The Mansfield Chronicle - Friday
5th April 1907
The Shirebrook Colliery
Pit-Cage Disaster
Burial of the Victims-Touching scenes at the
Graveside
Never since the funeral of the two men who
were suffocated by "damp" and the fall of rood in the head end at Warsop Main
Colliery some two or three years ago has there been an internment at the
Shirebrook Cemetery with so much interest as the dual one which took place there
on Saturday, when two of the victims of the terrible fall down the Shirebrook
pit shaft were borne to their long last resting-place. Their names were William Edward Limb,
aged 45, and William Phillips, aged 27.
The remains of Arthur Burton, aged 36, a native of Basford, Notts. were interred at Bulwell the same
afternoon. Never since the colliery
was sunk has there been so many officials and workmen, out of respect, attend
the burial of those who had fallen from amongst them, notwithstanding that a
number of them visited Bulwell to represent the colliery company and workmen at
the interment of the deceased Arthur Burton. From the colliery offices where the two
corpses had been lying prior to the funeral, they were reverently conveyed to
their own homes. The day was
beautifully fine, the sun shining gloriously, and hundreds of people congregated
to witness the scenes. The
Shillibiers and mourning coaches conveying the remains and mourners of William
Phillips were met at the top of Church Drive by the Shirebrook Adult School
Prize Band, who, under the direction of Mr Fred Wakeford played with muffled
drum the Dead March in "Saul" (by Handel) to Warren Terrace, where this
procession was joined by those mourning the loss of William Limb. The long cortege then proceeded slowly
to the cemetery on the Pleasley Road.
It was an impressive and pathetic sight. Hundreds of people lined the road,
blinds were lowered, and gentlemen removed their hats out of respect for the
sorrowing friends and their dead.
Amongst those who followed were the officials of the Shirebrook Colliery
company: Mr William Hay, general manager; Mr Thos. Thompson, secretary; Mr Geo
Thornley, under-manager; and Mr S
Buxton, Mr W Ratcliffe, Mr J. H. Smith, Mr Noah Tomlinson, Mr Mark Avery, and Mr
Joseph Carrington, deputies; with a number of fellow workmates from both
Shirebrook and Warsop Main Collieries.
Representatives of the Warsop Main Miner's Union and Checkweight
Committee and the Ancient Order of Foresters were also present.
The Chief
Mourners
Were: Mrs Limb
(widow), and Mr Joseph Limb (eldest son), Mr Alfred Limb and Miss C Limb (son
and daughter), Mr Harry and Miss Florrie Limb; Mr Arthur and Miss Clara Limb; Mr
Joseph Limb (father), Master Percy Limb (son), and Mr Alfred Limb (brother),
Ilkeston; Mr Richard Limb (brother), Mansfield Woodhouse; Mrs Meakin (sister),
East Kirkby, and Mrs Wilkinson (sister), Cotmanhay; Mrs A Limb and Mrs Richard
Limb; Mr & Mrs Young, Ryhill, Yorks; Mr & Mrs Beardsley, Ilkeston; Mr
& Mrs Bagaley, Ilkeston; Mr Edwards, Sheffield, and Mrs Ward, Woodhouse nr
Sheffield; Mr Ward and Mrs Meeds, Woodhouse, Sheffield; Mr & Mrs Homer,
Shuttlewood; Mr & Mrs Brown, Mansfield Woodhouse; Mr & Mrs Roberts,
Shirebrook; Miss Clara and Miss Ada
Brown and friend, Mansfield Woodhouse;
Mr John Martin, Mr Sam Bunting, and Mr William Lucas, fellow workmen in
the stall, and Mr S Renshaw, Shirebrook Colliery.
The
Bearers
Were workmates and
friends of Mr Limb. They were: Mr M
Stray, Mr T Fletcher, Mr Wm. Brittles, Mr A Fretwell, Mr Wm. Hurt, Mr A
Froggatt, Mr J Rowe, Mr Levi Hopkinson, and Mr A Jacks.
Wm. Phillip's
Mourners and Friends
Who followed: - Mrs
Phillips (widow), and Mr John Phillips (brother); Elsie, Gertrude, Harvey and
Elizabeth (children); Mr & Mrs Patrick Sweeney (sister &
brother-in-law), Miss Annie Sweeney, Miss Rose Phillips, Mr & Mrs Freeman,
Mr & Mrs Sidall.
Bearers
Mr T Lindsay,
Mr Arthur Parker, Mr Geo Taylor, Mr Thomas Hinds, Mr Thomas Kelly, and Mr John
Bolton.
The Last Rites
The deceased,
William Phillips, was buried on the consecrated portion and William Limb on the
unconsecrated portion of the cemetery.
The services in the Conformist chapel and in the Nonconformist chapel and
at the graveside were conducted by the Rev. E. Braddon, M.A. Vicar, and the Rev. Ed. Hall,
Congregationalist Minister, who conducted the ceremonies simultaneously, amid
mingled signs of grief, respect, and sympathy.
Affecting Scenes of
the Last Farewell
Much sorrow and
emotion was manifested during the services at the graveside, one or two of the
mourners fainting and having to be carried away. Another of the relatives, it is said,
wanted to jump into one of the graves after the coffin had been lowered. Children sobbing for their parent,
widows and relatives mourning on account of their husbands and friends, who
refused to be comforted because they were not. At length the parting came, and it was
only by efforts almost compulsory that some of the mourners were got away from
the "narrow bed" in which they had lain their dear ones to sleep the long last
sleep of rest; and then the mourners slowly and reverently dispersed. Many of the sympathisers and friends
returned with them, while others lingered to see the last. A sombre air pervaded the whole of the
proceedings, and the utmost respect reigned throughout the vast concourse of
people who witnessed the ceremony, many of whom were moved to tears.
Wreaths and
Inscriptions
A large number
of beautiful wreaths, bearing the most pathetic inscriptions, were sent by the
bereaved relatives and friends as tokens of respect: -
Those to the
memory of William Limb were: -
A beautiful wreath
bearing the following inscription: "In loving remembrance, from his sorrowing
wife and family." Another, from Mr
Hay was as follows: "With Mr Hay's
deepest sympathy".
Another: "In loving
remembrance from his brother & sister, Harry & Annie." Another: "In loving memory, from his brother and
sister, Will and Annie Mary".
Another: "With deepest sympathy, from Mrs Sam Jinks and Mrs J
Mellors". Another: "In
memoriam. Presented by the
neighbours and friends as a token of respect for Wm. Limb". "In affectionate remembrance from Isaac
and Lizzie". "With deepest sympathy
from Mrs Roberts". "With sincere
sympathy, from Father Froes and the Catholics of Shirebrook." "In loving memory from his brother and
sister, Alfred and Louisa." "Presented by the workmen of Shirebrook
Colliery as a token of respect for William Limb, March 26th,
1907".
A most beautiful wreath, under glass shade, with hands clasped, was also sent by Mrs Phillips and family to the memory of husband and father. There was another from the workmen, with the following inscription: "Presented by the workmen of Shirebrook Colliery as a token of respect for William Phillips, March 26th 1907." And one from Mr Hay "With Mr Hay's deepest sympathy".
An appropriate
passage was read at the graveside of
Wm. Limb by Bro. W. Hutchinson, secretary of the Forester's
Lodge.
When the service was
over the Adult Band played the funeral hymn "Days and moments quickly flying"
and as the procession moved from the graves the band also played "Lead, kindly
light" to the tune Sandon.
Proceeding from the gates of the cemetery homewards, the band again
played the march "When the roll is called".