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An Edward Medal, second class, awarded for bravery in the aftermath of the Wellington Pit mine
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An Edward Medal, second class, awarded for bravery in the aftermath of the Wellington Pit mine disaster at Whitehaven, Cumbria, May 11th 1910, to Samuel Turner, Mine Manager, in fitted presentation case, with photographs of Turner as Mayor[Extract form the Whitehaven News, 12th May 1910 Last (Wednesday) evening a rumour rapidly circulated through Whitehaven that a serious accident had taken place at Wellington Pit, either a heavy fall in the workings or an explosion; and hundreds of people hastened to the pit top to find the rumour confirmed that something of a serious nature had happened. The Manager, Mr. Steele, Mr. Turner (manager of William Pit); and Mr. Blair, Mining Engineer, with ready volunteers, descended the pit, but a considerable time elapsed before any information was available. Then it began to be rumour that two men had been found dead about a mile from the bottom of the shaft; and that it was feared an explosion had taken place, imprisoning the men at work some two miles or two miles and a half further on. Volunteers continued to descend the pit as required, and about a quarter past eleven o'clock the cage came up with two men, Joseph Walker, of Newhouses, and Stephen Gregory of Back Ginns, shiftsmen, who had been found in an unconscious condition at Benk's Turn about a mile in. Demands from the pit bottom for brattice cloth and bricks to be sent down were rapidly complied with, and between eleven and twelve o'clock it was reported that the exploring party had not penetrated beyond about a mile and a half. The working with which communication was cut off is about three to three and a half miles in and here 86 haggers and 54 shifts-men and boys were employed at the time of the mishap. The working is a six to seven feet one, and like the rest of the pit has always been considered remarkably free from the risk of explosion. The shaft is about 100 fathoms deep, and amongst the reports current was that an explosion had been felt at the pit mouth, and that dust and smoke had reached to the shaft. Amongst others who were on the pit top were Dr. Jos. Dickson, Mr. J. G. Dees, Dr. Muriel, Dr Norton, Mr. T. Black, Mr. C. Robinson, Mr. W. Moore, the two district nurses, Nurse Wilson, and Nurse Hampton. When the two men, Walker and Gregory, were brought up they were taken to the engine room and attended to by Dr. Dickson, under whose care they were recovered. Mr. Harris went down with the first rescue party and remained some hours in the pit. About one o'clock it was rumoured about that some of the timbering was on fire, and Vanguard extinguishers and sand were sent down the shaft. Shortly afterwards some rescue workers, of whom there were about 160 in the pit, came up and it was stated that the rescue party had got to a place known as the Low Chimney, which is on an incline on the main road about two miles in and supposed to be about 400 yards from the obstruction shutting the imprisoned men in. About half past one two more men were brought up suffering from the effects of the accident and they also speedily recovered. By this time one of the first two to come up wished to go down again, but was not allowed to do so. One of the men who came up about one o'clock reported that the men and boys in North District, 16 men and probably four or five boys, were safe, being behind a closed door. Mr. Turner had returned from the pit but was unable to afford any definite information to the Press. About three o'clock, accompanied by Mr. R. W. Moore, Mr. Turner again descended, and more wagons of bricks and lime followed later, about four o'clock, by planking, for diverting the air, were sent down. Food had previously been collected from various hotels and other sources in the town, and sent down for the nourishment of the rescuers in their arduous and dangerous task. By half past four it was considered that some hours must elapse before anything definite could be known, and some time before this the doctors and nurses left the pit top. All through the night a patient crowd of men and lads, women and children, many of them no doubt the wives and children or other relatives of the imprisoned miners, thronged the roadway between the offices and the pit head buildings, waiting with quiet and steady patience for the removal of their deep anxiety. The dark night changed to the grey dawn and broadened into day, and still they maintained their anxious and pathetic vigil, which up to five o'clock this morning was unrewarded. Wellington Pit commenced drawing coal in 1841, the pit being christened by Lady Beckett. Coal was then drawn by both the east and west shafts, but is now drawn by the east shaft alone, the west shaft being used for pumping. The seam of coal in which the men cut off are working dips considerably from the bottom of the shaft (about 150 fathoms from the surface) as it goes seaward, and there is a roof of such great depth and thickness that the pit is reckoned quite safe from the sea.”]
