Main Disaster
On Saturday, 12 January 1918, 248 men were working underground when a huge explosion tore apart the Bullhurst and Banbury Seams. Within minutes 155 men died from the effects of the explosion, from roof falls or from inhaling poisonous gas. Rescue teams all across the North Staffordshire Coalfield were mobilised to search for survivors. However, Hugh Doorbar, Captain of the Birchenwood Colliery No. 1 rescue team, also lost his life two days later, bringing the final death toll to 156.
The explosions caused such devastation underground that it took 12 months to recover all the bodies from the pit. Large sections of the mine had collapsed, methane gas prevailed in the atmosphere underground and rescue operations were at all times aware that further roof falls or explosions could occur. In total 155 miners lost their lives.The main underground explosion killed 11 workers, while carbon monoxide poisoning took the lives of 144 others. Among the dead were 44 boys who were sixteen years old or younger.
Read more about this topic: Minnie Pit Disaster
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