Bedford Colliery disaster

[1][2] On the day of the disaster 159 men and boys were underground working a shift that started at 6.00 a.m. and would have ended mid afternoon.

When the alarm was raised, the pit manager W. Horrobin, underlooker James Calland and the mine owner's son, Harry Speakman led a rescue party to investigate but were impeded by the presence of afterdamp.

A committee of local dignitaries was formed to raise monies for the "Relief of Widows, orphans and others placed in distress by the explosion" and an appeal advertised in The Times newspaper.

The coroner's inquest was not heard until 23 September 1886 so that John Woolley, who had survived the explosion, could give evidence.

Pit props were progressively removed and the roof was allowed to subside into the goaf a short distance behind the working face.

The flame in Woolley's Davy lamp turned blue indicating explosive gas.

Instead the miner shook it and attempted to blow it out at which point the flame passed through the gauze and caused the explosion.