Accident with happy ending

THE LATE CLAY PIT ACCIDENT (From Poole and Dorset Herald Advertiser)

In our last week's Herald we reported the occurrence of one of those frightful disasters incident to mining operations, viz., the falling in of a shaft, at the Clay pits of Messsrs. Whiteway and Co near this town on Monday ( March 21^st 1859 ). As our readers will doubtless remember when the shaft closed there were two persons, Charles Woolfries, aged 57, and a lad named Barlett, aged 17 years, in the mine, and though great efforts were being made up to the time of our going to press on Wednesday evening last, they had not then been liberated. It is however now our pleasing duty to report that the two poor fellows were rescued from their perilous position on Thursday night at 12 o’clock after being buried 75 feet beneath the surface of earth for 86 hours. Those of our readers who are acquainted with the clay works of this district are aware that the strata of clay though at some places to be found near the surface, at others is 70,80 or 100 feet deep. At such places in order to excavate it, mining operations have to be resorted to as at the Norden pits. The practise is to sink a shaft to the depth of the clay and then strike off with tunnels in different directions of the vein of clay. In this instance the shaft which was 70 feet below the surface closed, entombing in one of the tunnels the two men. Instantly the greatest efforts were put forth by a large body of workmen, under the superintendence of H.Hatherly, Esq., and W.J.Pike, Esq. It was first supposed that the most speedy way to liberate the men would be to throw out the earth which had fallen in, and thus by clearing the old shaft open up a communication with their place of imprisonment. This however failed as the earth foundered so fast as to compel the abandonment of their effort. Very fortunately a new shaft was being sunk at the time near the old one which closed, and speedily every effort was made to sink the new shaft to a sufficient depth. The poor fellows were heard continually knocking, and buoyed up with hope, anxiously waited for their deliverance. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday passed before this was effected, and it was not until their bodily strength had almost failed, and they had well nigh given up all hopes of being saved that their deliverance was accomplished.  Too much praise cannot be bestowed on Mr.Hatherly, who is a member of the firm of Messrs. Whiteway and Co. and Mr.W.J.Pike, for their unwearied exertions. The latter gentleman actually worked most laboriously in the tunnel with the excavators. The new shaft, which was about 50 feet deep at the time the accident took place, had to be deepened 25 feet, and then a tunnel carried from it to the old one. This tunnel projected just above the clay tunnel in which the men were shut up, until it came across, when the miners bored a hole through to them. In their great efforts the excavators experienced great difficulty owing to the impurity of the air. So bad was this that a candle could not be burned in the new tunnel until Mr. Pike with great presence of mind, obtained a large quantity of gutta percha tubing and by means of a blacksmith bellows forced into the tunnel air from the top of the new shaft. The men were thus enabled to prosecute their labours. The air in the tunnel where the men were confined, was also found to be very impure, but perhaps a large quantity of air was driven down the pit with the fall of earth. Immediately on an opening being made into the place where the men were confined, the air which rushed from the old tunnel extinguished the candles in the new one. It is thus clear that the men could not have existed very much longer. The young man Bartlett who is 17 years of age, was first to speak, and his first enquiry was for the well being of his father, who he feared had shared a worse fate than himself, as he was aware that his parent at the time of the accident was at the windlass, at the top of the shaft. The excavators asked if Charley was alive (referring to the old man). The young man replied that he would ascertain and went at once to another part of the tunnel, and on his return stated that Woolfries was all right. A tea pot containing nutriment was then handed down to the thirsty sufferers. Great care had at first to be taken not to allow too great a current of fresh air to overpower them. As they were able to bear it the hole was continually made larger. About an hour and a half after a communication had been effected they were placed in the car and drawn to the top of the shaft. It was near 12 o’clock at night. Many persons were present, but death-like silence prevailed, and the scene was indescribable. The Rev. O.L.Mansell, rector of Church Knowle was present and read aloud in a very impressive manner the 40^th Psalm

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord”

The rev. gentleman offered then offered up  a most appropriate prayer, thanking God for the deliverance. Mr. Hatherly thanked the men for their energetic labours excavating the earth. The sufferers were conveyed to a house near where every attention was paid them, and were placed under proper treatment which their cases required. We are glad to say that the poor fellows are now fast recovering. To the credit of the excavators we must state that though but two men at a time could work in the tunnel, a barrow load of earth was got out and raised to the top of the shaft 75 feet, besides the distance along the tunnel, once every minute. Appropriate sermons on the subject were preached on Sunday last at Wareham, Corfe Castle and Church Knowle. We are glad to find that liberal subscriptions are making for the men who assisted on the occasion and also for the two sufferers.

The Late Clay Pit Accident
Our readers will be please to hear that the exertions of those gentlemen who undertook to raise a subscription on behalf of the man and boy who were buried so many hours in the clay pit at Furzebrook have been very successful. The subscription is also intended to reward the miners employed at the pit who worked with such untiring energy to release their comrades from their living tomb. A gentleman residing in the eastern part of the county has sent £5 and another gentleman on the Isle of Portland forwarded £2, one for the man & boy and the other for the workers. The pupils of the Trafalgar House School, Winchester on hearing of the event, voluntarily subscribed to the amount of 12s which sum was forwarded in postage stamps. Further subscriptions will be thankfully received.