Burns Pit Disaster

COAL mining has formed a major part of the economy of the North East of England for over five centuries. It brought great wealth to the Liberal mine owning families and the Prince Bishops of Durham. Black diamonds also kept thousands of men, women and children in work, causing other businesses to grow. The expansion of the railways was caused by the need to transport coal from the outlying mines to the river staithes. Miners and the mining industry lie deep in the folk memories and traditions of the North East.

All this came at a cost. Alongside this wealth and employment existed disease, accidents, danger and death. Many miners suffered in the later lives from illnesses caused by the harsh unnatural conditions underground. Others were left crippled by roof falls and other accidents. A large number were killed in mining incidents. Most pits can tell a tale of at least one disaster. These, too, are seared deep into the psyche of the Northumberland and Durham Coalfield.

Mercifully, few of these tragedies can equal that of the Burns Pit, near Stanley in Co Durham. A muffled boom was heard in Stanley on the morning of February 16, 1909. It was followed moments later by a deafening explosion.

One hundred and sixty-eight miners died, 70 women were widowed and 150 children were orphaned. Seventeen coffins were taken to one street of only 14 houses. Sixty of the dead were under the age of twenty, another 40 were in their twenties. The youngest victim was a 13 year old boy, who was being shown where he would start work the following week by his pitman father.

One miner, thought to have been called Stout, was saved by the stubbornness of his pit pony. He was leading it into the pit when it stopped abruptly. Its intuition must have sensed the impeding disaster. When it refused to move forward, he led it to the surface. The explosion came minutes later.

As well as carnage, there was much heroism that day. One group of miners fighting their way towards safety returned to held a 14 year old pit boy, who had become trapped. Pit deputy Mark Henderson called the survivors together and began to lead them safely away from the dust and killing gas. These 26 men were to be the only survivors. Mines Inspector Frank Keagan, grandfather of former Newcastle United player and manager Kevin helped to organise and lead the rescue teams.