Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 12 July 1912
Cadeby Victims.
Death-Roll Raised To 86.
The most striking development of the story of the Cadeby Main Colliery disaster to-day was an advance in the death roll, which brings the estimated total number of victims now up 86.
In addition to the 71 bodies recovered, is officially believed that there are 15 still in the pit, and, although the list cannot of course be taken as absolutely definite, there is only too much reason to believe that it is correct.
The list is as follows: Sidney Ellis, surveyor, Holywell Lane, Conisbro’: C. Prince, assistant deputy, Mexbro’; Eli Croxall, afternoon under manager, Denaby; W. Humphries, deputy, Denaby; W. Berry, deputy, Tickhill Street, Denaby; W. Dove; Mr. Evans, a young Welsh mining student; H. Cusworth, assistant manager of Cadeby Colliery; S. Jackson; W. Godsmark; G. Stedman; A. E. Rowell; C. Fletcher, 47, Maltby Street, Denaby; J. Beach, Maltby Street; and F. Stones.
It is possible that there may still others in the colliery. All the above names are those of members of the rescue party who perished in their brave attempt to aid their follow men.
The Gallantry of the Rescuers.
Mr. Ellis, the surveyor, went down the pit at half-past nine on Tuesday morning. He was well known in cricket and musical circles in Conisborough. His father was Mayor of Doncaster three years ago. Mr. Ellis leaves a widow (who before marriage was Miss Heselton, of Bridlington), but no family.
Mr. Evans, the young Welsh student, was the son of a Congregational minister at Penarth, formerly of Rochdale. He had only been at the pit about five weeks.
Mr. H. Cusworth, the assistant manager, was 38 years of age. He leaves a widow’ and three young children.
Too great a tribute of admiration cannot be paid to the rescuers who laid down their lives or were ready do so. Among those who have rendered most valuable assistance since the explosion occurred are Mr. G. A. Ashwin, agent of the Wath Main Colliery ; Mr. J. R. R. Wilson, mining inspector; and Mr. Pickering (son of the late chief inspector), under-manager of Wath Main, who had been assisting in a courageous and untiring way over since the disaster. They were mercifully preserved from the calamity which overwhelmed the rescue party, as they were in the pit at the time and close by where the disaster occurred, but the greatness of the danger has not deterred them from continuing their efforts. The same may said of Mr. Bert Williamson, the engineer of the colliery company, who has almost lived below ground ever since the accident happened. He has been badly gassed once, but has continued his work in the pit.
Identifications Completed.
The melancholy work of identifying the bodies that have been recovered is now complete. There was a repetition of the sad scenes of the two previous days, as sorrowing relatives proceeded to the temporary mortuary for the purpose of trying to recognise their lost ones.
In many cases identification was difficult matter, owing to the terrible nature of the injuries.
The bodies identified today were those of:
Robert Peel Bungard (21), Willow Street, Conisborough.
Thomas Samuel Williams (36), 55, Maltby Street, Denaby.
Robert. William Chapman (37), 7, Dupton’s Row, Conisborough.
George Heptinstall (28), 85, Clifton Street, Denaby.
William Ackroyd (49), Alexandra Buildings, Conisborough.
Arthur Carroll (25), 58, Loversall Street, Denaby.
William Charles Davies (26). 9. Drabble’s Yard, (’onisbro’ (died in hospital). Charles Johnson (33). 78, Cliff View, (died hospital).
Tom Sanders (51), deputy, 60, Cliff View, Denaby.
- Gascoigne (22), 9. Loversall Street, Denaby.
Thomas Wraithmell (53). Tickhill Square, Denaby.
Wraithmell, who was the last victim to be identified had suffered shocking injuries. The upper part of his face and also one of his foot, were blown away.
The identification of victims after a disaster of this kind always presents difficulties, and it is not surprising that mistakes should be made when the features have been rendered almost unrecognisable. On Wednesday the of identifications included the name of W. Davies, of Drabble s Yard, Conisborough, but it was found yesterday that the body believed to beo his was that of Arthur Carroll, of Loversall Street, Denaby. One of the two bodies hitherto unidentified at the hospital was established as that of Davies and the other was identified as Charles Johnson.
The earlier list contained the name of H. McGarnett, but the body believed to be his now proves to be that of Robert W. Chapman.
The list of injured includes 20 names. Four of the men have been treated at the Fullerton Hospital. Denaby—Charles Bury, manager of the Cadeby Colliery; W. C. Birch. Clifton Hill Conisbro’: George Henson, Whinney Hill, Rotherham; and W. H. Adamson, 29, Kirby Street, Mexbro’;
Albert Farmery, of Kent’s Yard. Conisbro’, was taken to the Montagu Hospital. Mexbro’.
The following were treated at their own homes: William McArthur, of Conisbro’, Joseph Pearson, Harold Booth. James Springthorpe, senior, Herbert Littlewood, William Rafferty, Percy Murgatroyd, A. Talbot, F. Power, Arthur Sylvester, Peter Holland. William Lawrence, Enoch Skel ton, Michael Rooney, and Thomas Poole, all of Denaby.