‘The most disastrous colliery accident which had occurred in the immediate vicinity of Barnsley for almost a generation past, has unhappily to be recorded. The scene was at the Barrow Colliery, Worsbro’, where a cage mishap of an extraordinary nature resulted in seven men being hurled to the bottom of the shaft and instantaneously killed.’
Barnsley Chronicle, 23 November 1907

‘…the officials speedily descended by another shaft. Here they met a horrible sight, the seven men being found lifeless, a mass of mangled humanity.’
Yorkshire Post, 16 November 1907

Thomas William Jennings

Haulage Lad, aged 18

‘Thomas Jennings stated that his lad had worked in the pit about four years. He was insured. Witness produced for the Coroner’s inspection the watch which his son was wearing at the time of the accident. It was in a celluloid case, and had apparently suffered no injury beyond the breaking of the glass. The hands had stopped at ten minutes past four.’
Barnsley Chronicle, 23 November 1907

had a key to number 2 Powell Street,
where I watched my Grandad hollow out turnip brains,
carve Halloween faces to shrunken heads
that became lanterns we swung door to door,
like Davy lamps, along terraced rows.

That ignored chapping
for trick or treat sweeties,
like the tap, tap
of the ‘Knocker-upper’
at the bedroom window, 1907.

Tom props up his pillow;
rests back and lights a nipped Woodbine diff,
he exhales and stares at distempered walls,
notes the fading rattle of sash frames
then smiles at his snap-time joke on ‘Slack-Adams’.

He tries hard not to be a ‘lig-in-bed’
but slinks back under the six blankets.
His father’s celluloid cased watch points out
two hours to go until he’ll inhale dawn air,
shadowed by the towering winding wheels.

The Cake

Isaac Farrer, Haulage Man, aged 20

Mother ruffled up my hair today
as she scuffled around the kitchen
in preparation for my 21st.
One more shift,
before reaching my majority.
Nothing is said only knowing looks,
keeping me out of the way, slapping hands.
My boots are unlaced warming by the fire,
just like those mornings before school.
She’s blind to me lifting the oven latch
to peek and inhale the sweet smell of sponge
taking the air from the sinking cake.

William Adams

Brakesman, aged 28

They nailed his father’s nickname as a child,
‘Slack Adams.’
Carrying that name like a crucifix pick
over his shoulder into the dark.
In secret he liked to paint,
building up the layers of oil
like coal.

As we knit along he’s on guard
against Jennings’ joke
sipping on a flask of water.
I overhear that name called on Barnsley market
a hundred years after.

Tom Rathmell Cope

Hanger-On, aged 23

Mrs Sarah Cope, who was weeping bitterly, said that her husband was killed at the Swaithe Main Colliery, a mile and a half away from the Barrow pit, 16 years ago. Her son had worked at Barrow since he was 13 years of age, and was her chief support. He said “Good morning, mother,” at half-past five on Friday morning…’
Barnsley Chronicle, 23 November 1907

He’s framed, resting on the stable door
this morning, thinking about their wedding
scheduled for Christmas – auspicious.
He listens to the sparrows, how his mother
thought it lucky to awake
hearing birdsong on the big day.
Look at the sun when you leave for the church
and your children will be beautiful.
Before locking up and leaving
he stands at the foot of the stairs,
shouts up,
‘Good morning, mother.’
Whistles on the way to work.

Walter Lewis Goodchild

Hanger-on, aged 35

Polished like brown saddle leather, the penny
he left under the pillow for his lad.
The tooth had been loose for days
and the night time groans
would stir him to nudge Lizzy
to tend to the child
and avoid a chorus.
Then yesterday, between forefinger
and thumb it took some fiddling
to loop string to incisor,
leading twine to door handle.
The fourth attempt pulled it
followed by a shrill scream
that would ring through the house for weeks.

Byas Rooke

Haulage Man, aged 22

‘Rooke happened to be amongst the ill fated party by pure chance. He had intended coming out of the seam with his brother on the previous ascent of the cage, but stopped behind to talk to a friend, saying he would come up with the next draw.’
Barnsley Chronicle, 23 November 1907

My brother hooked his knap-sack around my neck
as if awarding me a fucking medal,
then pulled out his snap-tin to take a snack
of half-finished bread and jam.
I told him, Tha’s too much rattle thee,
wanting to talk football to his mucker.

I step up onto the cage,
leave him dawdling underground
nattering like an old woman.
His face watching me ascend the shaft,
we’re two coins rubbing in a waist-coat pocket.
I leave pit-talk at the gate,
off home, where I have to guard my language.

Frank Dobson

Chargeman, aged 40

They laid you out on the billiard table
of the Mason’s Arms.
You’ll not remember, now, that time
you pocketed the cue ball
for your potty.
Then you took to shaping your own
to the size of a pigeon’s egg,
insisted upon an upturned Grimethorpe brick
to rest and chip the nipsy
waist height, then thwack the ovoid
to the back of beyond.
That park I went along to watch
you in the act, the rise allowed seven times
then your long knock.
Of late, I walk the perimeter of the field,
listening for the clack of a hickory stick.