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An Edward Medal, second class, awarded for bravery in the aftermath of the Wellington Pit mine disaster at Whitehaven, Cumbria, May 11th 1910, to Samuel Turner, Mine Manager, in fitted presentation case, with photographs of Turner as Mayor[Extract form the Whitehaven News, 12th May 1910 Last (Wednesday) evening a rumour rapidly circulated through Whitehaven that a serious accident had taken place at Wellington Pit, either a heavy fall in the workings or an explosion; and hundreds of people hastened to the pit top to find the rumour confirmed that something of a serious nature had happened. The Manager, Mr. Steele, Mr. Turner (manager of William Pit); and Mr. Blair, Mining Engineer, with ready volunteers, descended the pit, but a considerable time elapsed before any information was available. Then it began to be rumour that two men had been found dead about a mile from the bottom of the shaft; and that it was feared an explosion had taken place, imprisoning the men at work some two miles or two miles and a half further on. Volunteers continued to descend the pit as required, and about a quarter past eleven o'clock the cage came up with two men, Joseph Walker, of Newhouses, and Stephen Gregory of Back Ginns, shiftsmen, who had been found in an unconscious condition at Benk's Turn about a mile in. Demands from the pit bottom for brattice cloth and bricks to be sent down were rapidly complied with, and between eleven and twelve o'clock it was reported that the exploring party had not penetrated beyond about a mile and a half. The working with which communication was cut off is about three to three and a half miles in and here 86 haggers and 54 shifts-men and boys were employed at the time of the mishap. The working is a six to seven feet one, and like the rest of the pit has always been considered remarkably free from the risk of explosion. The shaft is about 100 fathoms deep, and amongst the reports current was that an explosion had been felt at the pit mouth, and that dust and smoke had reached to the shaft. Amongst others who were on the pit top were Dr. Jos. Dickson, Mr. J. G. Dees, Dr. Muriel, Dr Norton, Mr. T. Black, Mr. C. Robinson, Mr. W. Moore, the two district nurses, Nurse Wilson, and Nurse Hampton. When the two men, Walker and Gregory, were brought up they were taken to the engine room and attended to by Dr. Dickson, under whose care they were recovered. Mr. Harris went down with the first rescue party and remained some hours in the pit. About one o'clock it was rumoured about that some of the timbering was on fire, and Vanguard extinguishers and sand were sent down the shaft. Shortly afterwards some rescue workers, of whom there were about 160 in the pit, came up and it was stated that the rescue party had got to a place known as the Low Chimney, which is on an incline on the main road about two miles in and supposed to be about 400 yards from the obstruction shutting the imprisoned men in. About half past one two more men were brought up suffering from the effects of the accident and they also speedily recovered. By this time one of the first two to come up wished to go down again, but was not allowed to do so. One of the men who came up about one o'clock reported that the men and boys in North District, 16 men and probably four or five boys, were safe, being behind a closed door. Mr. Turner had returned from the pit but was unable to afford any definite information to the Press. About three o'clock, accompanied by Mr. R. W. Moore, Mr. Turner again descended, and more wagons of bricks and lime followed later, about four o'clock, by planking, for diverting the air, were sent down. Food had previously been collected from various hotels and other sources in the town, and sent down for the nourishment of the rescuers in their arduous and dangerous task. By half past four it was considered that some hours must elapse before anything definite could be known, and some time before this the doctors and nurses left the pit top. All through the night a patient crowd of men and lads, women and children, many of them no doubt the wives and children or other relatives of the imprisoned miners, thronged the roadway between the offices and the pit head buildings, waiting with quiet and steady patience for the removal of their deep anxiety. The dark night changed to the grey dawn and broadened into day, and still they maintained their anxious and pathetic vigil, which up to five o'clock this morning was unrewarded. Wellington Pit commenced drawing coal in 1841, the pit being christened by Lady Beckett. Coal was then drawn by both the east and west shafts, but is now drawn by the east shaft alone, the west shaft being used for pumping. The seam of coal in which the men cut off are working dips considerably from the bottom of the shaft (about 150 fathoms from the surface) as it goes seaward, and there is a roof of such great depth and thickness that the pit is reckoned quite safe from the sea.”]
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