Another entry from A grim Almanac of Somerset. Most of you will know this story.
8 November 1839
At 4 o'clock in the morning, 12 miners assembled at the pithead at Wellsway pit, Radstock. Waiting to descend underground to commence their shift. Tragically, as the 12 were lowered, the rope bearing their weight suddenly snapped and all 12 plummeted more than 250 yards to the pit bottom. The Men were literally smashed to pieces and only one was sufficiently intact to be recognisable.
Richard Langford (44) died with his son, Farnham 16 and Alfred (13) James Keevil (41) also died with two sons, Mark 15 and James 14. The other fatalities were William Adam (19) Leonard Dowling (12) William Summers (26) Amos Dando (13) John Barnett (41) and James Pearce (18). Langford Keevil and Barnett left widows and a total of 14 children between them.
The nature of the tragedy was worsened by the fact that, on examination it was obvious that the rope had been deliberately tampered with. Almost new the previous night it had borne a weight of 32 cwt. "Some diabolical malice caused this calamity wilfully and premeditatedly" reported the Bristol Mercury. It appeared as if the rope had been partially cut through, it's fibres weakened by a person or persons using a knife or chisel. Where the fibres had given way under the weight of the men, the edges were jagged and uneven, yet many of the fibres were cleanly cut and of regular appearance.
At an inquest before County coroner Mr. R Uphill the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown. Although a reward of £100 was offered the murderer(s) remained undetected.
