Echoes of our past NEWS.......12th August 1865

Echoes of our past….. Past News

12th August 1865

Main news -

“FEARFUL ACCIDENT AT THE GLASSHOUSE PITS”

On the Tuesday morning the day began as normal at the Ironstone Pits on Glasshouse Common.  It was 7am and about 100 men and boys were gathered at the pit top waiting for the daily check of the ropes which would be used to send the corves up and down into the pit bottom.  A corve is a basket / tub which was lowered into the pit and the coal then brought up to the surface in them.  The men were not allowed to descend into the pit before these corves and namely the ropes and mechanism’s that lowered them, had been checked for safety.

On this day, the safety checks were to prove catastrophic –

Two empty corves were brought to the bank and Daniel Cook and two boys got into one corve, whilst James Clark and William Booth got into the other.  They were then both lowered into the pit, at the same time as seven full corves where drawn up by the pulley system.

As the seven full corves reached the surface it was reported that a load bang was heard and chaos ensued.  The ropes had broken the laggings off the drums and were “flying in various directions”.  The engine man did act quickly and apply his brakes but the sudden descent of the seven laden corves back into the pit bottom was so rapid that neither Cook nor Booth was able to get out of their respective baskets.  The two boys were able to jump to safety and Clark also escaped but was caught on the leg in the process.

And now for the gruesome bit – if you are of delicate disposition please skip this bit!

The Derbyshire Times gave the following account of the injuries caused to William Booth and Daniel Cook –

“Cooks head was split open: he fell a depth of 50 yards: he was 16 years of age.

Booths head, it is thought was caught by the head-stocks by a large pulley, and the top of the head was cut off the brains being scattered for many yards round the top of the pit.  His thumb was found nine yards and a half from a portion of the brains.  The body was completely smashed and every bone broken.  Booth was 15 years old”

It was said that the cause of the accident was a mystery, “the engine is a steady experienced workman”

The inquest –

On the following morning an inquest was held at the house of Vincent Cook, chaired by C.S.B Busby.  The jury were taken to the place of the accident at Glasshouse Common in Whittington.  Vincent Cook father of the Daniel Cook and Elizabeth Booth mother of William Booth identified the bodies.  The inquest was adjourned until the 31^st August at noon.

OTHER ITEMS –

*Thomas Heath a potter of Brampton was charged by Samuel Barber a tailor of Brampton with assaulting him.  Thomas Heath was the nephew of Samuel and he had allegedly struck him without any provocation.  This was not the first time that Thomas had caused troubles to his Uncle; he had previously “robbed his garden” but as the lad was a relation Samuel had not pressed charges that time.  Now however, Samuel was “in bodily fear of the defendant, and wished him to be bound over to the keep the peace towards him”.  Thomas did not attend the hearing, but was fined 20s and 17s costs, or one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.

*Careless driver – Josh. Garick was charged by Sergeant O’Connor whilst traveling in Brampton.  He had two carts but only one had a horse attached.  The farmer of Stony Middleton said that he left his horse and cart in the care of a young man whilst he went to buy a coat for his boy.  The young man had promised to take charge of the cart as far as the Pheasant public house.  Josh. Garick was “such a distance behind his horse and cart that he had no control over them”  Josh was fined 8s 4d.

*The new school at Cutthorpe was advertised to take place on Tuesday 15^th August , the Floral and Horticultural Society was exhibit on the day.

MARRIAGES –

*William Turner, Collier of Stonegravels to Martha Hill of West Bars.

*William Nadin, Collier to Martha Mallinder of Stonegravels.

DEATHS –

*William son of John Langden, Newbold aged 5 weeks

*William Barber aged 72

*Susannah Scott daughter of Henry Sterland aged 7 weeks

*Mary Hannah daughter of Henry Mason, Newbold aged 4 days

*John Joseph McSwiney, youngest son of James Joseph McSwiney died at 44 Gloucester Road, Regents Park

*Mrs Hannah Coates, aged 35 at “Smythy-moor” Stretton

*Alice daughter of John Brown, confectioner at Bank Yard, Low Pavement aged 10 months

 

*Jane Gaging of Church Lane aged 72

SPORT –

 

Cricket – Chesterfield V Chatsworth

The return match which was played on Thursday in Chatsworth Park resulted in a draw.  Play was good on both sides.

AND FINALLY…

 

On a brighter note, “an interesting event took place in a third class carriage on the Midland Line on Tuesday evening”.  An unnamed couple were traveling from Leeds when she “was seized with pangs of maternity”.  By the time they had arrived in at the Wicker station a “fine young boy had been born”  The family were placed in a cab and took residence with relatives in Washington Road.