, FRAE HELP AND HOPE SHUT IN TO PINE AND PARISH IN DESPAIR
IF YE COULD ON’Y TYEK A VIEW, AND SEE THE SWEET FREA OFF US POORIN’ - THE DAILY DANGERS WE GAN THROUGH THE DAILY HARDSHIPS WE RE ENDURIN!
YE WAD SEND DOON, .AW HA’E NE DOUBT, SOME CHAPS ON WHAT THEY CALL A “MISSION” TO TRY IF THEY COULD FERRET OUT SOMETHING TO BETTER WOR CONDITION.
Quoted in Fynes history of Northumberland and Durham miners.