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Home / THE SINKING PIT by Arthur Cole
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THE SINKING PIT by Arthur Cole

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Neath Abbey Pump at Glyn Pits

Neath Abbey Pump at Glyn Pits

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Steam winding engine at Glyn Pits

Steam winding engine at Glyn Pits

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Engine house at Glyn Pits

Engine house at Glyn Pits

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Wooden connecting rod at Glyn Pits

Wooden connecting rod at Glyn Pits

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Pumping engine at Glyn Pits

Pumping engine at Glyn Pits

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A poem written by Arthur Cole about the Llanerch pit disaster of 1890. 

"THE SINKING PIT"
Flames raged and licked that day in the 'Glyn'
brave men, paid the price, for coal held within.
Firedamp the cause, that fateful day.
no bodies recovered, they rest where they lay.
The rescue was futile, a funeral pyre.
'The Glyn' to be flooded to put out the fire.
A few days later, more grief would be spread.
a fireman's error would leave many more dead.
The sinking pit that was the lure.
employed many men, future secure.
That February morning, the devil and dread.
just like 'The Glyn' men buried and dead.
The men all went down, to that dark silent place.
not knowing their fate, with a smile on their face.
The fears of families, in the back of their minds.
not even thinking, this would be their last time.
They say that the gas, had come from 'Glyn Pit'
it travelled a mile, silent and swift.
The explosion occurred, down at 'Cook's' slope.
vast, loud and deadly, left little hope.
A mother would cry, my three have been taken.
her grief would be felt, by a whole mining nation.
One sixty seven was the number they lost.
a fireman's error, they all paid the cost.
'IN MEMORY OF THE SOULS LOST AT LLANERCH.
FEBRUARY 6th 1890.....REST IN PEACE'

Copyright Arthur Cole 2016 (5) 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1656109051306720/permalink/1656160547968237/

 

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Arthur Cole's picture

Arthur Cole

Date joined:
10/09/2020

Story created: 08/09/2020

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More items with these tags:

  • Coal
  • 1890s
  • llanerch explosion
  • llanerch
  • pit disaster

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