| Individual Details | Individual Details | |||
 |
 |
|||
James Anderson
| Age: | 42 |
| Died: | 11th Nov 1850 |
| Accident: | 11th Nov 1850 7:00 a.m. |
| Year Born: | abt. 1808 |
| Colliery: | Houghton |
| Company: | Earl of Durham |
| Occupation: | |
| Notes: | left a wife and 4 children, residence: Philadelphia ; killed in the 1850 explosion (ignition caused by safety lamp) |
| Buried: | St. Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring on 13 Nov 1850 |
 |
 |
| Description | |
|
|
A dreadful explosion of gas occurred in Houghton Colliery, the property of the Earl of Durham. From the close contiguity of the colliery to the town from which it derives its name, the alarm spread in all directions, and the usual quietude gave place to the greatest consternation by the report that 150 lives were destroyed, that number being down the pit at the time of the accident. A number of brave men volunteered, with the usual magnanimity displayed under such circumstances, to make an attempt to save their relatives and friends, and, after five hours arduous exertions, they succeeded in rescuing one hundred and twenty four men and boys, many of whom were in a state of insensibility, the remainder, twenty six on number, were found dead. The sufferings of the survivors, during the protracted period which elapsed before their deliverance, were of the most intense character, both bodily and mental, and the meeting between them and their disconsolate families, who had given them up as lost, will never be forgotten by those that witnessed it. The sufferers, with two exceptions, were unmarried, and the Earl of Durham ordered that every necessary relief should be afforded them.
|
|
| Death Certificate | |
|
|
1851 death in the Registration District of Houghton-le-Spring, Sub-district of Houghton-le-Spring, in the County of Durham | |||||||||
| No | When and where died | Name and surname | Sex | Age | Occupation | Cause of death | Signature, description and residence of informant | When registered | Signature of registrar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 649 | Eleventh November 1850 Houghton Pit Houghton le Spring | James Anderson | Male | 42 years | Pitman | Explosion of inflamable air caused by the negligent presence of a naked candle contrary to rules | Thos. Chris. Maynard Coroner of Easington Ward Durham | Twenty ninth March 1851 | James Humphrey Registrar |
|
|
| Related Newspaper Articles | |
|
|
| 13 Nov 1850 | Awful Colliery Explosion (The Times) |
| 14 Nov 1850 | The Explosion At Houghton Colliery (The Times) |
| 23 Nov 1850 | The Colliery Explosion At Houghton (The Times) |
|
|
| Sources | |
|
|
- Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by T. Fordyce, Published in 1867
- Sunderland Herald
|
|
| Researchers | |
|
|
If you are researching this individual (e.g. for family tree purposes) and you would like to hear from others with the same interest then please complete the details in the following form. We will show the information you provide on this page so that you can be contacted.
Return
Return to Top
|
 |
|
||
Mail:
Webmaster
Back |
Home |
Copyright © 1999-2008 by The Durham Mining Museum and its contributors
Registered Charity No: 1110608 Page last updated: 23 Oct 2008 |
Search |
|