Lines on the Accident at Norden Clay Works, Corfe Castle , February 8 1909

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On Monday , February the eighth,
    Nineteen hundred and nine
A solemn accident took place
    On the works at Norden Mines
Between the hours of two and three
    Charlie Scadden’s engine blew,
A well known call upon the works
    “Something gone wrong,” it told

Most all upon the works employed
    Knows well that whistle’s sound
Meaning that something has gone wrong
    On top or under ground
Then soon most all upon the works
    Found their way to the sound
Sadly to hear two workmen were
    In a shaft buried under fallen ground.

Five men had been ordered for to go
    To a shaft which was recently stopped
To fill it up, then knock out boards
    And send them to the top.
This is the customary thing to do
    I have done it o’er and o’er
But two of them then at the job
    Will never do it more.

Five sets they had got out and sent up
    Yes five sets reached the top
When a cry from below came “Pull away”
    But alas the shaft was blocked
White running sand in the shaft had burst
    Suddenly on those two men
The car and rope were down below
    So ’twas now “What shall we do?”

The foreman of the men stood there
    His orders soon did sound
Ladders quickly in the shaft
    For rescuers to go down
Again his orders went abroad
    Quickly went down a man
A second quickly followed suit
    With a shovel in his hand.

Between life and death they worked away
    Yes both worked with will and might
And for their work rewarded were
    For one man came in sight
This fresh inspired them for the toil
    Till one said “Up I must go “
And for the one he left behind
    ‘Twas almost his death blow.

But his place, thank God, quite soon was filled
    By another heroic man
Who soon from Walter Bennett got
    From his hands and back the sand
A voice up through the shaft soon went
    “Will a strong hand now come down?”
And very quickly to the place
    Foreman Cattle he was found.

With the help of him to join the two
    That were already there
Out of the sand Bennett soon would be
    To their view was very clear
Sad to say more sand was on the move
    Side boards were fallen down
Through God’s mercy up through fallen boards and sand
    Those three reached on top of ground.

Before the last out of these three
    That were striving for the top
About fifteen more feet of sand
    Had on uncovered Bennett got
'Twas sad before, now sadder still
    Tears went rolling down the cheek
With silence now all seem struck dumb
    Not one could scarcely speak.

Nought now remains but to begin
    To fresh timber down the shaft
And for such work upon the top
    Thank God such men were found
It took all night, it took next day
    Till next morn five o’clock
Before tired, worn out, and with sad hearts
    They to their homes did walk.

The Bodies of those lifeless men
    In a barn close by were took
Put there to wait for jurymen
    On each of them to look
Not the same day but the next again
    In Joiner’s house the jury set
Their verdict was like hundreds more
    An Accidental death they met.  

Then on the 12^th – a Friday 
    About half past two o’clock
Side by side by side the corpses’ were carried
    And a long procession walked
At the Parish Church the Rector
    Met the long procession there
Read out the Burial Service
    In tones both sweet and clear.

In the graves where each is lying
    Though strange for me to say
Those two lads that were found drowned
    A few feet apart to lay
For the lads we rose a tomb stone
    On it their death and names
And for these our two brothers
    We should like to do the same.

You may ask the names of each man
    That was buried in the sand
In the next line or two I’ll tell you
    The age and name of each man
Walter Bennett, married, oldest
    Whose age was thirty-three
George Burden, married, younger
    Age twenty seven did see.

I again take you to Norden 
    And would draw you to the scene
Where the many workmen toiling
    Which for hours did seem
Though none may wish for honour
    But read an old saying through
England expects an Englishman
    His duty for to do

Mr. Pinney, who is the master
    And has been for years I say
Excepting for short intervals
    Was there both nights and day
Although he is the master
    The long time and sad looks there
It spoke in such strong language
    “My servants and brothers there.”

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In conclusion, I should like to thank on behalf of my working brothers and myself all those who showed practical sympathy and came and sent to our wants the bitter nights and days, and chief and foremost of these is Mr. William Marsh, butcher; of Corfe Castle, who was there night and day bringing hot tea and cakes and eatables, Messrs. Cook and Trent from the Rectory House with a supply, Mr. Cleall kindly boiling a big boiler of beef and peas which came at the right time, Mr. C. Battrick bringing a good supply of Bovril, and not least Mr. Mitchell rendered good service with a bright light. The Rector himself was there in the late hours of the night with E. Trent offering his aid. May God bless and reward them all is the wish of the writer .

Levi Stockley

The rescuers names were: Foreman Cattle, Lawrence Stockley, Seth White, Charles Jeffries, William Cattle, William Stockley and George Morris. Much credit is also due at those men who worked so carefully on the top so all that was wanted by those below had to be lowered down over their heads during two bitter nights and days