The colliery was known as Russell�s
Colliery. At the time of the disaster, there were 56 men working in
the Bensham Seam to which the �A� Pit had been sunk the previous
year and the workings extended no more than 100 yards in any
direction from the shaft. It was reported that 52 were killed. The
�A� shaft was divided into an upcast and a downcast section by
timber brattice which was destroyed in the explosion so there was no
ventilation. The blast was stated to have �shook the
ground like an earthquake and made furniture dance in neighbouring
houses.�
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