The Douglas Archives

A collection of historical and genalogical records

Dr George Boyce Douglas and the Bradley Fold Colliery Explosion (1873)

Summary based on the article contributed by L. Leon K. Bishop.

In September 1873, the Bolton Evening News reported a serious gas explosion at the Bradley Fold Colliery, owned by Thomas Fletcher of Little Lever. Two miners — Samuel Pilling and Thomas Martin — suffered severe burns when firedamp ignited unexpectedly, despite the pit having been declared gas‑free only half an hour earlier.
The article highlights the role of Dr George Boyce Douglas, who attended the injured men. Pilling sustained burns to his face and arms, while Martin’s injuries were far more serious, affecting his chest, arms, and back, worsened by inhalation of sulphurous fumes. The report underscores both the dangers of Victorian coal mining and the involvement of Douglas family members in the industrial communities of Lancashire.

But all is not as it seems!
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Comment:
The above was generated by AI and is part of my experimentaion with this technology.

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