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Roll of the 38 miners who died on the 14 Jun 1866

Verse composed by J. Burgess of Droylsden

*The composer was probably in error with his reference to chokedamp (also known as blackdamp or stythe), which is an asphyxiant that reduces the available oxygen content of air to a level unable to support life. It is a mixture of unbreathable gases left after oxygen is removed from air, typically consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapour. The gas encountered here was firedamp, which is a flammable gas found in coal mines that mostly consists of methane. Therefore, the miners would have either died in the explosion or shortly afterwards as a result of injuries and/or of asphyxia due to the presence of afterdamp. This gas is a toxic mixture of gases left after an explosion that mostly consists of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen.

Victoria Colliery Disaster of 1848
This disaster preceded the larger disaster of 1866 by 18 years. In this explosion seven miners lost their lives and several others were injured. Joseph and William Aspden broke into a pocket of firedamp that was ignited by a naked flame.

At this time Victoria Colliery was owned by Swire & Lees and the underlooker was John Daniel Burton of Newton Wood. An underlooker was an official in charge of a mine, responsible to the undermanager and supervising the firemen. The underground steward and surveyor was Charles Turner. The coroner at the inquest was Mr Hudson.

Roll of the seven miners who died on the 23 Feb 1848

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