1866

Sacred to the Memory of

THE FOLLOWING

COAL MINERS

WHO WERE KILLED BY AN EXPLOSION IN THE VICTORIA PIT.
DUKINFIELD, ON THE 14th DAY OF JUNE, 1866.

The roll of the 38 miners who died is:

• ARMFIELD Joseph, aged 13 years. Dukinfield, Brother, DUK/43/47
  
  
• ARMFIELD Robert, aged 16 years. Dukinfield, Brother, DUK/43/48
  
  
• ASHTON William, aged 22 years. Newton, DUK/43/51
  
  
• BOOTH Charles, aged 22 years. Dukinfield, Brother, DUK/43/50
  
  
• BOOTH William, aged 24 years. Dukinfield, Brother, DUK/43/51
  
  
• BRENNAN James, aged 19 years. Hyde, DUK/43/49
  
  
• BUCKLEY John Thomas, aged 10 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/47
  
  
• CHORLEY William, aged 51 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/54
  
  
• CLAYTON David, aged 28 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/52
  
  
• ELLIOTT John, aged 40 years. Newton, DUK/43/53
  
  
• FRANCE Richard, aged 36 years. Hyde, DUK/43/53
  
  
• GARRATT William, aged 44 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/54
  
  
• GEE John, aged 34 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/53
  
  
• GREGSON Thomas, aged 18 years. Newton, DUK/43/49
  
  
• HARROTT William, aged 40 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/53
  
  
• HASLAM James, aged 32 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/52
  
  
• HILL James, aged 23 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/51
  
  
• HODSON Samuel, aged 16 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/49
  
  
• HOOSON Thomas, aged 20 years. Newton Green, DUK/43/50
  
  
• JOHNSON Samuel, aged 22 years. Hyde, DUK/43/51
  
  
• KAY William Ernest, aged 15 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/48
  
  
• LOMAS John, aged 19 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/49
  
  
• MARTIN William, aged 26 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/52
  
  
• McHUGH Patrick, aged 22 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/50
  
  
• McHUGH Terence, aged 19 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/49
  
  
• MELLOR William, aged 42 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/54
  
  
• MERCER James, aged 34 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/53
  
  
• NOBLE Henry, aged 14 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/47
  
  
• NORTON Samuel, aged 14 years. Botanical Gardens, Newton, DUK/43/48
  
  
• PHILLIPS George, aged 33 years. Newton Moor, Underlooker, DUK/43/52
  
  
• PICKUP James, aged 55 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/54
  
  
• QUIN William, aged 22 years. Ashton-under-Lyne, DUK/43/50
  
  
• RIXON John, aged 27 years. Flowery Field, DUK/43/52
  
  
• ROBINSON George, aged 20 years. Hyde, DUK/43/50
  
  
• SHORE John, aged 14 years. Flowery Field, DUK/43/48
  
  
• SMETHURST Thomas, aged 15 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/48
  
  
• TAYLOR William John, 24 aged years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/51
  
  
• WARREN Luther, aged 13 years. Dukinfield, DUK/43/47

COMPOSED BY J. BURGESS, DROYLSDEN.

Forth from their homes at early morn were seen
These hardy toilers hastening to the mine,
Where, far beneath the groves and meadows green,
No sunbeam on their gloomy path can shine;
Yet cheerful still to earn their bread they go,
Though momentous dangers threaten them below.

By duty urged, the deep shaft they descend,
The task is daily - all are free from fear;
Though choke-damp* there has blighted many a friend;
They deemed not then the deadly gas was near,
With lamp and pick to labour now they bend,
Unconscious all how soon their work must end.

But ere their labour they had begun
The foul air gathers round them thick and fast -
It ignites - Explodes! - The fatal work is done! -
Death struck them down by one tremendous blast;
The loud explosion shook the earth around -
All stood aghast who worked above the ground.

Entombed beneath, the smothered victims lay,
While anxious crowds fast throng the bank above;
Mothers, and wives, and children in dismay
Rush to scene in search of those they love:
Alas! on Earth, their loved ones ne'er must meet -
Hope points to Heaven, and shows "The Mercy Heal."

*The author of the verse seems to be in error. 'Choke Damp' is a suffocating gas, chiefly carbon dioxide, found in coalmines and also called 'Black Damp' or 'Stythe'. The gas encountered here was most likely 'Fire Damp', which is an explosive gas consisting mainly of methane.