An account of a dreadful explosion which took place at the Downs pit, Hetton near Houghton Le Spring on Thursday afternoon.
January 28th 1836 by which 16 men killed and 5 more dreadfully burnt, with little hope of recovery from the explosion.
The commencement of the present year has brought with it accidents of the most serious nature the last week was pregnant with the heaviest calamities and the month is closing with another of those awful records which the human mind shudders to contemplate sixteen human beings have been sacrificed by a coal explosion, world to heaven that some remedy could be found by which could be put to stop sacrifice of life, that is continually taken place in the dangerous and arduous employment in which so many of our fellow creatures are engaged, a awful explosion occurred in the celebrated Hetton colliery near Houghton Le Spring on Thursday afternoon by which sixteen unfortunate human beings lost their lives and five others were dreadfully scorched on to afford, but faint hope pf their recovery, it appears that upwards of one hundred were engaged in the pit at the time the explosion occurred, but owing to the accident being confined to the working s namely the downs pit. the number of the victims was less than might be expected at present it seems difficult to assign a satisfactory reason for the dreadful calamity the pit is admirably ventilated and the overman on the day in question were known to have been diligent in the pit, with discharge of their duties. slight explosions have taken place at intervals for some time past. the distress amongst the families of the unhappy sufferers in the village of Hetton is very good and demands the compassionate consideration of the public.